In a shared web hosting model, multiple businesses have access to the same pool of resources on a single server. This server is logically partitioned such that companies cannot “see” any details about other business sites.
Shared hosting is cost effective to purchase and simple to set up, and it is often the online starting point for small businesses making the move online. While shared hosting does come with certain limitations, it also offers benefits for businesses looking to develop a digital presence.
If you’re looking for blazing-fast speed or unlimited bandwidth, shared hosting may not be the best option for your business. If you need a reliable, scalable solution to help grow your online impact, however, shared hosting is a great place to start.
Benefits of shared hosting include:
Compared to other hosting plan types, such as virtual private server (VPS) or dedicated hosting, shared hosting is by far the most cost effective. Where VPS hosting may start at $50 per month and quickly climb higher with any feature add-ons, shared hosting plans often cost between $5 and $10 per month. Thus, making them a great choice for small businesses on a budget.
While it’s possible to self-host your website on a server you purchase or rent, this approach makes small businesses responsible for their own server maintenance, upgrading, and monitoring. This means that if there’s a new software update that improves performance or fixes a security flaw, site owners must install this update themselves. Then, monitor for any operational conflicts.
In a shared hosting model, meanwhile, the provider handles server maintenance and management. This means site owners can focus on running their businesses.
Shared hosting plans typically come with access to site management tools such as cPanel. This makes it easy for site owners to upload new content, modify current web pages or change current site configurations. While cPanel may take some getting used to, there are a host of free tutorials online.
In many cases, providers will offer multiple tiers of shared and dedicated hosting plans. This allows small businesses to scale as needed. For example, a small business just starting to build its online presence might opt for the most cost-effective shared hosting plan available. As their resource needs increase, they might upgrade to a more robust shared hosting plan that offers more bandwidth and storage. Eventually, you can move to a dedicated or VPS plan — all without having to switch providers.
Shared hosting has improved significantly over the past few years. As a result, most shared hosting plans now support dynamic websites. These are sites that scale and adjust to match the device of the user, rather than presenting the same site for mobile, desktop, and tablet users.
Shared web hosting is a cost-effective way for small businesses to build and manage websites. With included technical support, full site control, and options to scale, starting with a shared hosting model sets the stage for further growth. All while helping businesses keep digital budgets on track.
