Yes, it’s true. We are not all technology experts. (Some of us are and those of us like to share what we know, to help the less techie people out there.)
Here’s the thing. Even if we are not technology-minded, technology still crosses our paths in many ways. For most of us, that is daily. Just look at your smartphone and there is an example of where you are touched by technology.
If everything works well, we don’t have to give technology a second thought, beyond learning how to use it (which may be enough for many of us!).
There is also the benefit of being able to contract technologists to handle our technology “problems” or “issues” for us. But, even in that, the more that we know about our technology situation (or issue or problem), the better. We don’t have to know how to solve it, but it helps if we know “what it is” so that we understand who we are looking to hire to solve it for us. Am I right?
Ok, you are probably wondering what I am rambling about here and what we are discussing. Today, it is hosting and specifically VPS hosting. VPS stands for Virtual Private Server. In some ways it functions like a dedicated server (note that I said “like”), but it is not a dedicated server. The cost of a dedicated server can be quite prohibitive, so looking at a VPS is very appealing.
Have I lost you in all of the hosting terms? Not to worry. There is an Ultimate Guide to VPS Hosting that you can read and learn all you need to know about what it is (and what it is not).
Why Should I Care About VPS Hosting in My Position as a ___________?
Whether you are a blogger, a social media marketer, a search marketer (SEO), or independently wealthy, playing video games all day, the chances are that you may have your own website. This is especially true of the first few categories and even if you have no need for money (and no professional site), there is a chance that you have a personal site (or want to have a personal site).
For some of you, your site becoming sluggish or going down may not be an issue. It may be that when you measure the comparison between uptime and cost, the cost of the hosting is more important and so you can live with “shared hosting” instead of VPS. (P.S. Don’t forget to visit the link, above, for more information on all the hosting terminology, if this is confusing.)
That is fine, referring to the ROI (return on investment) comparison of cost versus need. In that case, where you have made the comparison, you have considered what is most important to you at this time. If that is the budget, that is understandable. However, there is no reason you cannot educate yourself on the options, ahead of time, so that you are prepared if your website takes off and becomes uber-popular.
You see, it is not unusual that the success happens before the preparation for the success. That is why it is so helpful to understand the different types of hosting ahead of time and what is involved if/when you make a switch. Things to consider would include:
· expertise / staff / consultants
· timing (down-time)
· turnaround (how quickly can it be accomplished)
· impact (understanding DNS and who manages the domain)
These are only a few concerns, but if you have an inkling that you may be headed toward the top of the charts, so to speak, these are things you want to consider BEFORE you hit stardom and success.
Also, you will want to decide whether you stop at VPS or if you are so successful that you move toward a dedicated server. Another consideration is who is going to manage the VPS or dedicated server? Do you contract for managed services from the hosting provider or do you hire someone?
Don’t Just Take My Word For It…
There is an interesting article from a couple of years ago on MakeUseOf.com: Why You Should Use A VPS Instead Of Shared Hosting For WordPress.
In Summary
The key thing here is to understand that with success come other considerations. That is a good thing, and it can be a bad thing. If you prepare yourself ahead of time, by thinking about it and researching, it doesn’t have to be a bad thing. That is what we are talking about here, with the discussion of hosting. Also, as a part of your overall business strategy, it is a good idea to have this covered.
Let me leave this with you, as a real-life example: When you are putting together your 2016 Business Operations Strategy (i.e. Growth of the Company), include an appendix that is all about hosting considerations. If you work in Corporate America, that is an example of making points with the boss. If you work for yourself, it isn’t a bad idea to have that research on hand, yourself, for when you hit it big!