Slow shared hosting typically results from choosing a poor hosting provider. Low-quality hosts seduce clients with cheap prices, but what they fail to mention is that their server architecture is old, their networks are sluggish and their hosting servers run abysmally slow. As such, the only guaranteed way to avoid slow hosting is to invest in a quality web hosting provider with a proven track record for speed and reliability.
Other Factors To Consider
Slow web hosting can also come about as a result of jamming your site with more than it can handle. Shared servers are not constructed to handle pages upon pages chockablock with audio and video content, meaning a video gallery will function slowly on a shared server regardless of the provider’s reputation. Other possible causes of slow shared web hosting include poorly written code, database error, too many WordPress plugins and too much traffic.
Shared Hosting Benefits
The reason shared servers are so popular is because they provide a significant savings for those individuals needing to setup a relatively small online website or e-commerce store. Granted, dedicated and VPS hosting allow for more media-intensive content, but they cost a minimum of $40.00 a month, whereas shared hosting can be obtained for as little as $4.00 per month. That said, you can always upgrade from shared to dedicated hosting as your site grows and your Web traffic increases.
Locating Quality Providers
Before signing up with what could be a slow shared hosting provider, perform some basic research. Determine whether the provider operates its own data centers, how quickly its sales team replies to a request for information, the available support options (e.g., phone, email and chat) and how much bandwidth they offer. Be wary of providers that advertise “unlimited bandwidth.” As of late 2011, Host Gator is the only Web host that actually provides bandwidth without any account limitations.
Final Recommendation
I recommend you choose Host Gator if slow shared hosting concerns you. Take a look at this site. Notice how quickly the pages load as you navigate from one section to another. And it is not like this site is devoid of content. It contains dozens of pages and high-resolution images, as well as one or two videos. Plus, the shared hosting plan I signed up for includes both unlimited bandwidth and unlimited storage space. The beauty is that these perks cost me a bit under $4.00 per month.
