Location, Location, Location…..why hosting location is important for your business
When it comes to web hosting, location-location-location is crucial for success. After all, choosing a data center that is in the same geographical location as your business and your customers ensures a much better user experience. In addition to faster loading speeds, location can also play a pivotal role in your site’s security and possibly even your SEO ranking. Whether you use dedicated servers or virtual servers, it is time to consider whether or not your data center is in the best location for your business. Here’s a quick look at the top 3 reasons why.
1. Increased Speed: Fast Loading Websites for Your Customers
When it comes to the internet, speed is an absolute necessity, regardless of your niche. As of 2015, 47% of customers expected a website page to load in less than 2 seconds, while 40% of customers admitted to leaving a website that took longer than 3 seconds to load [1]. Mobile users are even more impatient, according to statistics provided by DoubleClick by Google. 53% of mobile users abandon a site that requires more than 3 seconds to load [2].
How does this apply to your data center’s location? The closer a customer is to your server the fewer networks the data has to pass through to reach them. The fewer networks the data passes through, the faster the loading speed. For example, if your business targets customers in the southeastern United States, you wouldn’t want your server hosted in Tokyo, Japan. The data will have to cross the Pacific Ocean, passing through countless networks, before it reaches the customer. The seconds will tick away quickly, taking your potential customers with them. For the best loading times and the highest level of customer satisfaction, you would be best served by a data center located in Atlanta or Miami.
For web designers who primarily do business locally, this is just as important to make certain your clients stay happy.
GlowHost understands how important data center location is your website’s success and is proud to have data centers located in numerous cities throughout several countries. They include:
- United States: Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, Los Angeles, Miami, NYC, Phoenix, and Salt Lake City
- Mexico: Mexico City
- Canada: Montreal, Toronto
- UK: London, Nottingham
- Netherlands: Alblasserdam, Amsterdam
- Australia: Melbourne, Sydney
- China: Hong Kong
- Japan: Tokyo
2. Improved Security
Despite the best efforts of website owners, Google reports that the percent of websites hacked in 2016 increased 32% [3]. It goes without saying that this wreaked havoc on the affected site’s business. Making certain your information is housed in a secure data center with a solid physical and network infrastructure is one of the easiest steps you can take to prevent a security breach.
Choosing a data center that is located nearby allows you to better monitor what is going on inside. You can view it on Google Maps or if you feel it is necessary, you can visit the location itself to ensure the building is in a reputable neighborhood, well protected, and monitored with video surveillance, while the inside is kept at a comfortable temperature and has all the equipment needed to suppress fires. (Data centers are prone to fires). After all, you don’t want you and your customer’s valuable information hosted in a decrepit building in the “bad” part of town with a small window air conditioner to fight off the heat that these centers naturally produce.
GlowHost’s high-quality data centers have been designed with the highest level of security if mind. Some of the most important security features GlowHost offers include:
- 24/7/365 network operations and security staff to monitor your site’s safety, reliability, and online data
- PCI Compliant (Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard)
- HIPAA Compliant (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act)
- A state-of-the-art security system, such as video surveillance and recording, key card controls, and biometrics
- Ambient and cool isle cooling systems or N + chillers, CRACS, CRAHs, cooling towers, and chilled water pumps to ensure the facility remains cool at all times
- Multiple electrical substations that feed the Networks Operation Center and provide uninterrupted power supplies, back-up generators, and battery operating capabilities to ensure the data center retains power in any situation, such as during energy surges, a complete loss of power due to an energy crisis, and rolling blackouts
- The latest fire prevention and detection technology, such as Very Early Smoke Detection Apparatus (VESDA), FM-200 Fire Suppression
- Additional measures when necessary due to geographical location, such as ensuring the center is enclosed in a Category 5 Hurricane Rated building if it is in an area prone to hurricanes
3. Location for SEO
Everyone knows that a site’s search engine ranking plays a pivotal role in a business’s success, which is why website owners, like yourself, put so much effort into using the right keywords, frequently publishing new, high-quality, relevant content, and everything else intended to optimize their site. However, you may not be aware that the location of your data center can also affect your SEO.
Your IP address can change depending on what country your data center is located in. For example, a California business that uses a London-based data center will likely have a UK IP address, which can result in lower search rankings when a search is performed in the United States. On the flipside, the site may see an improvement in its UK rankings. Obviously, if the business’s preferred customer is in the United States, they may see a decline in business. (Not to mention the fact that the site’s loading time will be greater, causing numerous visitors to leave before they even see the site.)
Are You Looking for a Managed Dedicated Server?
If you are searching for managed dedicated servers, GlowHost is exactly the company you are looking for. Voted the “Editor’s Choice” by FindMyHost.com, GlowHost is known for providing some of the industry’s best technical support, while also making certain your information is well protected in a data center near your geographical location. GlowHost will happily customize hardware and software configurations to your exact specifications, as migrate all your data for you making this move as simple and pain free as possible.
Whether you are looking for a dedicated server for the first time, plan to upgrade your current dedicated server, or want to change hosts, GlowHost will not only assist you, but help you save as much money as possible. For information on the great offers they have for new customers, contact GlowHost today.
Visit GlowHost.com! Managed Dedicated Servers GlowHost Data Centers
[1] https://blog.kissmetrics.com/loading-time
[2] https://www.doubleclickbygoogle.com/articles/mobile-speed-matters
[3] http://searchengineland.com/google-hacked-sites-increase-32-percent-271583
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