Where do I host my health practitioners website?

Once you decide it's time to create a website for your business, a whole range of new questions pop up. The first one is almost always: where and how do I host my website?

When you head out into the world of websites, hosting is a common stumbling block for many people. You might just sign up with the first host you come across.

Or pick the cheapest option to save a few dollars.

Or the one recommended by your sister's husband's colleague.

It can all be a bit confusing, and there are pro's and con's to most options out there. So how do you choose the right host for your business?

Let me walk you through the ups and downs of a couple of the most popular hosting choices out there:

1. Siteground

This is one of the better options to start with, and prices start at around $4.95USD per month. They have an excellent customer support team to make things super easy. They have a support chat option, which is fantastic, but if you have to send an email they are quick to respond and offer solutions.

You can register your domain through Siteground for $19.95USD per year, but domains ending in .com.au cost extra since this is a US based company.
Siteground hosting is compatible with other website builders.
(interested in Siteground? I have an affiliate link here)

1. Panthur

This is one of my favourite options, and here's why: it's an Australian company, with great customer support in the same time zone. This might sound silly, but hear me out: if your site crashes in the middle of the day, you'll struggle to find someone to answer your call at a US-based company (they'll be sleeping!)

Panthur starts at just $5 per month, with domain registration from $12 per year. They offer multiple billing options, so if you're just starting out you can try month-to-month payments; or, if you've got some money in the bank, consider paying 1-3 years in advance and save on total cost!
Panthur hosting is compatible with other website builders.

1. Wix

This is another US-based host, with plans ranging between $4.50-$24.50USD per month. However, in order to remove the Wix branding from your website, you need to be signed up for a minimum of $8.50 per month plan. This plan, and all higher levels, does come with a free .com domain.

If you need to include a store in your website, the minimum plan would be $16.50USD per month; bandwidth and storage varies between the different plans.
Wix hosting only works for Wix-built websites.

1. Squarespace

This is another popular one, and costs around $22-25AUD per month; but if you pay your fees annually, you can save money.

You can register your domain through Squarespace as well for around $27 per year.
The big bonus to Squarespace sites is that due to popularity, many people have taken an interest in learning the platform. This means it's relatively easy to find assistance for web design and related tech issues.
Squarespace hosting only works for Squarespace-built websites.

1. Crazy Domains & GoDaddy

I'm adding these to the list as they pop up as popular options due to price: GoDaddy costs around $6.95AUD per month, while Crazy Domains starts at just $2.48. Word of warning for these platforms: they have poor customer service and the back-end is complex and painful to work on. These are not easy-build website platforms like Squarespace.

Do yourself (and your web designer!) a favour and avoid these hosts. I do recommend GoDaddy for some of my clients, as it’s a quick integration with for a Squarespace website, but that’s really as far as I go with suggesting them.

With all these options, how do I know what to look for?

It's all well and good to list the pro's and con's of each host company, but actually choosing a host still feels difficult. Here are the things I recommend my clients look for when deciding on a hosting option for their new website:

• How much does it cost compared to others with similar features?

• How much space do you need? Can you upload documents, images, videos?

• Is it a reputable company that doesn't have many crash complaints?

• Can you register a domain with them?

• Do they support an eCommerce store or other necessary features?

• Are they compatible with other website builders like Squarespace or WordPress?

Make a list of all the things you'd love to have included in your website. Even if you don't want to implement them just yet, make a note of what you want to work towards. Many of my clients include things like a store, a blog, video uploads, galleries, and more.

What features does your website need to have for your business to thrive?

A final consideration:

Email hosting.

We take for granted having easy access to email; nearly everyone has an @gmail.com or @outlook.com address for sending messages. But what about those business emails? Take mine for example: [email protected]

How do you get that awesome business-name email address? Through hosting. Most website hosts also offer their own email hosting, while others offer integration with external email hosting such as G-suite. If you do a lot of email correspondence with clients, suppliers or colleagues, having a business email address can add a touch of professionalism to your work.

Some hosts want to lock you in with email hosting, like Wix, so be sure you're happy with them before you proceed. Others will offer special incentives, for example: Squarespace offer 1 year free Gmail for a new business email address if you pay up-front. I can offer my clients an even better deal on annual plans paid in full, ask me how today.

If you're still struggling to decide, not sure which option is compatible with your current site, need help reworking an old website, or just plain don't know where to start, let's talk.

This is what I'm here for.