Website Hosting 101: An Interview with Our Website Development Manager
Website hosting is one of those behind-the-scenes essentials that many business owners don’t think about—until something goes wrong. We sat down with Kalvin Kingsley, Website Development Manager, to answer common questions and explain why hosting matters more than you might think.
Kalvin compares website hosting to a plate for your meal. No matter how good the food is, it needs something solid to sit on. Hosting is that foundation; it’s where your website’s files, images, and code live so your site can exist on the internet.
Good hosting doesn’t need to be fancy, but it does need to be reliable, dependable, and built for everyday use. Without it, even a great website can struggle to perform.
At a high level, hosting typically falls into three categories:
- All-in-one platforms like Wix or Squarespace, often used by very small or early-stage businesses.
- Enterprise or self-hosted solutions managed by large internal IT teams.
- Managed hosting with a professional partner, which is where most growing businesses land.
Managed hosting should offer professional oversight with real, accessible support, without the frustration of dealing with large, faceless providers.
Hosting has a direct impact on how well your website performs:
- Speed: Strong server connections help your site load quickly for users.
- Security: Quality hosting includes firewalls, secure facilities, and controlled access to servers.
- Reliability: Regular backups and redundancies help prevent data loss and downtime.
One of the biggest mistakes businesses make is not understanding the long-term cost of hosting.
Some providers offer low-cost or “free” websites, then charge high monthly hosting fees. Over time, those fees can far exceed the cost of a professionally built site. It’s important to look beyond the upfront offer and understand what you’ll be paying long-term.
It may be time to reevaluate your hosting if:
- Your website looks outdated or no longer reflects your brand
- You’re paying high monthly fees without clear value
- Simple updates result in unexpected, expensive bills
Growing businesses often outgrow platforms like Wix or Squarespace and benefit from moving to a more flexible solution like WordPress with professional support.
Speed and reliability play a major role in both SEO and user experience. Search engines favor faster sites, and users are unlikely to wait more than a few seconds for a page to load. Reliable hosting helps keep visitors on your site and supports better search rankings.
Trust is key. Your website is central to your marketing and customer experience, so it’s essential to work with a hosting provider that feels reliable, transparent, and invested in your success.
Website hosting may not be the most visible part of your website, but it’s one of the most important. The right hosting solution supports performance, security, and growth, giving your business a strong online foundation.
