Web hosting is a service that ensures the creation and maintenance of a website. The best eCommerce website hosting Australia provides web hosting services to make sites accessible to everyone who visits them. The advent of eCommerce functionality has revolutionised the world of eCommerce.
You will find a variety of web hosts on the internet that you can choose for your eCommerce platform. However, you need to consider several business factors before making a choice, for example, your budget and the scale of your business. You also need to consider your experience with web hosting, traffic and your sales volume.
This article will discuss the importance of choosing the best eCommerce hosting provider and factors to consider before doing so. Read on, and feel free to join the conversation.
What Are the Differences Between E-Commerce and Normal Web Hosting?
Ecommerce web hosting differs from normal web hosting in several ways. With an eCommerce hosting package, the service is optimised for the best eCommerce websites and products. It has faster servers, a dedicated IP address and supports an SSL certificate (Secure Socket Layer). The eCommerce solution makes the store more secure than others that do not support such features.
E-Commerce web hosts usually use cPanel as the user interface to access and configure their servers and other tools such as WHM (Web Host Manager) for managing accounts. They also provide support services 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. They provide secure data centres and offer 99% uptime, which means that your site is up and running almost all of the time. It makes eCommerce hosting more reliable.
Normal web hosting involves using a shared IP address. Therefore, you will not be able to get and use a dedicated IP address. It does not have the security features of eCommerce web hosting, which means that your site is exposed to vulnerabilities. It does not support SSL certificates. Hence, data transfers are insecure. However, normal web hosting costs less than eCommerce hosting.
Normal hosting provides support over the phone, chat or email only during business hours which is not suitable for most online businesses that need assistance round-the-clock to resolve issues as soon as they arise. The best eCommerce web hosts have a higher disk space capacity with regular backups of data. They offer a cloud storage facility for your online business, making it ideal for your eCommerce business.
Why It’s Important to Choose the Right Ecommerce Host
It is vital to choose the right eCommerce host for your store. If you choose the wrong host, your online business will experience the following negative effects:
Customers will leave a slow site
Your business will receive poor search engine rankings if your site does not load quickly, which means fewer online buyers.
Customers will leave a site if it does not load within three seconds, according to Hubspot research. No one wants to spend hours trying to find products that they can buy somewhere else. A slow website hurts search engine rankings because Google rates pages based on load time and bounce rate, including the percentage of visitors who leave your page soon after landing on it. The Google indexing system also slows down your store if it has too many redirects.
Also, your web hosting site should handle content delivery networks, automatic backup and traffic spikes. Content delivery networks help deliver static content such as images, JavaScript and CSS files to end-users from the closest location. Traffic spikes occur when your website gets featured on popular sites or media outlets, resulting in an increased traffic flow without notice.
Your eCommerce store needs fast servers to handle traffic spikes and content delivery networks. If your web host does not offer these services, you risk losing business to competitors who do.
Customers won’t be able to access vulnerable sites
Vulnerable sites are those that do not have SSL certificates. Data transfers are insecure without an SSL certificate as they travel in plain text, which hackers can view, ISPs and government agencies that monitor the web traffic of citizens.
Your eCommerce store is at risk if your hosting provider does not provide SSL certificates. The certificate makes it harder for hackers to steal private customer information. These include social security numbers, bank account details and addresses. You also need an SSL certificate because Google uses one as a ranking factor for sites in their search engine results. More customers will leave your website than stay on it if you do not have a free SSL certificate, which means less revenue for your business.
Your eCommerce hosting providers also need to encrypt your store with HTTPS. HTTPS uses RSA 2048 bit keys, ECDH curve prime 256v one curves, and SHA-512 hash functioning, making it harder for governments to decrypt the transmitted data. It also uses Perfect Forward Secrecy to keep past sessions safe even if the private key gets compromised in future. Therefore, your eCommerce hosting company should offer at least one of these security features.
You can’t afford downtime.
