If you’re running a business, you know that having a website is no longer an option, it’s a necessity. However, what many business owners still don’t realise is that just having a website isn’t enough – you also need to have the right hosting.
Without good hosting, your website will likely be slow and unresponsive and rank poorly on search engines. This can mean disaster for any business. Fortunately, there are SEO agencies out there with the technical knowledge needed to provide the setup or recommendations for excellent hosting and website performance. With support from the right team, you can ensure that your site is fast and responsive, performs well and provides a great user experience. Furthermore, these benefits will have a positive knock-on effect on your SEO rankings too!
While website hosting might not be the first thing that comes to mind when thinking about SEO, it’s a critical part of the puzzle. Here’s a closer look at why website hosting is so crucial for SEO and some of the things you need to keep in mind.
What is website hosting?
In order to understand why website hosting is essential, you first need to know what it is. Website hosting is simply the means of storing your website’s files on a server so people can access them when they visit your site. When you choose a web host, you’re essentially renting space from them so that you can store your website on their servers.
For business level hosting, always look at options that include a VPS or dedicated hosting. With VPS hosting, your website is still stored on the same server as other websites, but you have your own virtual server. This means you’re not sharing resources with other websites, which can improve performance. Out and out dedicated hosting is the most expensive option, but it means your website has its own physical server. Both options provide better security, control and performance compared to shared hosting.
Why is website hosting necessary for SEO?
Google search algorithms consider several factors when determining where to rank a website in search results. Many of these factors are related to the quality of the website and the user experience provided – naturally these aspects are greatly affected by hosting. Therefore, choosing a quality web hosting provider is crucial to ensure that Google and other search engines view your site favourably.
Website speed and performance
Speed is essential for any website. If your site loads slowly, potential customers are likely to click away before they even have a chance to see what you have to offer. Google wants to give its users the best possible experience, so it favours websites that load quickly.
A good web hosting provider will offer fast speeds and reliable uptime so your customers can always reach you when needed. They should also provide various tools to help you improve your site’s performance, such as caching and content delivery networks (CDNs).
Remember, if your site’s slow, it will hurt your SEO.
IP neighbours
This term refers to the other websites hosted on the same server as your website. Google looks at IP neighbours when analysing a website. So while being on a shared server isn’t necessarily bad, if one of those sites gets penalised by Google, it could also affect your site. That’s why choosing a web host with a good reputation, and strict quality standards is important. If your site shares a server with many low-quality websites, it will hurt your SEO.
Uptime
Uptime is the percentage of time that a server is up and running. Uptime can affect your rankings if your site is unavailable to search engine crawlers and customers. If your site is constantly down, your customers will quickly become frustrated and take their business elsewhere. User behaviour metrics communicate this to Google and your site will lose out on potential rankings. If your site is down, how can Google crawl and index it? That’s why choosing a web hosting provider with a good uptime record is essential.
Location
Google considers the location of your server when determining where to rank your website. For example, if your target market is in the United Kingdom, choosing a web hosting provider with servers in that country is a good idea. That way, your site will load quickly for visitors in the UK, and you’re more likely to rank higher in search results.
Security
Google wants to make sure its users are secure and elevates websites that offer a safe experience. If your site suffers from a data breach or is hacked, it could have a negative effect on your SEO.
A good web hosting provider will take measures to protect your site from cyber threats such as hacking and viruses, helping you avoid costly downtime and repairs. By keeping your site safe from threats, you can focus on running your business and serving your customers. Your web hosting provider should offer features such as SSL certificates, malware scanning and removal, secure backups and firewalls, which can help protect your site from attacks.
Choosing a hosting provider that takes security seriously is essential to protecting your online business.
The takeaway
SEO is a complex and ever-changing field, and successful SEO campaigns require a comprehensive and multi-faceted approach. While often overlooked, website hosting is a critical part of the SEO ecosystem, and it’s essential to choose a hosting provider that can meet the specific needs of your website and support your SEO goals.
Hosting providers that offer SEO-friendly features, such as fast servers, strict quality control standards, and secure hosting, can give you a leg up in the SEO race. And when it comes to SEO, every advantage counts.
Ultimately, having a robust online presence is essential for any business that wants to be competitive in today’s digital world. By investing in quality web hosting, you can give your business the best chance for success. If you’d like to learn more about our hosting or SEO services, contact our team.