By Angela Jorge
As the COVID-19 lockdown pushed people across the country into their homes, internet consumption witnessed a significant surge in India. According to a report on Business Standard, internet usage reached 54% in Indian cities between April-May 2020. The national average is close to 40%.
As internet consumption has increased, this can be an excellent opportunity for anyone who wants to begin their digital journey by launching their website or blog.
One of the most vital components of starting a new website is hosting. And one of the most economical forms of hosting, shared hosting, can be the right choice for any new website. Let’s take a look at some of the most important things to know about shared hosting in India.
What is Shared Hosting?
Everything on the World Wide Web, be it articles, videos, games, or pictures, is hosted on servers which are owned and managed by hosting service providers. A company or an individual who owns the website pays for the hosting services to ensure that people on the internet can access their content.
In shared hosting, multiple such websites are hosted on the same server. Depending on the hosting plan they select, every website is assigned a specific amount of server resources. In other words, a shared hosting plan will allow the website to use a particular amount of storage and bandwidth on the server.
How Does Shared Hosting Work?
The resources of a shared hosting server are divided across multiple websites. Every customer/website using the shared server is given an individual hosting account to manage their blog, website, databases, and emails.
Just like the resources, even the server hosting cost is divided among multiple websites. This makes shared hosting in India a highly economical hosting option as compared to other types of hosting.
How is Shared Hosting Different from Dedicated Hosting?
With dedicated hosting, a server is fully dedicated to a single website/client account. Unlike shared hosting where websites share the server resources, dedicated hosting provides website access to all the resources of the server, leading to improved hosting performance.
Some hosting providers also offer advanced hosting services, like managed WordPress hosting, where the service provider is responsible for the administration, maintenance, and hosting resources. But as other websites do not share dedicated servers, the hosting plans are more expensive than shared hosting.
Who Should Consider Shared Hosting?
As shared hosting is highly economical and flexible, it can be an excellent solution for someone wanting to start a small website or blog for the first time.
Also, as more and more people now use the internet to search for the products or services they are looking for, every business needs to have a strong online presence. Small businesses can consider a shared hosting plan for their digital debut.
Once the website starts attracting visitors/customers, other types of hosting services, such as managed WordPress hosting, can be considered.
How to Select a Shared Hosting Provider?
The reputation of the hosting provider is one of the most vital aspects of making a decision. Opt for a brand that has an extensive presence all over the world and is well-known for its hosting performance and affordability.
Look for additional features, like Free SSL, Free Domain, and Daily Malware Scan, in the hosting plan as they will help improve the performance and security of the website. Also, ensure that the company you select offers world-class support through phone and email in India.
People who have big plans for their website should prefer a web host that offers many different hosting services. This will eliminate the need to switch to another company when the website needs a hosting upgrade.