If your eCommerce website is down, customers will not be able to access it. They also won’t spend money on your online store when they know that the site cannot process their transactions securely. It will hurt you financially because of lost revenue and customer trust. Your hosting provider should offer 99 percent uptime which means that if they are down for a few seconds, you will not lose money. You can choose from shared or dedicated plans depending on your website’s traffic and storage needs. Large businesses need dedicated servers with high bandwidth and storage to handle the traffic.
Things to Look Out for When Searching for An E-Commerce Host
You should research the hosting providers to determine the best for your eCommerce platform. You need to look out for the following factors when selecting an eCommerce host.
Hosting Services (Shared Hosting, Cloud Hosting, VPS Host, Dedicated Hosting)
You need to choose the type of hosting that is best suited for your website. There are several available for eCommerce businesses. They include:
Shared Hosting
Shared hosting plans are best suited for small businesses. Ecommerce hosting providers use them to save costs because the website owner shares resources with other customers. These include bandwidth, storage space and RAM. The downside of shared hosting is that you don’t have full control over your server if it goes down. You rely on your hosting provider to fix the issue.
Cloud Hosting
A cloud-based web host is excellent for businesses that have high traffic during peak hours. Google cloud is also best when featured on popular sites like news websites, social media platforms and eCommerce stores. Cloud computing uses a cluster of servers that act as one machine with increased processing power and storage space.
VPS Hosting
Virtual Private Server hosting is a good option for businesses that need more control over their sites. VPS hosting plans offer the benefits of shared and dedicated hosts while reducing costs compared to a full-fledged server. It offers a balance between them because they provide full control over your server while still sharing resources with other customers. You can upgrade the RAM at any time, which makes VPS hosting flexible.
Dedicated Hosting
ECommerce platforms need the best eCommerce hosting if you have high traffic on your eCommerce platform throughout the year. You need to ensure that there are no downtimes or disruptions with the hosting features or increased load on your server. You can choose from unmanaged or managed services. It depends on whether you want to handle the server yourself or leave it to your eCommerce hosting providers. Unmanaged services involve more technical knowledge and expertise. Managed hosting offers expert assistance with site security and optimization. They provide complete control of your hardware, software and data because you do not share resources with other customers like RAM and hard drive space.
Server Location and Speed
You need to choose an eCommerce host that provides servers in the location of your target audience. For example, if you sell products to customers worldwide, a web host should have data centres near every major city. So, people don’t have long load times when they visit your website. You also need to consider server speeds because the faster your website loads, the more likely customers will spend time looking at products. Some locations also affect speed because of network latency. For example, customers in Asia might experience slower speeds than customers in North America or Europe.
Support
The best e-Commerce web hosting company should offer 24/365 customer support with an average response time of two hours or less. It is also helpful if they provide phone, email and chat support that you can access at any time of the day. Excellent support is essential because you need to resolve problems as soon as they arise. It makes your clients build confidence in your brand and keep them coming back.
Disk Space and File size
You need to consider the amount of disk space and file size that your website needs. Some hosting plans come with unlimited storage, while others limit it. When the disk space is limited, you can’t upload large files that may affect website loading times. The right eCommerce web host should provide enough disk space for all images, videos and other media files. It should also have automatic backups.
Uptime
The best eCommerce hosting should offer an uptime guarantee. Uptime Institute awards hosts with a rating of 99% or more for excellent service. It is also ideal if the host provides load times speed in milliseconds. Thus, customers can see products without long delays. It ensures shoppers stick around to buy items instead of leaving because they cannot find what they want.
Ecommerce Hosting Types
Ecommerce hosting can be shared, cloud or dedicated. It provides facilities to create and maintain a website. They include:
SaaS Hosting
SaaS stands for Software as a Service and involves providing facilities to create and maintain a website. Web hosts provide a hosting solution to make sites accessible to everyone who visits them. Saas helps businesses start without the hassle of purchasing and maintaining servers. They provide a pay-as-you-go service hosted on their servers. Saas is best for your eCommerce business if you do not have a lot of technical expertise or resources. It is also best if your business is new and not sure how much traffic you will get.
