Are you interested in boosting the performance of your website? Perhaps you already have a functioning site and need to upgrade to private hosting in the UK. There are a lot of options to consider, all with various price ranges. Some high-end sites can offer the full package while other affordable options can also get the job done. Before you look into web hosting in the UK, cheap site services should be taken with a grain of salt. The best way to know how to get the best service for your buck is to understand the different outlets for UK hosting available on the market.
What Is Web Hosting?
Web hosting in the UK is a type of commercial service that gives small businesses and independent startups space online for their website. The hosting services are tasked with providing the backend technology needed for a website to be viewed online. The sites are stored or hosted on physical servers on-site at the hosting company’s location.
In short, for small businesses, cheap web hosting allows you to put all of your website’s files on their server where your site visitors can view them. You may be wondering why you can’t just host the files yourself if you have a computer. Website files are much larger than most people realize. The larger a file’s size, the slower a computer will run. When people access a file online, this can slow down the process down even further.
UK hosting through a third party, specifically the web hosting service, gives you the computing power you need to keep your visitors happy. Hosting servers can process massive amounts of information while also responding to site visitors at the same time. You are basically renting space on the server to host your website and the bulk of your online business.
Services Offered With Cheap Web Hosting in the UK
Both high end and cheap UK web hosting will come with a few perks. You will generally get a couple of custom email addresses, regular support, website building help and regular server maintenance. This will allow small business owners to manage their website online even if they don’t have fully developed technical skills to do everything on their own.
After you choose a plan for your cheap web hosting in the UK, all you need to do is upload your website files to the main server. It is important to attach your hosting account and your domain name to ensure that your customers are able to view your site worldwide. There are various web hosting styles to fit the needs of just about every industry and business.
The Benefits of Cheap UK Web Hosting Services
There is a lot that you can do to build your small business with cheap web hosting in the UK. An affordable plan and the right provider will allow you to increase your ranking and improve your site usability. With reliable UK hosting for small businesses, you can prevent slow loading, lost customers and minimal conversion rates. There are plenty of other reasons to invest in web hosting for your small business aside from simple efficiency. Here is a list of our top ten benefits of UK web hosting for your business.
#1 Develop A Stronger Online Presence
Small businesses grow into large conglomerates by getting their name out in front of the public. With so many people turning to online sources for shopping and information, it makes sense to have a solid web presence. Utilizing cheap web hosting in the UK for your website is one of the best tools that you can bring to bear. Adding your social media profiles to your website is another way to double your organic traffic with minimal effort. Companies that don’t have a website seldom grow or even remain in business very long.
Another way that small companies keep people interested is by regularly updating their sites and platforms with content and information. An effective content marketing strategy needs a stable website that is best achieved through professional web hosting. Small businesses will be able to post information about new products, changes, trends and more. A website that is professionally hosted is the perfect place to publish regular content without having to compete for attention. This can be in the form of videos, blog posts and even image blitz campaigns. Anything that improves the relationship between you and your customers is worth investing in.
#2 Personalized Email Address For Staff
One great benefit of buying a domain and pairing it with cheap web hosting is that you can create customized email addresses. This can be a useful way to set up a single point for customer service relations, sales, complaints, feedback, and separate employee addresses. Not only will this give your website a more professional look but it will also help your small business to run more efficiently.
Depending on your industry, securing reliable hosting in the UK for your site can also lessen the risk of insider information being leaked. When you have a secure email domain that is hosted by a professional service, your information is secure. The last thing you want is private customer information being emailed to unsecure staff email addresses. Maintaining website hosting also ensures that you always have access to the information and emails even if a staff member leaves the company.
#3 Target Local Consumers
The ranking of your product or service is an important part of the choice to host your website on a server. In addition to cheap web hosting in the UK saving you money on hosting, it can also help you boost your local client base. Targeting locals is much easier when working with a professional hosting company. SEO plays a big role in how well your website will show up in searches and many hosting companies will offer support services in addition to their regular packages. It is also a great way to increase awareness about your brand in the local community and further improve your customer conversion rates.
