3 Things to Know Before You Switch to a Hosted Website
When your business first launches, it might not seem like a good time to switch from an individual website to a hosted version. After all, you may not have much time or money to invest in developing your site. But as your business grows and evolves, it will become apparent that a hosted site is the way forward. Fortunately, migrating from an independent website to a hosted one is easier than ever before. These services are becoming more affordable and accessible with each passing day. If you’re currently on the fence about switching to a hosted website solution, here are some things you should know first.
What is a Hosted Website?
A hosted website is an online-based website platform that lets you create and manage a website without having to deal with the technicalities of web hosting. Hosted websites are managed by software created by third-party hosting providers. Hosted websites are also referred to as “shared” or “cloud” websites because they are created and hosted on a single server along with other websites. This is why hosted websites are very scalable—you can increase or decrease the resources your website requires as you grow your business. Hosted websites are also extremely easy to maintain—you don’t have to physically go to a server room to make changes.
Why Should You Switch to a Hosted Website?
The truth is that most businesses are better off using a hosted website. It’s an affordable and easy-to-maintain solution that puts you in control of your brand’s image. A hosted website is a great solution for entrepreneurs who want to create a professional-looking website but don’t have the time or technical know-how to do it themselves. A hosted website is also a good choice for businesses that are still in their infancy because it allows you to grow and expand with ease as your customer base expands. Hosted websites are much easier to scale than independent websites. This means that you won’t have to worry about upgrading your current hosting solution as your business grows. Hosted websites also come with a variety of functionalities that you can use to your advantage. These include eCommerce and mailing list/autoresponder integrations, SEO-friendly website designs, and real-time content management systems, to name a few.
3 Things to Know Before Switching
- What to do with your existing domain name – Before you make the leap to a hosted website, make sure that you’re not losing domain authority or hosting authority with your current platform. If you decide to stick with your existing domain name, you can purchase a website forwarding service that will direct your visitors to your new hosted website.
- How to select a hosting service – When you’re shopping for a hosting service, your number one priority should be finding a robust solution that can scale with your business. Always opt for a platform that offers 99.9% uptime and comes with robust customer support.
- What to do with your current website – You should always plan to migrate your current website to a hosted solution. This will prevent the migration process from being a jarring experience for your customers and sales team.
How to Switch From an Independent Website to a Hosted One
Before you switch to a hosted solution, you’ll need to make sure that all of your content, images, and branding have been transferred to your new platform. Depending on the size of your website, this process could take anywhere from a few days to a few weeks. Ideally, you should work closely with a website development firm to ensure that your content is transferred properly. Most hosted website providers will allow you to import your current content. The only difference is that instead of hosting this content on your own server, it will be hosted on the servers of your hosting provider. Hosted solutions will also allow you to import images and branding from your current website. Depending on your host, you may need to use a tool called “Managed WordPress” or “Website Builder.”
It’ll be easier to grow your business.
As your business grows, you’ll likely outgrow whatever hosting solution you’re currently using. This is especially true if you have high-volume traffic and depend on email marketing. If that’s the case, you’ll want to make the switch to a hosted solution as soon as possible. A hosted website will allow you to scale your website as your business grows. This means that you can instantly increase your website’s capacity or functionality in the blink of an eye. Hosted solutions are also scalable in terms of resources. This means that you can increase the RAM, CPU, and storage of your site as needed without investing in new hardware.
You’ll have more control over your brand’s image.
An important part of building your business is creating a consistent brand image that resonates with your target audience. A hosted solution will allow you to customize your website’s design and functionality to your heart’s content. This means that you can completely control how your brand image is portrayed on your website. Hosted websites are also incredibly easy to maintain. They allow you to make quick changes to your site’s copy, images, and functionalities. This means that you can update your site as often as you like, creating a consistent experience for your customers. Hosted websites also let you integrate with third-party apps, software integrations, and CMS tools that allow you to further control your brand’s image.
You won’t have to update and maintain your own website.
As you’re probably aware, maintaining your own website is no walk in the park. From ensuring that your server is running properly to updating your site with new content and images, it’s a huge time-suck. Hosted websites are managed by third-party hosting providers, which means that you don’t have to worry about any of that. All you have to do is create content and make minor changes when needed—the hosting platform does the rest.
Summing up
Switching to a hosted website solution is a great way to grow your business and make your website easier to maintain. This solution allows you to switch to a fully managed website without having to invest in server infrastructure or hire IT staff. Hosted solutions are scalable, allowing you to easily increase your website’s capacity or functionality as your business grows. Hosted websites also provide more control over your brand’s image, allowing you to customize your website’s design and functionality. Hosted solutions also allow you to integrate with third-party apps, software integrations, and CMS tools that further control your website’s functionality. Hosted websites are a great solution for entrepreneurs who want to create a professional-looking website but don’t have the time or technical know-how to do it themselves.
