Your hosting affects how fast your WordPress website loads, how secure it is and how often it is available. Here is what to consider when choosing a host for a business website.
What hosting does
Website hosting stores your website’s files and database on a server so people can visit it. A good host keeps the site fast, secure and online. A poor one can mean slow pages, downtime and security gaps.
Whatever plan you choose, make sure it includes an SSL certificate. SSL encrypts the connection between your site and its visitors, and it’s the padlock you see beside the address in your browser.
Cheap plans versus managed hosting
Budget plans for a few dollars a month can suit a hobby site, but they usually come with limits: shared resources, slower support and fewer security features. Managed WordPress hosting costs more because it includes more: better servers, updates, backups, monitoring and people who can help when something goes wrong.
Where the server is matters
A server close to your visitors generally loads pages faster. Many budget hosts serve Australian websites from overseas data centres, which adds delay for visitors here. If most of your customers are in Australia, look for Australian servers.
Running a WooCommerce store?
For an online store, hosting is not the place to save money. Slow pages, downtime or a security problem cost sales and customer trust. Choose a host with good performance, reliable uptime and regular backups.
Hosting with the people who know your website
Our managed WordPress hosting runs on Melbourne-based servers and includes WordPress, theme and plugin updates, security monitoring, daily backups, uptime monitoring and direct support from our team, from $99 a month including GST. See what’s included, or get a free audit of your current setup.
