There are few things more frustrating than unstable web hosting. Slow-loading pages and downtime can test your and your potential customers’ patience. And beyond prompting more greying hairs than you’d like, it means security issues and building/hosting costs.
In a world where online shopping rises year-on-year and an online presence is becoming increasingly crucial, a stable web hosting is important for businesses. Whether or not you actually have shopping facilities and payment gateways on your website, taking your business online means having a 'storefront' available 24/7 for visitors from all corners of the planet. So, to keep to attention of customers from Manchester to Madagascar, staying ahead of the curve is crucial.
Don’t worry – we’ve put together our predictions for the future of web hosting to prepare you for any changes.
1. Growing demand for web builders
From online bakeries to pet hotels and professional cuddling services, new ventures are popping up left, right, and centre. And business owners are only too familiar with the time, cost, and complexities of website building. Between balancing the books and selling your skills as a cuddling champ, learning to code often falls by the wayside.
The good news is you don't have to be a dev pro anymore. Straightforward drag-and-drop website builders reduce hassle and expenses – and all you have to do is add sections that have already been coded for you.
Many web hosting services now offer their own easy-to-use website builders, taking care of the complex code and design elements for you – and 2023 will likely see a rise in ecommerce web builders too.
2. Service costs are set to drop
With so many web hosting companies out there to choose from, how do you choose the right one? Pricing.
Sure, uptime guarantee, bandwidth, customer support, and freebies are words everyone likes to hear, but money talks louder. Offering customers big features with low costs is going to be the likely way providers start moving forward.
And it’s worth remembering that many customers aren’t big companies willing to throw money around. Key demographics include small-budget startups or freelancers looking for cost-effective options. 2023 is likely to see the price war continue as technology advances and customer demands evolve.
3. Cloud hosting is gaining momentum
Cloud hosting has become the go-to solution for many in recent years – a trend we expect to continue. It’s an attractive option for businesses of all sizes as it’s entirely scalable, provides regular website backups, and doesn’t require direct active management (seriously, you can go and put your feet up). And one of the features drawing many people in is the pay-as-you-go billing model many providers use. It's no wonder why a hosting service you can start, stop and scale month to month is an attractive option for businesses.
Many cloud hosting providers set themselves apart from the crowd with additional services like free domain names and SSL certificates. What’s more, cloud hosting is better for the planet. As a much more sustainable solution with better control and clarity over resources used, cloud hosting meets the needs of the increasingly eco-conscious business world.
4. Sustainability is becoming a huge pulling factor
Talking of eco-friendly...
Green credentials are a hot topic across a lot of industries and the web hosting market is no different. Wrapping your products in bamboo and planting a tree every time you turn the light on means nothing if you don’t consider the role your web hosting provider plays.
So, how will providers minimise energy consumption and waste? Cutting-edge technologies and eco-friendly initiatives are set to play a vital role in making web hosting as sustainable as possible.
At Fasthosts, for example, we’ve made great strides towards becoming more sustainable and, over the past five years, have been able to reduce our energy consumption by more than 15%. Our ISO 50001-certified UK data centres are run by 100% renewable energy sources, combining offshore wind and biofuel. Plus we've recently invested in a brand new data centre that was designed with the environment in mind – it has a low PUE rating, its own solar photovoltaic panels, green roofs, electric car charging stations and bug hotels.
In need of web hosting services?
You’ve come to the right place. We can help with a range of WordPress Hosting and Web Hosting plans to choose from – and we’ll throw in free domains and lifetime SSL certificate. Just pick a use-case and we’ll pre-install recommended themes and plugins for you!
Looking for more interesting web hosting reads? Dive into the costs of web hosting, read about what web hosting can do for agencies or maybe learn more about the types of web hosting!
