3 Compelling Reasons to Use Paid Web Hosting for your Delivery Service

Using a website as a marketing tool to find customers for your delivery service depends on the first few crucial decisions you make. Firstly, you should join an online exchange, to ensure your services get in front of as many potential customers as possible – that's a no brainer. But of the remaining decisions, whether or not to use paid web hosting or not can affect the immediate future your fledgling business. If you’re considering the issue of paid web hosting, read on.

Paid Hosting is Inexpensive

There was a time when getting your own paid web hosting set you back a few hundred pounds. These days, however, monthly service fees are far more reasonable for basic web hosting—and this also includes a free domain name. What’s more, most web hosting companies offer incredibly diverse features and add-ons on top of merely giving you web hosting space. This can include software and functionality to track your site’s visitor statistics, live chat function, web page design, and even the ability to accept payment through credit card via a secure server. These features give your website an air of authority and convey the message that your delivery service company is serious about quality and reliability. One caveat: don’t choose a web host simply based on the price; investigate customer feedback to get a realistic sense of what is offered.

You Can Use your Own Domain Name

Your domain name is your very own address on the web – and what people type in the browser, such as "google.com". As mentioned previously, most paid hosting services already include a free domain name for a year in their basic package. Some hosting companies occasionally release a promotion during which they slash the price even further. Being able to use your own unique domain name is as important as having your own brand name: this is to help customers remember the delivery service you offer. On the other hand, "free" Internet hosting only gives you a sub-domain and very limited control over your account. Worse, if the company that provides the free hosting service decides to fold, your website will go down with them—wasting years of accumulated inbound links from other websites. So start in the right way.

No Distracting Ads

The biggest bane of free web hosting is the advertisements - the host depends on these ads to operate. Often, annoying pop-up ads get in the way of the customer’s experience of a website, and if they are not pleased with the first few seconds (online customers can be so fickle minded), they may just bypass your site and proceed to the next one. You can certainly end up losing potential customers in this way. Worse, as you have no control over what type of ads appear on your free website, you cannot stop the ads of a competitor to appear on your site, which could then negatively impact your customer’s perception of the delivery service you offer. The bottom line: using paid web hosting has incredible benefits at a minimal cost, and it pays to use it.

Norman Dulwich is a correspondent for Courier Exchange, the world's largest neutral trading hub for same day delivery service in the express freight exchange industry. Over 2,500 transport exchange businesses are networked together through their website, trading jobs and capacity in a safe 'wholesale' environment.

Writer and Online Marketing Manager in London.