SEO and web hosting go hand in hand. Even if your link-building and keyword research are hitting all the right notes, the wrong web host can ruin the melody – and cause your website to tumble down the search rankings.
But just how important is a web host for SEO purposes? That’s what this guide will explore, along with answering common questions, such as ‘does changing web host affect SEO?’ and explaining how web hosting and SEO services are linked.
Does Web Hosting Affect SEO?
So, does web hosting affect SEO? In simple terms, yes, the web host you select plays a role in your website’s search engine ranking. Actually, that’s underselling it. Without SEO friendly web hosting, your site can suffer significant consequences – to the point where it’ll never be in contention for the all-important first page of search results.
This is why the decision on a web host is a big one to make. Many people base their choice on price and special offers alone, which is a dangerous path you must avoid. For example, you could come across a web host offering a special deal of £100 for a three-year hosting plan. That’s a heck of a deal, right? Not only does it cost less than £3 a month if you break it down, but it’s an expense you can pay and forget about for three years.
However, cheap web hosting offering too-good-to-be-true deals will likely be lacklustre in service. Say you fell for it and thought this irresistibly priced web hosting for SEO would deliver. Realistically, though, you’ll probably find it’s causing your strategy to bleed due to poor performance. As such, you’ll need to make a web host change urgently – and that initial £100 suddenly becomes a costly mistake.
On that topic, does changing web hosting affect SEO? Let’s find out!
Does Changing Web Host Affect SEO?
If you’re making the switch, this is an important question to ask. Does changing web hosting affect SEO? The answer, like last time, is a resounding ‘yes’.
The next question, however, should be this: does changing web host affect SEO positively or negatively? That’s when the answer becomes a little more muddled. In the short term, a temporary crawling slowdown may occur – and that can hurt SEO.
Here’s what Google’s John Mueller says about the subject:
“When it comes to moving hosting, you might see our systems initially slowing down crawling a bit. Any time we recognize a hosting change, we want to be sure that we don’t cause any problems.”
As for the long-term ramifications, this is dependent on the web hosting and SEO services you’ve chosen. Select a host that’s generally inferior to your previous provider, and this will have negative consequences. On the other hand, pick a superior host and prepare for an SEO boost.
What Is the Best Web Hosting for SEO?
There’s a seemingly endless list of web host providers out there. With so much choice, settling on an option for your business can be difficult. In any case, though, there are four main points you need to consider when it comes to web hosting and SEO services:
- Uptime
- Speed
- Location
- Features
These four aspects are crucial when creating a shortlist to help you select the best web host for SEO. Let’s take a closer look at each one.
Uptime
Downtime is something your website never wants to experience. If your site is down, it’s not accessible to visitors. It’s also not accessible to search engine spiders – and that’s very bad news.
Several times a day, these spiders crawl your website. If they perform this task at a time when your site is offline, they’ll flag it as unreliable. The result: your site’s rankings are downgraded.
Therefore, when it comes to SEO and web hosting, you want to find a provider that guarantees 99.9% uptime. 100% isn’t possible – some downtime is inevitable, even with dedicated servers – but you want to ensure your site stays available as much as possible with minimal interruption.
Speed
To be among the best web hosting for SEO, a provider has to offer fast loading speeds. Page speed is a well-known ranking factor for Google, and a slow, unresponsive site will be punished.
Admittedly, page speed isn’t entirely dependent on the host; the technical configuration of your site plays a huge role. The SEO web hosting package you choose is also a factor, as a shared server won’t boast the same load speeds as a dedicated server.
Nevertheless, for your web hosting and SEO to perform optimally, you must ensure your host isn’t slacking in the speed department.
Location
When selecting a web host for SEO purposes, another facet to ponder is the server’s location. Say you’re based in the UK and targeting a UK audience. In this case, you’ll want a server located in the UK. Why? Because search engine results are localised.
In order to deliver the best SEO web hosting, many of the biggest providers employ a content delivery network (CDN). A CDN in place incorporates a network of servers, all situated in various locations across the planet. Due to this, your content can be delivered through the most appropriate server, depending on the user’s location.
Location is also an important element in web hosting for SEO because it relates to the aforementioned topic of site speed. The further away a server is from a user, the longer it will take to load – theoretically.
Features
When selecting a web host for SEO services, a focus has to be placed on the tools and plugins the provider offers. To be the best web hosting for SEO, some providers will even feature SEO consulting – a service that can be invaluable if you’re new to this modern yet fundamental marketing strategy.
With your web hosting and SEO services aligned, there’s a better chance of climbing the search rankings.
Conclusion
SEO and web hosting as a duo are vital for your brand’s online presence, and it’s imperative you know how they complement one another. Now you understand everything from SEO aspects to common web host-related questions, such as ‘does changing web hosting affect SEO?’, you have the knowledge to choose the best web host for your needs.
Need Professional SEO Services?
As one of the UK’s top digital marketing agencies with a 97% client retention rate, Click Intelligence can change your SEO game for good to send your site to the summit of the SERPs.
With two decades of experience working with clients in over 40 unique industries, our experts know what it takes to create, curate, and deploy bespoke SEO strategies specifically geared to a business’s individual needs and goals.
To find out how our seasoned professionals can take your business to the next level and see its online visibility soar, get in touch today – we’re only a quick phone call or email away!