Comprehensive hosting in the UK not only allows you to target consumers in your local area but also the world as well. You can learn a lot about who visits your website and you can tuse this valuable information to improve your website accordingly. This will lead to more conversions, site visitors, and sales at the end of the day. With hosting in the UK, your site will be able to handle much more traffic without suffering from the typical slowdowns or lagging pages. Many services offer online and other site tools to track your site visitor analytics which you can view at any time.
#4 In House Email Marketing
If you have a small or even medium following already, it is a great start for your small business. People know your name and generally what services you offer but reaching you may still be difficult. UK hosting will make it easier for your customers to stay in touch. Placing an email address or contact link on your site offers a simple solution for constant contact. A dedicated domain paired with cheap web hosting in the UK will also ensure that you never have to worry about losing access to your consumer base.
Email marketing is another way that small companies can grow their client base and active email list. It is also one of the best tools to drive sales and draw in new customers. When you use hosting in the UK for your website, you will have plenty of bandwidth, space, and analytics to help perfect your email marketing efforts. Some companies offering UK hosting even provide SEO and marketing packages at a discount for their regular customers.
#5 Maintain Security & Continuity
There are a lot of cheap web hosting options in the UK to choose from but understanding your needs is the best way to pick a provider. With any small business, the most important aspect is security. The service that you choose will need to have strong security measures to keep your company information safe and the information of your site visitors. The last thing you want to deal with is informing your clients that your website has been hacked or that their private information may have been exposed to third parties. Professional web hosting will give you and your customers security when browsing and navigating your website.
Listing your website with a company that offers professional hosting in the UK also acts as a safeguard for your business. You are able to access your website from anywhere in the world and have the assurance that your site is secure. Even if you have to move, or if something happens to your main office, your website will be protected. Continuity is one of the biggest challenges that small businesses face and with web hosting, your site will be perpetual.
#6 Solve Customer Issues & Questions Online
Customer service is an important part of any business regardless of size. One way to ensure that your customers will always have an answer to their questions is to set up an online contact option. When paired with a customer service phone number, an online help assistant can help reduce the number of complaints and make your business run more efficiently. With cheap UK web hosting, you can provide a dedicated email for customers to contact you and you can add an automated chatbot on your main page. This will improve customer retention and ensure that people do not have to leave your website in order to get the assistance they require.
#7 Design Help & Tech Support
For those of you who have used a free domain or web hosting service before, you know how limited the packages can be. You only have access to a few templates and designs for your site which can further hinder your growth. Instead, using cheap web hosting in the UK is a much better option. Professional hosting gives you an unlimited canvas upon which to build your website. You can design it on your own, bring in a freelance artist or even make use of the additional website building services of the host. You can experiment with a variety of different website designs or even launch multiple versions to see which one is preferred by your customers.
Another advantage of using cheap web hosting over free versions is the 12/7 technical support. Many small business owners may have the computer savvy needed to create an amazing website but for those who don’t, technical support can be a godsend. Glitches can tank your website and stop customers from visiting when you need site traffic the most. Professional web hosting services will offer you the support that you need to ensure that your website runs smoothly 24 hours a day, every day of the year. Site glitches that result in page errors lower your site traffic and reduce your revenue. Professionally hosted websites experience fewer errors and experience maximum amounts of uptime.
#8 Boost Your Online Sales
Expansion is always the goal for small businesses. Creating an engaging website that showcases your products and services is a great way to go about it. If you don’t have a website, or if you only have a minimal website, professional hosting is something to consider. Using cheap web hosting in the UK will give you a way to spur growth through new online sales. Instead of using one platform for your online sales and another for your basic business web content, you can host your site with a professional service that allows you to do both.
Setting up an online store on the same site as your main business will allow you to retain more customers and convert more site visitors. Business hours have no limit when you sell and ship through an online web portal. There is also much less overhead – basically only the cost of your web hosting and your fulfillment and delivery service. Hosting through a professional company also allows you to create a unique online community around your business. With no space or bandwidth restrictions, the internet is your literal oyster.
Creating an online community directly on your website allows visitors to connect with your brand and shop all in the same place. You can have forums, photo galleries, interactive sessions and so much more. When you use a web hosting service, you never have to worry about hitting restrictions or having to scale down your website plans due to a lack of compatibility. Your online community can help consumers who love your brand to spread their love to others who may just be getting introduced.
