Your Web Hosting Costs Don't Have To Break You

As a business owner, your website matters.

It's your resume and your virtual store front all rolled into one. Your website needs to be reliable.

A website that is slow to load or frequently down will impact your reputation with customers, who might not come back for a second visit.

That's why good and reliable web hosting matters. Unfortunately, web hosting can be rather expensive, so what are some things you can do to help find a good host without breaking the bank?

Here are five top tips to get you started….

Decide Which Features You Really Need

As the article "The New and Improved Way to Save Money" points out, it can be all too easy to spend money on things you don't need, and drain your budget.

The same is true of web hosting. Understanding what you need from your hosting package will help you to choose a web host that meets your needs, without paying extra for features you will never use.

For example, if you know you're only going to run one site, do you need to pay for an advanced package with unlimited domains and email addresses?

Look for Coupons and Introductory Deals

Many web hosts offer money off coupons and introductory deals for new clients. 

Do keep in mind that most coupons are only for a limited time, after which you will pay the full price.

A coupon can be good way to save money when getting started with a web host, but do make sure you know what you'll be expected to pay after it expires, and make sure the full price is also going to be within your budget.

Sign Up for a Longer Term

Most web hosts offer you savings if you sign up over a longer term.

Paying for a year, or two or even five or ten years, of web hosting at once can seem like a lot of money, and is only helpful if you have enough money to do so.

But if you can do it, you often stand to make good savings over a shorter term or monthly contract.

Read the Small Print

When choosing your web host, read the small print to make sure you know what exactly you will be paying, and when you will be paying it.

Many web hosts offer legitimate money saving deals, but you will sometimes find a host who will save you money now but automatically take a higher payment next time, or whose hosting packages come with a high cancelation fee.

Look for a set money back guarantee period such as 30 or 60 days with no hidden fees.

Do Your Research

When you're trying to save money on your web hosting, it's important to balance quality and value.

Some very cheap web hosts may come with issues such as too much downtime, unreliable email, or poor customer service.

Web host review sites are a great tool to help you find out what other people are saying about different web hosts, so you can make sure you choose a service that offers a reasonable price without skimping on quality.

Reliable web hosting doesn't have to drain your business budget.

Make use of reviews, coupons, and good planning to get a deal that will benefit your business and your bank account.