Statistics show that only 11 percent of users would return to a site if they could not access it just one time. Users want a site that they can trust and rely on, so if your dental site goes down regularly, customers may find it unreliable and revert to not using it at all.
But, it doesn’t have to be this way, and there are plenty of reliable website hosters available for you to utilize. Keep reading to learn more about website hosting, and who the best providers are to use and why.
What Is Website Hosting?
Website hosting is a service that enables you to post a website or web page to the internet for users to access. Businesses that offer this capability are called web hosting service providers. These providers have servers – computers that house and send your website's data to users via the internet to be displayed in a browser.
Most of these providers will require you to have your own domain. A domain is your online address, such as www.mydomain.com. Many website hosting providers also offer domains as part of their service plans. This way, you’ll be able to set up email addresses with your domain like [email protected].
Top 5 Web Hosts Recommended By The Dental SEO Experts
There are plenty of places you can go to get your website hosting service, but some providers stand out amongst the rest. Here are just a few of the best providers to consider.
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GreenGeeks
One of GreenGeeks’ main selling points is their dedication to eco-friendly operations using renewable energy. GreenGeeks also makes a 99.9-percent uptime guarantee to maximize your site’s effectiveness. Moreover, each night a secure backup of any essential data is made for easy restoration. They also offer marketing and SEO tools that are available in every plan.
But GreenGeeks is by no means perfect, and their telecommunications are limited, prioritizing 24-hour chat and limiting its open phone line times. It’s also been noted that some of their more cost-effective plans require lengthy contracts.
Pros
- Eco-friendly Hosting
- 99.9 percent Uptime
- Free Data Backup and Restore
- Free SEO Tools
Cons
- No Website Staging
- Limited Customer Phone Support
- Restricted Resource Usage
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SiteGround
SiteGround offers more flexible ways of hosting your site with options for shared hosting, wherein multiple domains are housed on a single server. It offers free SSL, adding an extra layer of essential security. SiteGround also has a number of server locations to optimize website load times for specific regions.
However, SiteGround doesn’t offer the commonly used cPanel, which is a graphical interface used to control many of your sites standard administration processes. You’ll also have to deal with their recent renewal price changes that have made them more costly compared to other providers.
Pros
- Free SSL Certificate
- Flexible Hosting Plans
- Flexible Server Locations
- Worldwide Data Centers
Cons
- No cPanel
- Increased Price Renewal
- Capped Capacity
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WPEngine
WPEngine is specifically for WordPress, and they have excellent page speed across the globe. WPEngine also allows you to access a multitude of options to manage your site and benefit your Search Engine Optimization (SEO). Additionally, you’ll have fantastic support for backups and version control over your site.
Unlike other web hosting providers, WPEngine will not help with professional emails, so if you need to link emails to your domain, you’ll need to look elsewhere. Their beginning price also seems to be on the higher end of the spectrum for other hosting services using WordPress.
Pros
- High Page Speed
- SEO Friendly
- Backup and Version Control
- Excellent Management Options
Cons
- Exclusive to WordPress
- Limited Website Visitors
- Expensive
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GoDaddy
GoDaddy gives you multiple options when it comes to hosting to pick the best service for your needs. It also allows for an unlimited number of Linux and Windows-hosted sites, if required. With both of these options available, you can even use cPanel and Plesk for seamless management of your site.
Unfortunately, GoDaddy’s basic plan leaves a lot to be desired, missing a lot of features that are essential for any site. Alongside this, GoDaddy’s customer service appears inconsistent, with some receiving excellent and others not so much. It’s also been detailed that some of GoDaddy’s upselling techniques are not the most customer friendly when it comes to detailing the offer.
Pros
- Additional Services Available
- Linux and Windows Hosting
- Host Unlimited Websites
- cPanel and Plesk Interfaces
Cons
- Inconsistent Customer Support
- Basic Plan Lacks Essential Features
- Annoying Upselling
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BlueHost
BlueHost has been a WordPress hosting site since the early days of the internet in 1996. It’s simple to use and has free SSL certificates available. Officially recommended by WordPress, they have high-speed load times and fantastic 24/7 customer support. They have a variety of hosting options available to you, along with a relatively cheap beginner’s package.
However, BlueHost has a distracting upselling process as you sign up, displaying ads on the UI afterward. The high renewal prices can also be a deterrent for some, with regular backups being a feature of a more expensive package.
Pros
- Easy to Use
- Solid Security Features
- High-Performance Servers
- Automatic WordPress Installation
Cons
- Annoying Ads on UI
- Limited Data Backup Control
- Only One Data Center
Get More From Your Practice With The Dental SEO Experts
Choosing a website hosting provider is an important decision, but you can still do more work after to optimize your website's performance. For website design and development support see our services page, and to get the best tips and tricks on running your dental clinic check out our blog. Otherwise, schedule a call today to see how we can help you optimize your dental website.
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