Today, having a business website can hugely impact its success. It attracts new clients and generates sales.
Over 80% of the population in the United Kingdom (UK) is a digital buyer. This shows that the majority of potential buyers find and purchase products online. This means that any business in the UK, that does not have a website is missing out on opportunities to increase sales.
Because so many people now shop online, you must also have an online presence for your business. You can achieve this by developing a website for your business.
It can be a daunting task if you’re a beginner trying to figure out how to create a website. You’ve probably come across a lot of information and terms that have confused you while trying to launch your first website.
One of the most difficult decisions you’ll have to make as a beginner is whether to use web hosting or a website builder.
They both have a role to play in the creation of a new website. Furthermore, they each provide unique benefits, features, and tools that make it easier for anyone to create a website.
However, because the result is the same, you may be wondering which path to take when building a website. Web hosting or website builder?
In this blog, we’ll explain how the two differ and provide more information about both to help you get started.
What is web hosting?
A web hosting service is a type of internet hosting that hosts websites for customers. It makes the website’s file available for viewing online. It would be impossible for us to access web content without it.
So, if you’re creating a website, you should be aware that it will require web hosting.
Types of Web hosting
To better understand web hosting, we must first break it down. Web hosting is classified into four types:
- Shared Hosting
- VPS (virtual private server) hosting
- Dedicated hosting
- Cloud hosting
i). Shared Hosting
This is ideal for hosting entry-level websites. Multiple users share a single server in this type of web hosting. This means that multiple websites will be hosted on a single server.
Because many users share the resources on a single server, the costs are kept low. It is appropriate for a small website or blog that does not require advanced configurations or a large amount of bandwidth.
Most shared hosting packages include user-friendly features such as a panel control.
ii). Virtual Private Server. (VPS)
This plan is an upgrade from shared web hosting. It is a virtual machine that provides virtualized server resources on a physical server that other users share. However, the number of websites with which you will share it is significantly reduced.
It is ideal for small and medium-sized businesses that cannot afford downtime on their website. It is also ideal for website owners who have outgrown the capabilities of a shared hosting plan.
iii). Dedicated server hosting
When it comes to web hosting, this is the absolute best option. It gives website owners the most control over the server on which their website is hosted. It is, however, the most expensive type of web hosting.
It is typically appropriate for large enterprises with high-traffic sites and those who require complete server control.
iv). Cloud hosting
This is similar to a hybrid VPS, but it is less expensive. It is a type of hosting that allows a website to take advantage of the resources of multiple servers, resulting in faster performance.
It operates via virtualization. It is a technology that divides a physical server into several virtual machines called cloud servers. Each server is responsible for a different set of tasks.
If one of the servers becomes compromised or has a problem, the other servers on the network will take over.
It is the best option for medium and large business websites that are rapidly growing.
What is a website builder?
A website builder is a tool or program that allows you to create and design your website. Creating a website used to necessitate learning how to code. Anyone can now easily create a new website without editing any code.
You don’t need to hire a designer to create a website. If you’re just getting started. You can use the website builder to create and design a professional-looking website.
Types of Website Builders
There are numerous website builders available on the market. As a result, determining the best website builder for beginners is difficult. However, selecting the best website builder is critical to your online success.
We’ll look at some of the most popular website builders in the UK that you can use to build your website.
01). WordPress
This is the most popular website creation platform on the planet. WordPress powers over 43% of all websites on the internet.
WordPress is available in two versions: WordPress.org and WordPress.com. As a beginner, you may be perplexed by the two. WordPress.org is a self-hosted WordPress that gives you complete control over your site.
WordPress.com is a service that assists you in creating a website with WordPress software and managed hosting.
WordPress.org is superior because it gives you complete control.
02). Olitt
Olitt is a user-friendly website drag-and-drop builder platform. It has many features and templates you can use to create a free website. The platform offers free website hosting.
03). Big-commerce
This well-known eCommerce website builder allows you to create a scalable online store easily. It has tons of features that can be used to create an online store without the need for any coding. It is better suited to new and established online businesses.
Read also: Secrets To Success: Running a Successful Online Store in the UK.
