The overlooked role of hosting in SEO and website conversion rates
A reliable hosting provider will support your SEO and conversion goals, providing customizable solutions
DOES WEB HOSTING affect the SEO of my website? This is one of the most common questions businesses and website owners have when they’re trying to get their website ranked higher. The answer is a big YES!
Let’s cut to the chase and analyze what web hosting is and how it affects SEO and website conversion rates.
What is Web Hosting?
If you don’t already know, web hosting is a service that allows businesses and individuals to make their website accessible for Internet users. Think of it as a rental space where all the images, files, and scripts of your website are stored. When a user enters your website’s URL, they’re redirected to the host’s server, and your website is displayed.
There are several types of web hosting available, such as:
- Shared hosting
- Dedicated hosting
- Virtual Private Server (VPS)
- Cloud hosting
Each type of hosting service has its pros and cons. For example, shared hosting is highly affordable, but multiple websites share server resources, which might reduce your website’s performance. On the other hand, a VPS server gives you dedicated resources and full control, but at a higher cost.
How Hosting Affects SEO
Web hosting directly impacts critical ranking features, such as page load time, security, and uptime. Here’s a closer look:
Page load time: It is one of the top three ranking factors set by Google. A slow site leads to poor user experience and high bounce rates, which might reduce your chances of getting ranked. Quality hosting ensures faster loading times, boosting your SEO efforts.
Uptime: Frequent downtime can make your website appear less reliable. The ideal server uptime is 99.99%, and a reputable hosting provider can make sure your website comes close to it. High uptime is critical for SEO success.
Security: Security breaches can undo all of your SEO efforts. Private hosting packages often come with SSL certificates, firewalls, and DDoS protection, ensuring your website stays credible.
Technical Support: Having a dedicated hosting package means all issues will get resolved quickly. For instance, if your site becomes unusually slow, the hosting provider would fix the issue before it impacts your site’s ranking and visibility.
Hosting and Website Conversion Rate: What’s the Connection?
Before we move further, let’s unpack what website conversion rates are. Generally speaking, they measure the percentage of visitors who complete a desired action. Conversion is any action you want a visitor to complete, such as making a purchase or signing up for a newsletter.
So, how does web hosting impact website conversion rate? Imagine your site is taking more than three seconds to load, many visitors might abandon it before seeing what you’re offering. According to some surveys, even a one-second delay can negatively impact conversion rates. Fast and reliable hosting ensures your visitors don’t have to wait or get frustrated. The content will quickly load, and interactive elements will work to increase conversion rates.
A reliable hosting provider, such as Liquid Web, will support your SEO and conversion goals, providing customizable solutions.