Self-Hosted (On-Premise)
Self-hosted hosting involves purchasing and maintaining your servers. It is best for businesses that want complete control of their hardware, software and data because they do not share resources with other customers like RAM or hard drive space. You can also upgrade the components at any time, which makes self-hosting plans flexible too.
Other Cloud hosting options
You can also opt for other google hosting options like platform-as-a-service, also known as PaaS. As the name suggests, PaaS involves providing your site on a platform. It takes care of all other hosting related issues like security, load times, balancing and scaling. Your eCommerce hosting provider takes care of all the maintenance and software updates ensuring your website runs smoothly. Paas does not work well for eCommerce websites that get a lot of traffic or need to be secure. It is also not the best option if your website requires custom software or programming. Therefore, depending on your store, you need to choose between moving to another hosting option or using a platform that provides more robust features.
Another option is the infrastructure as a service which is also known as IaaS. It involves providing your site’s infrastructure, including servers, load balancers and firewalls. Your eCommerce hosting provider takes care of all the maintenance and software updates. It ensures your store always runs smoothly. IaaS is best for eCommerce websites that get a lot of traffic or need to be secure. It also works well if your website requires custom software or programming.
Hosting Options For Your Ecommerce Platform
Shopify
Shopify is one of the best web hosting for eCommerce that helps you build your online shop. It also provides a hosting solution through Shopify partners like Bluehost, LiquidWeb and DreamHost. The platform works like WooCommerce hosting and offers different features depending on the host you choose, which means the costs vary. Shopify enables you to set up a store in minutes and add products with their drag-and-drop features. It also provides SEO tools, email marketing solutions and 24 hour customer support for the first year of your plan. Shopify is best for eCommerce websites that are not too complex to set up. It is also best for businesses that need a simple and easy to use platform.
Wix
Wix is a website builder that allows you to create your eCommerce software without any programming knowledge. The platform is best for eCommerce functionality with basic features and users who will not mind the limited design choices. Its most understanding features are the SEO tools and unlimited bandwidth. Wix is best for businesses that need a simple site with basic features but does not want to pay more than they should. It helps with marketing or traffic generation to ensure your business is successful. However, Wix does not work well if your website requires custom software or programming.
Kinsta
Kinsta is one of the best web hosting companies to create your site without any coding. The platform offers the most secure server environment, so your customers’ data stays safe too. You can also customize it to meet your needs unlike other platforms. Therefore, it helps you stand out from the competition. Kinsta is best for high traffic websites. It also works well if you do not mind paying more than other hosting plans and want to customize your store according to your customers’ needs.
Its features include SEO tools, shopping cart software, instant backups and 24 hour customer support. These help you to market your site while generating traffic. However, Kinsta requires a development fee of $100/month, which is quite high compared to other platforms.
Squarespace
Squarespace eCommerce platform allows you to create a website without any programming knowledge. It offers the most flexible design options for your site, which means even non-technical users can make changes as needed. Squarespace also provides SEO tools, unlimited bandwidth, email marketing solutions and customer support for the first year of your plan. Squarespace provides website templates that are customisable depending on your preferences. It is best for users who want to stand out from their competition while offering an easy-to-use platform. It has flexible portfolios that allow business owners the opportunity to sell their products while maintaining a professional look.
BigCommerce
BigCommerce is a Saas platform that has a hosting package to help you build your online store. It provides website templates to help non-technical users design a site as needed with drag-and-drop features. The drag and drop feature allows you to customise your store without any coding knowledge. It gives you the freedom to design according to business needs. The platform also offers powerful analytics tools to help you market your site. It also has a 24 hour support team for the first year of your plan. BigCommerce is best for your website hosting solutions if you want a professional look while offering an easy-to-use platform without having too many features they do not need at all times. It is API driven which means it works well for businesses that rely on using an API.
