Even though SEO is becoming more and more popular as those with websites begin to see how the process can improve traffic and sales on their site, many people still don’t entirely understand how it works. So it’s no surprise that some sites are utilizing improper web hosting services even though they may be paying for SEO, leading to results that aren’t quite what they expected. But when you realize how the web host you choose can affect your page rank, you’ll begin to understand why SEO is useless if you don’t have the right web hosting service in place. Here are just a few ways that your host could be having a negative impact on your SEO efforts.
The first thing you need to know about your web host is how reliable they are. If the servers that host your site are frequently experiencing downtime, you have a big problem. First, your customers may not be able to reach your site. If this happens more than once, you will very likely lose business because of it (sometimes once is all it takes). In addition, you might also get passed over by search engine bots attempting to cache your site, which can have a definite effect on your page rank if it happens frequently. Unless you have installed software specifically to inform the bots when an unexpected server downtime has occurred (as opposed to, say, scheduled maintenance), the bots won’t be able to differentiate, and they will likely label the lapse as a lack of reliability, or even inactivity on your site (bad news for your page rank).
You also need to focus on loading times. If it’s taking your site so long to load that pages are timing out, then there is a problem with your web host. It’s not unusual for older computers to have such problems, but when a brand new PC or laptop is unable to load your page then you know there’s something wrong with your web hosting service. The most common cause of this problem is shared hosting, by which several domains share the same IP address (including bandwidth and storage). While this certainly cuts cost, it can also be detrimental to loading times (which will once again put a dent in your page rank). If the problem persists you should seek a different host.
Finally, you need to consider added value, mainly in the form of features offered. Consider the control panel, which contains the administrative toolbox for your website. You should look for a web host that provides automatic SEO tools (like tags for every page) that will help to maximize your efforts and appeal to the bots that determine your page rank. You should also pay attention to other sites being hosted, especially if there seems to be an inordinately high number of spam and/or adult entertainment sites. These could have a negative impact on your own site, so no matter how good a host looks, you should avoid them if they raise red flags in the this area.
When it comes to finding a web host, you can certainly check cheap web host rankings if you want to pay bottom dollar for a service that offers very little (although it will mean a lot more work for you on the SEO front). But you could also opt to pay a bit more for a host that offers reliability, speed, and extras for those looking to implement SEO practices. In the long run, the ease of use may be worth the money you spend.
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