#9 Manage Your Space & Data
Out of all the benefits that come with hosting your website with a professional service, securing your data is among the most important. A professional web hosting provider will be able to back up your website and the entirety of its information on a regular basis. If you ever happen to suffer from a data loss, virus, or just have a run of bad luck with your coding, back-ups can restore your website to its previous condition. Losing data can result in a loss of business and even damage your reputation.
Professional web hosting allows you to retain complete control over your content and the look and feel of your web page. You can decide what your visitors see and how their online experience will progress while they are on your website. Having your site hosted professionally means that there will be no limitations regarding how your site looks and what you display.
Space is another aspect of web hosting that offers some advantages. Personal or even commercial-grade computers can only use up so much space before things start to slow down. With a professional web hosting service, you don’t have to worry about site degradation when you have high levels of traffic or a user-intensive website. There is no limit to the number of pages that you can host on a professional server which will allow you to meet your customer’s needs more efficiently.
In the UK, cheap professional web hosting will allow you to buy the amount of data space that you need to boost your small business production. You can always upgrade your data space as your company grows or downgrade it as your needs change. Professional cheap web hosting is the key to scalability for any small business looking to spur growth.
#10 Manage Your Time & Content Efficiently
Time is money in all levels of business. For small business owners, proper time management is even more important. Professional web hosting lets you save both time and money when you choose an affordable hosting provider in the UK. Cheap professional UK hosting allows you to take advantage of the expert services behind the tech without the need to train or hire them independently. Free web hosting services are great for people just starting out but you don’t get the support and bandwidth you will need to properly grow a small business. Professional hosting gives you more data, space, and support which will allow you to spend less time chasing solutions and more time getting your brand in front of consumers.
Cheap UK professional web hosting providers not only allow you to take control of your SEO but many also offer website ranking packages. The point of creating a responsive and attractive website is to increase your ranking so then you reach more consumers. Reliable web hosting from a professional provider will help you do so without reducing your site traffic or changing your aesthetic.
Pick Your Style Of Cheap Web Hosting In The UK
Now that you know some of the many benefits of hosting your website on an affordable but professional server, we can discuss the various types of web hosting available.
- Dedicated Hosting – This form of web hosting is for small businesses who prefer to rent an entire server for their own website. This is a more expensive option and it is often used by businesses that deal with sensitive information and those that have a higher number of site visitors. You will have superior performance since there is no need to share resources with other users and you will have more options to customize your website and the services you offer.
- Cloud Hosting – This form of hosting uses virtual hardware. Instead of running on a server, the whole web hosting environment is maintained on the cloud. While not as common as other forms of web hosting, it has grown in popularity in recent years. It is cost-effective and allows you to have better control over your expenses. For small businesses that have a variable amount of traffic each month, you pay only for what you use.
- VPS Hosting – This is a unique form of web hosting that runs on virtualization. A dedicated virtual server is created for each website using resources from several shared physical servers. This allows small business owners to have a better level of performance on their website in addition to improved scalability.
- Shared Hosting – This is the most common type of hosting in the UK. It works well for the majority of small businesses that have low to moderate site traffic. Shared hosting is the most affordable option out there for those looking for hosting who happen to be on a small budget. It is also very user-friendly which is another bonus for tech newbies and business owners with little time to learn website basics.
- Managed WordPress Hosting – This type of hosting is mostly for WP blogs and sites that run on the WordPress platform. This is best for those who already have a running website in WordPress who want to switch to a hosted service for improved efficiency. This type of hosting is much more secure and allows you more control over your website and your business.
Get The Best Cheap Hosting In UK For Your Buck
Professional web hosting is critical if you want to grow your brand or small business. If you are looking for a reliable web hosting service in UK, there are plenty of options to choose from. Make sure that you choose a provider that offers the type of hosting that your small business needs and one that offers superior security.
One of our favorite UK web hosting providers is UKbox. They are a high-performance web hosting company that has a fast cPanel and easy site management with 24/7 support.
