Web hosting reliability is everything when it comes to online stores and ecommerce platforms. Customers need to be able to reach your online store at any time, plus you need to provide them with a secured way of shopping. These are parts of the reasons why choosing the best hosting service is a must if you are starting a new online store.

Similar to choosing a web hosting service for other types of websites, you can start with the basics when trying to find a suitable hosting service for your online store. The amount of disk space and monthly data transfer provided are the two initial factors to consider.

Since we’re going to host an online store, however, there are additional things to consider. For starters, the hosting service needs to have SSL security enabled. This allows you to secure your checkout page, giving customers confidence when closing their transactions.

The hosting service also needs to come with quick and independent DNS servers for easy access. Add services such as worldwide CDN, automated backups and security measures to help protect customers’ information are great additions to the mix.

Don’t stop there. If you are anticipating a high level of traffic from the start, or if you want to make sure your online store is performing superbly, then getting a shared hosting plan is simply not an option. There are web hosting service packages, such as the ones from Finestshops, which offer managed servers and a much higher level of service for you to benefit from.

Last but certainly not least, make sure the web hosting service is well within your budget. With the extra features and management options you need, it is only natural to expect the cost of hosting your own online store to be more expensive than that of personal blogs and static websites.

You will be competing with thousands – yes, thousands – of other online stores on the market once your ecommerce site is launched, so any competitive advantage is a huge plus. I personally recommend using a web hosting service that uses SSD storage instead of conventional hard drives. The SSD storage offers better performance and much faster loading speed in general, allowing you to have a site that loads quickly and functions well under heavy traffic.

Another thing to consider is PCI compliance. If you are processing CREDIT CARD payments on your server, PCI compliance is a must. The only problem with this is that meeting the standards yourself can be a complicated task to tackle. It Is best to find a web hosting service that is already PCI compliant and one that will make sure your site is too. You save a lot of time and money on meeting the standards and still be able to process payments without fear of fines or security violations.

Keep these considerations in mind and finding the perfect hosting plan for your ecommerce site should be much easier to do. Start your search today and be part of the ecommerce boom right away.