There is an upheaval in the current business ecosystem due to the sudden outbreak of the global pandemic. Forced to remain indoors, people have severely restricted their regular routine to adjust to the hygiene norms. Given the current scenario, physically interacting with customers and clients is not a viable option anymore.
It begs the question- how can the small and medium enterprises or SMEs survive, let alone flourish in this stagnant economy. And, just when everything seemed to be lost, the answer became more evident. Limited to the confines of their home, people began turning to the internet. It led to an astronomical rise in the online business as the sales went through the roof.
As if the opportunity blessed by the heavens, businesses big and small focused on growing their online presence. The eCommerce bustled as more and more enterprises started to set up their shops online with their websites.
Aside from the fact that websites are essential assets to have for any business, there are various factors to consider before taking it online. The most vital of all is the hosting service for the website.
It is normal for SMEs to begin hosting their website on the good old shared hosting or reseller hosting platform. However, that is a conventional way of thinking as there are a multitude of better options to consider.
If you are an SME or any other individual who wants to have a website, you may have heard of WordPress. It is the most successful content management system or CMS that has captured the interest of all web designers and internet enthusiasts alike. Aside from the fact that it is an open-source application, WordPress allows users to create their website from scratch even if they don’t have prior coding experience. With its user-friendly graphic interface and thousands of theme and plugin options to choose from, it becomes easy to create an interactive website.
The subtle simplicity and ingenuity WordPress brings to the table can only be matched by its technical compatibility. Being a PHP-based CMS application, WordPress is compatible with almost all virtual systems as software.
However, hosting a WordPress website on a web hosting platform is not a good idea. Unless you are an experienced professional who knows how to handle hosting, you will be overwhelmed to maintain your hosting and your business website.
To solve this issue, many hosting providers have introduced WordPress hosting services.
They provide you with a hosting that has a pre-installed WordPress and do all the necessary settings in the backend. This way, you can start building your website or adding WordPress plugins without worrying about the settings.
Some of the big hosting companies have taken it further and provide managed WordPress hosting that is obviously a superior version to their WordPress hosting. Famous hosting providers like MilesWeb, HostGator, A2Hosting, Bluehost offer premium quality WordPress hosting and managed WordPress hosting.
Managed WordPress Hosting
As many WordPress websites require special attention as they become operational, it becomes more hectic to manage the hosting. In managed WordPress hosting, the provider takes over the management and maintenance duties for the hosting. It involves:
Configuration
Your WordPress site needs to have all the essential resources and met the requirements to function properly. It includes resource allocation, memory storage, settings, etc. In managed WordPress hosting, the provider does all these configurations in the background without letting it trouble the performance of your website.
Maintenance
The provider takes over the server and hosting’s maintenance. Routine maintenance involves installing updates, caching, server optimization, PHP coding and monitoring. It takes a person with skills and the general know-how of the hosting to carry these duties efficiently. A slip-up here in the maintenance will cause disruption in the overall performance of the website.
Security
One of the most crucial aspects of managed WordPress hosting is the safety of the website. The hosting provider assigns a team that actively monitors the web traffic and also assesses any security threats. They must also handle the email spams, malware scans and removal and other safety protocols to maintain the website’s security.
Expert Guidance
The providers have a team of WordPress experts knowledgeable in hosting services. They not only take care of your hosting in the background but also help you in other ways. For example, they can suggest more suitable plugins for your website. It allows your website to garner fitting software applications according to the system requirements.
Dedicated Support
Managed WordPress hosting services often come with customer support that is exclusive to WordPress hosting. Unlike other support services, this service is dedicated solely to resolving any WordPress hosting issues on priority. It is a major bonus for the managed WordPress hosting.
How is it Ideal for SMEs?
Small and Medium Enterprises or SMEs need a hosting that can host an eCommerce website with the bare minimum of resources. Although it is tricky, it is possible to go with shared or WordPress hosting, but the limitations and efforts are severe. You have to be vigilant, intuitive and have the basic knowledge of the technical aspects of the hosting. Managed WordPress hosting resolves these issues and more, making it an ideal fit for SMEs.
Focus on Business
Your business takes priority as surviving is difficult in the cut-throat competition between SMEs. You can waste time learning about and maintaining your hosting while focusing on business. Managed WordPress hosting purges this dilemma as the provider looks after the hosting so, you look after your website and trade.
Optimum Performance
Managed WordPress hosting assures the users of the best possible performance from the website. The hosting itself is fluently managed to the limits so that your website can function without showing any irregularities.
Cost-efficient Alternative
“It is better to outsource than to hire an in-house staff” that is the motto of any successful business. Managed WordPress hosting does exactly that as you get a team of experts to look after your hosting’s management and maintenance at a much lesser cost than the salary of an in-house employee.
To Sum it up
SMEs need the managed WordPress hosting for their website as they get a perfectly well-maintained hosting service at a slight premium. It is an investment that benefits the business by smoothly hosting a WordPress website and saving money on hiring additional staff. Do your research and choose a good hosting provider that is trusted by people.
