Choosing the right web host is crucial for any business or individual looking to establish an online presence in Kenya. With so many options to choose from, it can be tempting to just go with the cheapest or most well-known host. However, this can lead to headaches down the road if the host ends up not meeting your needs. Avoid these common mistakes when comparing and selecting a web hosting company in Kenya:
Not Considering Local Hosts
Many make the mistake of only looking at large international web hosting companies. While these companies have great marketing and economies of scale, they may not understand the local Kenyan market as well as a hosting company based in Kenya. Local hosts will have servers physically located in Kenya, meaning faster page speeds for local visitors. They’ll also have more experience dealing with local internet infrastructure issues.
Focusing Too Much on Cost
Web hosting prices can vary widely, from less than $5 to over $100 per month. While cost is important, the cheapest option isn’t necessarily the best. Make sure to compare all the features and resources being offered at different price points. Some hosts offer unlimited bandwidth and storage, round-the-clock support, and advanced security features. Paying a little more upfront for quality hosting can save you money in the long run.
Not Reading the Fine Print
Many web hosts prominently advertise things like unlimited bandwidth, storage, or 99.9% uptime guarantees. However, the fine print often contains gotchas and limitations. Storage may be unlimited, but bandwidth caps could lead to overage fees. Uptime guarantees may only apply to the server infrastructure rather than the website itself. Read through all policies and terms closely before making a commitment.
Overlooking Technical Support
No matter how reliable a web host claims to be, problems inevitably crop up like server crashes, hacker attacks, or resource exhaustion. When something goes wrong, you want a web host with 24/7 technical support that can get your site back online ASAP. Look for hosts that offer support via phone, live chat, and tickets to meet different needs.
Not Considering Scalability
If your website takes off, you don’t want your web host to hold you back. Look for highly scalable hosts that allow seamless upgrades to VPS or dedicated server plans. This provides more compute resources, memory, bandwidth, and storage as your traffic grows. With a scalable host, you won’t need to go through the headaches of migrating everything to a new host.
Ignoring Security
Website security should be a top priority, considering the prevalence of cyber attacks, viruses, and other threats. Only use web hosts with robust security measures like firewalls, SSL certificates, automatic software updates, DDoS protection, and integrated malware detection. Backup solutions and redundancy are also essential in case disaster strikes.
Going for Unmetered Resources
Unmetered or unlimited resources like bandwidth and storage can seem appealing initially. However, hosts need to place limits to prevent abuse. With unmetered resources, you may run into usage caps,throttling, or sudden requests to upgrade to more expensive plans. Carefully evaluate the fine print before assuming you can use unlimited resources.
Choosing an Unreliable Host
Downtime is one of the biggest threats facing websites today. Even brief periods of downtime can lead to permanent losses in traffic, sales, and search engine rankings. Research a host’s uptime track record over the past year, looking for guarantees of at least 99.9% uptime. Multiple data centers and failover redundancy are also signs of reliability.
Not Considering Usability
Even experienced webmasters prefer a host that provides an intuitive control panel and website builder tools. This simplifies common tasks like setting up email accounts, installing SSL certificates, deploying scripts, managing databases, and publishing content. Look for hosts that don’t require technical expertise to accomplish everyday web hosting tasks.
Skipping the Free Trial
Most major hosts provide a free trial ranging from 30 days to a year. Take advantage of trials to thoroughly evaluate hosts firsthand before paying. Test the control panel, experiment with different site configurations, submit support tickets, monitor uptime and speed. Free trials let you confirm a host delivers on its promises before you commit.
By avoiding these mistakes, you can feel confident selecting the ideal Kenyan web host for your needs and budget. I highly recommend considering Jamii Host, a local hosting company based right here in Nairobi. Here’s why Jamii Host stands out from other hosting options in Kenya:
- Local servers based in Nairobi for fast Kenyan website performance
- Affordable plans starting from just Ksh 199 per month
- True unlimited bandwidth and storage resources
- 99.99% uptime guarantee backed by service credits
- Free migrations from your current host
- Fast, 24/7 support via phone, chat, email and tickets
- Intuitive control panel perfect for beginners
- Free SSL certificates to enable HTTPS security
- Seamless scalability from shared to VPS and dedicated servers
- 30-day money-back guarantee
In summary, don’t gamble with your website by choosing the wrong host. Avoid these 10 common mistakes in your selection process. For reliable, high-performing hosting in Kenya at reasonable prices, I suggest you start with Jamii Host. The outstanding features, resources, and support will provide great value for any Kenyan website.
