5 Tips To Help You Save Money On Web Hosting

You’re going to need a website, whether you like it or not. Think about your passion project, such as a personal blog, a photography portfolio or a volunteer program. Think about your business, whether online ordering fits into your plan, if customers might require more information about what you do, or if you need an effective customer recruitment tool. You simply can’t survive without the internet if you want to get things done. If you’re new to the online world, web hosting has the potential to suck up a lot of your budget. Try cutting some corners to save money.

1. Keep An Eye Out For Promotions

Web hosting is a very competitive industry. Since hosting is in high demand, there are tons of companies trying to outdo each other. Taking advantage of this competition can lead you to some very great deals. Often, major hosts will offer free domain names, additional web building tools, or pro-rata introductory services if you choose them over their competitors. If you search the market thoroughly, you can find the host that’s running a promotion that’s the lowest of the low.

2. Build A Custom Package

Sometimes things seem like a good deal until you go through the details. You might see a high price tag, but a long list of things included. Have a think about whether you need all those inclusions. Do you really need 500 email addresses with your hosting? If you don’t, why would you pay for it? You’re not saving money if you’re buying things you don’t need. Avoid value packs that include unnecessary services. They are deceptively misleading.

3. Try To Buy In Bulk

This is one circumstance where spending more to get more is worth it. If one year of hosting costs $250 for your basic website, but two years costs $400, and three years costs $600, buy more time. If you renew on a yearly basis, you’ll be spending much more in the long run. You’re going to need your website for more than a year, and surviving on short term renewals is a budget killer.

4. Offset Costs with Advertising

Most websites run ads. A lot of them do it for the income, and you can also do it to get some of your investment back. If they are relevant to what you’re doing, consider running ads on your website. Reserving one spot for a small, tasteful ad can bring in money over time. If you want more control over your ads, don’t outsource them. Contact people who offer complementary products or services to yours, or people with similar interests to create private arrangements for paid ad space that won’t be detrimental to elements of your website that may be monetized. If you aren’t creating your website for profit, it’s much simpler to run basic ads through Google.

5. Borrow Some Money

If you’re creating a website that requires lots of complexity, particularly if you need to hire staff or other professionals to bring your vision to life, it’s going to be expensive. Your best option may be to take out a business loan.  Places like Prospa.com offer business loans to companies looking to grow through marketing programs like a new website. Come up with a sound, well-researched figure, add ten percent to account for unexpected expenses, and base your loan figure around that number.

If you’re properly maintaining and updating your website, building solid links, and practicing safe SEO, your investment in the website will pay off in the long run. And don't forget to save money on your web hosting with a special deal, bulk buying and selecting the package that is best value for money.