Being an entrepreneur is no simple task. In addition to everyday challenges, ongoing operations require important decisions to constantly be made. These decisions have an impact on the organization’s branding and how it stands out from the competition.
When it comes to e-commerce, we all agree that an online platform (e.g. websites, vendor sites, etc.) is necessary for interacting with the online audience. It is no longer a secret that a quality website is a smart investment. Websites are usually developed by Web agencies or in-house teams, depending on the size of the organization.
Once its development completed, the website or e-commerce platform has to be made available online through a hosting service provider (Web hoster). Today, most Web agencies also provide hosting services to satisfy the needs of their clients. However, it is important to understand that developing and hosting websites are two completely different lines of work that require distinct training. Think of the difference between an electrician and a plumber.
Since 2010, we have used Jacques and his online sock store to illustrate this concept (see the following video) :
This Raises a Few Questions
Is it possible to reach a technician on a 24/7 basis for any online platform related problems? Does the hosting service provider have its own Internet network and server infrastructure? Are servers located nearby the target audience?
More often than not, the answers given tend to be ambiguous. On the other hand, a high-quality hosting service provider that offers technical support on a 24/7 basis, 365 days a year, plays a crucial role in the success of your company.
A hosting service provider could really be described as a specialist in server infrastructure and network implementation. Updates and external backups are required on a daily basis in order to protect vital data of e-commerce websites. Depending on their size, hosting service providers may also act as domain name registrars (.com, .net, .org, etc.). Domain names can sometimes be worth considerable amounts of money (in some cases more than real estate assets).
Estimated Cost of Quality E-Commerce Hosting Services (Backups Included)
The average cost of high-quality hosting services is about 7% of total e-commerce project investment cost. Think of a high-performance car with low-quality winter tires. Despite its capacity, you would agree that its speed will be limited. The same can be said for e-commerce websites that need to remain accessible at all times. Choosing a specialized hosting service provider guarantees an excellent return on investment. The faster your e-commerce website, the greater the number of orders.
Preparing For Increased Traffic On E-Commerce Website Following a TV, Radio or AdWords Campaign
Let’s pretend you are about to launch a vast advertising campaign or give a media interview. Your online platform will require two to three times more computer resources in order to function properly. It is therefore important not to overlook these traffic surges. Different scalable packages are currently available on the market. For example, tediber.com (a French startup specialized in online sales of mattresses) had to triple the usual amount of computer resources following a TV interview/advertisement. Online traffic surged by several tens of thousands of customers. Thanks to PlanetHoster’s technical expertise and scalable package HybridCloud, the young startup was able to meet visitor demand and to process hundreds of transactions. The key to online success lies in the ability to handle a significant increase in traffic within a short amount of time. Our team of experts can adapt to any situation to help you satisfy your clients. Remember that your company’s own success depends in part on choosing the right hosting service provider.
For ten years now, clients of all size have put their trust in PlanetHoster’s Web solutions. For example, forbes.fr, seiko.fr and wpfr.net (official website of the Francophone WordPress community) are based on PlanetHoster’s HybridCloud Dedicated Server technology in order to sustain their growth.
Whether you are on Prestashop, Magento or WooCommerce, your e-commerce website is best served with scalable solutions and quality support.
Here are two examples of online retailers using Prestashop that put their trust in PlanetHoster : Smidistri for customized PC (French datacenter) and Sylprotec for protection products and services(Canadian datacenter).
This year, PlanetHoster celebrates its 10th anniversary. During the 2017 E-Commerce Québec event held on October 4 and 5, our team was on hand to give free advice to participating retailers. We would also like to thank the CQCD organization for hosting the event.
Below is a short summary video produced by the media agency Unik-Media based in the city of Québec (available in french only):
