If you think kick-ass web design and a snappy domain are the only things required to produce a functional and attractive website, think again! While these are definitely the main ingredients, you will also need to ensure that you select the right web hosting package for your needs.

A web host is what gives your client their own space on the internet. It also provides you with the maintenance and troubleshooting services you need in order to keep your client’s website up and running.

As a web developer, selecting the right web hosting provider is an important decision, but even with that choice made, there are so many different types of hosting available where would you even start? Here’s a breakdown of the different types of web hosting to guide your next steps:

Shared Hosting (also known as…Web Hosting!)

Is your client on a tight budget? Do they need a simple website to host a small business homepage or blog? A shared hosting service is the ideal choice to help them get started with a minimal investment. Shared hosting plans will usually provide a sufficient amount of bandwidth and resource allocations while requiring simple set up and little in the way of configuration.

Another benefit of shared hosting is that there’s no need to manage or maintain a server or VPS, which is perfect for clients who just want to get started with their new website straight away. This doesn’t mean that you don’t have any control over your environment however; as most shared hosting plans will allow you to modify the basics such as your PHP version and DNS records.

Virtual Private Server (VPS)

If your client has more advanced needs, VPS hosting is the best way to go. Although the costs can sometimes be higher than with shared hosting, particularly once things like software licenses are factored in, it will give your client more freedom to make changes to their server when needed. Whether this includes installing additional software that requires administrator (or ‘root’) access, or having full control for security, privacy or PCI DSS reasons, VPS offers the perfect balance of power and control, at a price that won’t break the bank.

WordPress Cloud Hosting

If you’re running a WordPress blog, you’ll be spoilt for choice at the range of specialist WordPress hosting available. The newest and most powerful services will be cloud-based. Not sure what the cloud is? Never fear; WordPress Cloud hosting takes the power of cloud computing but makes everything extremely simple to use. You’ll typically have access to a well-known control panel such as cPanel or Plesk and manage everything from within this one interface. No cloud computing qualifications needed!

What’s so special about WordPress Cloud hosting? With this type of hosting you can rest assured that the service has been designed and optimised for the WordPress software; system and environment specifications will often have been designed to match the recommendations of the WordPress developers, and everything else will have been stripped down or removed to provide lightning-fast performance.

Reseller Hosting

Reseller Hosting is ideal if you have a lot of clients and wish to white-label the entire process; with Reseller Hosting, your clients will have no idea that their hosting is being provided by a different company; they’ll pay you for their hosting plan and you’ll have full control over their account(s).

With Reseller Hosting you’ll pay one simple fee per month for a bulk allocation of space and bandwidth, and you’ll be free to design your own hosting plans and manage billing yourself. You’ll also be free to use industry-standard software such as WHMCS to automate the process, allowing you to earn a lucrative second income alongside an existing web design business.

The Importance of Making the Right Choice

Every web developer must know how to manage their clients, with the aim of exceeding their clients’ expectations. When it comes to choosing the type of web hosting service, your clients will be looking to you to advise of the right type of service for them. In turn, being able to expertly advise on the various hosting services available will allow you to gain their trust and confidence, and potentially sway them to make the right hosting decision.

After all, the best hosting service will allow you to showcase your hard work and provide a positive experience to your customers, and their site visitors in turn!

Conclusion

It’s important to realise that you have a choice available to you when selecting hosting; the decision isn’t just to choose ‘the right host’ but to also choose the right ‘type’ of hosting to fit your client’s needs. Clients will turn to you to help them navigate the offers available so that they will be able to make the right decision. Happily hosted clients make your job easier, allowing you to provide a quality service and ultimately, improve your reputation in the industry. 

Looking for a reliable web hosting company? Check us out at Valcato Internet. We’ve been providing award-winning services for over 18 years and we have a dedicated support team available 24/7 to help you succeed!