Shared web hosting services are the best option for beginners to build an online presence. Many bloggers, individuals, enterprises, and freelance web developers use these hosting types with scalable resources.
Linux-shared web hosting plans are a favored choice for those just starting, primarily because the Linux operating system offers compatibility with a wide range of hardware configurations. For PHP developers looking to establish an online presence, managed PHP hosting services provide an ideal solution. Additionally, shared hosting is a solid starting point for creating an online store. However, as your store grows, it’s essential to consider whether shared hosting will continue to meet your needs. Let’s explore this topic in more detail.
Will Shared Hosting Handle eCommerce Stores Growth?
1. Scalability
When an eCommerce website begins to grow, increased visitor traffic is often a top consideration. While cost-effective, shared hosting has limitations in handling surges in web traffic, as multiple websites share the same server resources. If another website on the server experiences a spike, it may impact your website’s performance, slowing down loading times or even causing temporary downtime.
For a growing eCommerce website, the concern is whether or not the shared hosting environment will scale with increasing traffic. As your customer base grows, you may want a web hosting solution that is more flexible and dedicated. Upgrading to a virtual private server or cloud hosting can then be the path toward offering your website scalability during those peak shopping periods.
2. Security
The sensitive nature of customer information, such as payment details and personal information, necessitates security for eCommerce websites. Shared hosting environments are inherently more vulnerable because multiple websites are hosted on a single server. If one website on the server is compromised, other websites, including yours, could also be affected.
As your eCommerce website expands, consider a web hosting solution that offers the maximum security features, such as dedicated firewalls, DDoS protection, and SSL certificates. In such hosting plans, VPS and dedicated hosting provide more security and flexibility for setting custom protocols specific to the need to protect an online store, followed by industry standards for a customer’s safety.
3. Performance
Website speed is a critical factor in eCommerce, influencing both user experience and search engine rankings. Your shared hosting limits your website’s performance because server resources are divided among multiple users. If another website on the server consumes a lot of bandwidth, your website’s loading speed may be affected, potentially leading to a poor user experience and high bounce rates.
Performance demands increase as more products, images, and functionalities are added to your websites over time. Moving to web hosting solutions with dedicated resources like VPS or cloud hosting will ensure your website can maintain fast load times and perform seamlessly.
4. Control and Customization
Hosting will always have some limitations with the degree of customization that could deter the full utilization of customization features for the perfect environment you would need for your website in shared hosting. Most plans with a shared web host must give one reasonable control over server configurations to configure the best options while advancing the settings when growing or adding advanced requirements to the eCommerce website.
With business growth and ever-changing customer needs, flexibility is vital, which is precisely why eCommerce websites require this hosting solution. A VPS or dedicated server would offer more control over configurations, allowing you to include your custom scripts, optimize server settings, and make changes to increase the website’s functionality.
Summing Up
E-commerce stores require ample storage to establish a robust online presence and safeguard sensitive data. However, shared hosting plans often come with resource limitations that can hinder the scalability of online stores. Shared hosting plans provide sufficient storage and capacity, ensuring optimal performance without the risk of resource shortages. Many clients have successfully hosted their e-stores on shared servers.
This combination of resources and infrastructure significantly enhances the page speed and overall performance of e-commerce websites.