04). Wix
This is a website-building platform that is well-known for its user-friendly interface. It has a drag-and-drop editor that makes creating websites easier and faster without the need for coding knowledge. It has a lot of customization options to ensure that your website looks exactly how you want it to.
05). Shopify
This is the most effective eCommerce platform for developing websites, customizing them, and managing online stores. It is designed to grow with you. It has certified partners who provide support 24 hours a day if you have troubleshooting issues.
These are just a few of the many website builders available. They offer both free and paid versions, so as a beginner, you can try the free version first and then upgrade to the paid version later.
We’ve looked at both web hosting and website builders; now let’s look at some of the features that they each provide. You should keep in mind that both web hosting and website builders can have a significant impact on your website. They can impact its speed, security, scalability, and usability.
It is critical that whichever one you choose is of high quality to avoid problems later on.
Important features of a good web hosting service
When looking for a good web hosting provider, keep the following features in mind.
1). Storage
Storage is one of the most important services that web hosts provide. To run a website, those files must be stored on web servers that are supported by physical data centers. You’ll need a hosting plan that includes enough storage.
2). Bandwidth
Another important service provided by a hosting provider is bandwidth. Bandwidth is the ability to deal with a situation involving a large amount of information or several problems.
It ensures that your website’s loading time is not affected if it receives excessive traffic.
As a result, if you want high bandwidths, choose one that shares its resources with a few other websites. Dedicated hosting is the best option because it provides you with more control and server resources to work with.
3). Website speed
Internet users nowadays expect websites to load in less than 3 seconds. When a website takes too long to load, the user experience suffers. A good web hosting plan aids in the delivery of fast page speeds.
Read also: Top 5 Fast WordPress Hosting Providers in the UK.
4). Support
You may run into problems while developing and managing your website. In this case, you require exceptional technical assistance. Get a web hosting plan that includes 24/7 customer support.
5). Scalable service
Another important hosting feature that you should look for is scalable service. Scalability refers to how quickly and easily your host can adapt to your requirements.
Assuming your business is expanding, your web hosting plan should be scalable enough to allow you to scale up.
Features of website builder
As a beginner, especially if you own a small business, you probably don’t have the funds to hire a design team. This is where website builders come in, as they provide an easy way for you to create your website.
Because there are so many website builders available, here are some features to consider when selecting the best website builder for your business.
i). Easy to use
If you lack coding and other technical skills, this should not be a problem. The majority of these website builders are easy to use. They have a user-friendly interface and a drag-and-drop tool for creating a website. When choosing a website builder, look for one that is simple to use.
ii). A variety of templates
Themes are what make your website look beautiful and distinct. Look for a website builder with a large selection of these themes to create an appealing and professional website.
iii). Mobile responsive
People will likely visit your website on their mobile responsiveness a significant ranking factor in search results. You cannot afford to lose customers because your website does not load properly on mobile devices.
iv). Support
Most of these website builders are designed in such a way that you can create beautiful websites without the assistance of a designer.
However, when creating, you may find yourself in a situation where you require additional assistance. As a result, you must select a website builder that provides 24-hour customer support.
We’ve seen that web hosting and a website builder are essential when creating a website. We’ve also looked at some features you should think about for each to ensure you build a great website.
New website owners frequently require entirely different services because they offer something unique.
To avoid confusion, here are some of the main differences between the two.
A comparison of web hosting and website builder
#1. A web hosting service, rather than a service that allows you to build a website, is a digital space that hosts websites. On the other hand, website builders enable you to create a website.
#2. Web hosting is required because it is the only way to get your website online.
Using a website builder to create a website is optional. All you need is a registered domain name and a web host. However, creating a website without a website builder may necessitate a few extra steps.
Conclusion
Given that these two services are so dissimilar, you may wonder which to use for your new website. Prospective site owners do not have to choose between the two. You can select either because they will assist you in getting your website up and running.
However, if you’re a beginner looking to build your first website and want to get it up and running quickly, I recommend using a website builder.
Web hosting gives you complete control and allows you to grow your website through SEO effectively. There are numerous web hosting providers in the UK, but I recommend Truehost Cloud.
It provides a comprehensive selection of web hosting plans, domain name registration, CMS such as WordPress and Magenta that assist you in creating your website, and much more.
Truehost lets you have your website up and running in under 3 minutes.