SiteGround
Siteground platform offers a managed hosting platform. It provides website hosting solutions for online stores, including templates with drag-and-drop features. Siteground allows non-technical users the freedom to manage their sites without any coding knowledge through its easy controls access feature. It has beginner to advanced features making it suitable for businesses of any size. Its strong SEO tools help you market your site for success, while its 24 hour live chat ensures that business owners get the necessary assistance. Siteground is best for websites that rely on an email marketing solution. It offers the most affordable hosting depending on your business needs with unlimited disk space and bandwidth. Its price starts from $50 per month, which makes it ideal for small to medium-sized businesses.
A2 Hosting
How about using A2 hosting that offers PHP and Python support. According to eCommerce hosting providers, it has a 99% uptime guarantee to ensure your website is always available for access by visitors. Its features include a free cpanel & Softaculous auto-installer, making it easy for you to manage your site. It has different plans, including shared hosting, dedicated and WordPress hosting. A business owner can choose the plan that best suits their needs depending on budget and desired features- all in a single place. It gives you a 30-day money-back guarantee, fast servers, and 24 hour live chat support to ensure your site is always online.
FAQs About Ecommerce Hosting
What is eCommerce hosting?
eCommerce hosting involves providing facilities to create and maintain a site. The hosts provide web hosting services to make sites accessible to everyone who visits them. The services provided ensure that your site is available and secure, even when you’re not there to manage it. There are many benefits associated with using a reliable eCommerce Web Hosting service, such as:
- A professional look for their website or storefront
- Affordable packages depending on business needs
- Access to updated information and tools for marketing purposes.
- Ability to keep a website up and running without having too many features that are not useful
How do I host an eCommerce website?
To host an eCommerce store, you’ll need to look for the best eCommerce hosting service that offers eCommerce features and support. Web hosting providers need to provide you with a secure and reliable eCommerce platform. Some companies offer complete eCommerce solutions that include a shopping cart, credit card processing capabilities and marketing features such as email campaigns to help you grow your customer base. The company should also have 24 hour support to ensure that any problems with the website are fixed in real-time, saving you both time and money in the long run. You need to research and select the best hosting platform for your business to ensure that your site is always online and accessible to customers.
Which type of hosting is best for eCommerce?
The best hosting for your eCommerce business is one that offers quality hosting features. These include
Affordable packages
Affordability is key for any business owner. The hosting service should have packages that suit your budget.
Fast loading times
You don’t want to wait too long for a site to load- it’ll make visitors lose their patience and leave the website, resulting in lost sales. Look for a web server with fast page load speeds so visitors will stay on your eCommerce store.
24 hour customer support
No online business can run smoothly without a dedicated team to help fix issues and answer questions when the owner is away. Look for services that offer round-the-clock professional assistance, so you don’t have to worry about technical problems on your website affecting your bottom line.
Reliable customer support.
Be sure to read reviews and feedback of customers who have already used the services you are considering. It will help give you an idea of whether or not the service is reliable and offers good customer support if anything goes wrong on your website.
Intrusive interface.
Your online store needs to attract customers with an attractive, easy-to-navigate website. You don’t want a hosting service with intrusive features on the backend, making it difficult for your business to run smoothly. An intrusive interface helps improve the site’s functionality.
Satisfactory security provisions.
Security is a major concern for all eCommerce business owners. Your hosting service should offer security provisions such as SSL certificates and firewalls to ensure your site is protected from hackers and cyber-attacks at all times. You should also look into web application firewall protection that can safeguard against malware, virus attacks and unauthorised intrusions before they happen.
Why would I want a cloud-hosted eCommerce site?
You would want a cloud-hosted eCommerce site when you are looking to scale your eCommerce store. It is a scalable solution that small businesses, large enterprises and growing companies can use. It allows you to add more tools when needed without purchasing additional licenses or hardware- resulting in great value for money spent on eCommerce platforms.
Are there disadvantages to a cloud-hosted site?
There are some disadvantages, such as the fact that it is not suitable for sites with high performance and where security is required. You may also need additional resources like storage space or bandwidth beyond what’s provided by the eCommerce web host. These costs would have to be covered separately, making them expensive. Another disadvantage is that it can be difficult to manage and use, especially for newbies. It has a steep learning curve and is not suitable for people new to hosting an eCommerce site.
