The purpose of most digital marketing efforts should be to point the user back to the website.
That can be either organic (search engine optimization) or paid traffic from search engines or social channels, QR code scans, etc.
We’ll talk some other time about the importance of having a website in our day and age; until then, today, we’ll be talking about an equally important topic – where that website is hosted.
Best Web Hosting Service in 2024
If you’re a business owner, freelance, a campaign manager in an agency, or even a web designer, you need to make a decision that can potentially break the business: choose the right hosting platform.
You’re bombarded with many hosting options all over: on the internet, in the subway, and during bus rides. I’m going to tell you about the platform I’m using – Cloudways – and why I believe it’s the best web hosting provider in 2024.
You might have heard me saying I mostly deal with WordPress websites; I don’t particularly love this platform, and in many cases, it’s frustrating with all its updates, bugs, plugin conflicts and errors.
But, out of all the other options, it still gives you the biggest flexibility, and at the end of the day, with WordPress, you can do whatever you want.
Literally.
The only other option that allows you to do this is a custom solution and hardcoding a website from scratch.
That’s not a viable (or necessary) solution for many businesses, so WordPress is the next best option.
Web Hosting Features: Flexibility in Server Setup and Locations
This flexibility is important for your business’s success. In 2004, using FrontPage Express (a now deprecated website-building tool), you had more capabilities than what many of today’s popular website builder platforms offer.
For me and for the clients I work with, this flexibility is important. So when I choose a hosting platform, this is the first thing I look for.
I don’t need a million options, just a single, reliable platform offering diverse services. Cloudways has been providing this for several years and has become the preferred website hosting platform.
Key features include multi-cloud support, allowing you to choose from top providers like DigitalOcean, Google Cloud, AWS, Vultr, and Linode. This versatility ensures you can select the best option for your specific needs and target audience.
The platform provides an intuitive dashboard for easy server and application management, one-click installations, automated backups, and advanced caching mechanisms such as Varnish, Memcached, and Redis. If these sound complicated (and they are) – Cloudways’ interface makes it easily operable for non-developers – and their support is stellar.
Additionally, Cloudways ensures high security with dedicated firewalls, free SSL certificates, and 24/7 monitoring, making it a reliable choice for cloud hosting WordPress sites.
Many disregard certain specific requirements. For example, it is recommended to have the servers located in the region where you operate. In the province of Quebec, Canada, for example, some data must be hosted within Quebec’s territory.
With Cloudways, it’s fairly easy to set up servers in that region, and AWS and Google Cloud offer this option.
And speaking of setting up servers – that sounds complicated and sounds like you need a degree in data science, right?
Cloudways’s easy-to-operate and intuitive interface makes it incredibly easy. With one click installation, you can set up a server in your desired location and deploy your client’s website within minutes.
- Cloudways simplifies client management with features like team collaboration tools, detailed project management capabilities, and role-based access, allowing agencies to efficiently oversee multiple client projects within a single platform.
- Agencies managing multiple clients can leverage Cloudways to streamline their workflows, easily deploy and manage separate applications for each client, and ensure high performance and security through its multi-cloud support and advanced optimization features.
Client billing – Cloudways introduced the Client Billing feature to streamline invoicing and payment management for digital agencies and freelancers. This tool automates the creation of invoices, tracks payments, and integrates seamlessly with the Stripe payment gateway for smooth transactions. It supports multiple currencies, offers customized white-label invoices, and includes real-time financial monitoring. Client Billing simplifies administrative tasks, allowing agencies and freelancers to focus on core business activities and growth.
Client billing – Web Hosting Solution: Cost-Effectiveness and Scalability
Everything sounds good up until now, but it can get expensive, right? Nope. Of course, depending on the size of your business or project, most of the time, you pay more than you need from your hosting plan – with the opposite being you pay $2 a month to keep your site on shared hosting, on servers with another million other sites with a bad reputation.
Here are some perks from Cloudways:
Pay-as-You-Go Pricing Model
Cloudways offers a highly flexible and transparent pay-as-you-go pricing model, which is ideal for both agencies and freelancers. This approach allows users to only pay for the resources they consume, eliminating the need for long-term contracts and reducing unnecessary expenses.
With Cloudways, you can easily adjust your server resources in real time to match your current needs, ensuring you never overpay for unused capacity. This model provides cost predictability and financial efficiency, making it easier for businesses to manage their budgets while scaling their operations seamlessly.
Scalability Options for Freelance Web Hosting and Growing Agencies
One of Cloudways’ standout feature is its exceptional scalability, tailored to meet the dynamic needs of growing agencies and freelancers.
The platform supports vertical scaling, which allows you to upgrade your server specifications (RAM, storage, and CPU) with a few clicks, ensuring your website can handle increased traffic and data demands without downtime.
Additionally, Cloudways facilitates horizontal scaling, enabling you to clone applications and deploy them across multiple servers for load balancing and redundancy. This flexibility ensures that as your business grows, your hosting infrastructure can expand effortlessly to accommodate new projects and clients.
Comparison with Traditional Hosting Providers
When compared to traditional hosting solutions, Cloudways stands out for its innovative and user-centric approach.
Unlike traditional hosting, which often involves fixed contracts, limited customization, and manual server management, Cloudways offers a cloud-based platform with unparalleled flexibility and control.
Users benefit from features like automated backups, advanced caching, and a choice of top-tier cloud providers (DigitalOcean, Google Cloud, AWS, Vultr, Linode). This ensures superior performance, reliability, and security.
The intuitive Cloudways dashboard simplifies server and application management, facilitating accessibility for individuals lacking significant technical knowledge and improving overall effectiveness and user happiness.
Webhost Support and Hosting Options
I already mentioned that Cloudways excels in providing exceptional customer support and resources, offering users access to assistance whenever they need it.
The platform offers 24/7 customer support through live chat and ticketing systems, which allows users to get quick resolutions to their issues at any time.
Furthermore, Cloudways keeps a comprehensive knowledge base with in-depth guides, tutorials, and articles to assist users in navigating and troubleshooting different elements of their hosting environment.
This is an important aspect and why Cloudways is my first choice when it comes to website hosting. It’s normal to reach out to support every now and then, as things online change too fast sometimes.
Conclusion on Best Web Hosting for Freelancers and Agencies
Not yet convinced? You can give it a try for free – Cloudways offers you the possibility to experience their platform for free, no credit card required.
If you’re frustrated with your current website hosting and need a permanent solution that’s affordable, secure, and intuitive, where you don’t need a data engineering degree to operate it, and with an excellent support team, Cludways is your solution. Try it now.
