SiteGround

2. SiteGround Has Quick Server Response Times

To assess my test website’s server response time, I used a variety of tools so I could show you different aspects of this measure. Server response time, in a nutshell, is how quickly a server responds to a request.

So, if someone visiting your website inputs your site’s URL, this is the time it takes for the server to respond and deliver your website’s content to them.

I used Pingdom’s Website Speed Test to see how my un-optimised website would grade. This test is important to me because this is my website without any WordPress plugins or optimisation tools installed.

I tested my website using Europe’s London, U.K. server as this is the closest one to my host’s server and the majority of my website traffic. Considering I had literally installed WordPress’s Twenty-Seventeen theme and hadn’t optimised my website in any way, I thought the results were quite good.

Both my UptimeRobot and Pingdom tests have reassured me that my faith in SiteGround certainly isn’t misguided. They are one of the best web hosts we’ve tested so far and their uptime, speed, or performance is impressive. Kissmetrics support the notion that many studies have found.

My next test was using Bitcatcha’s server speed checker test. All you have to do is enter your website’s URL and Bitcatcha will ping multiple server locations across the world and provide you with your server’s response times.

I took the results and calculated a worldwide average server response time of 132.4ms which is incredible! This is well below Google’s recommended 200ms, giving me (and you) confidence that SiteGround server really does perform well.

Next up I wanted to see the real impact that SiteGround’s SuperCacher would have on my website. Again, this is bearing in mind that I haven’t done anything to optimise my website at this stage.

I used dotcom-tools to test my website speed across 24 worldwide locations.

SuperCacher caches static content, meaning the second time you visit a web page, the content will load faster. Static content refers to content that is unlikely to change, like images, HTML, and JavaScript. If someone from the U.S. visits my website, where the server is located in the U.K., they will massively benefit from cached content to experience faster loading times.

There is a clear difference between the first visit and repeat visits on these results.

3. Multiple Data Centers Worldwide

I’ve already mentioned briefly that SiteGround offer multiple data center locations. They currently have 6 data centers in Iowa (USA), London (UK), Eemshaven (Netherlands), Frankfurt (DE), Sydney (AU), and Singapore.

When you sign up, you’ll want to think about where the majority of your site’s traffic is coming from. For example, if your visitors tend to come from the U.K., I would STRONGLY suggest choosing SiteGround’s London data center.

Being able to choose your data center is a MAJOR benefit. Your site with SiteGround will be offering high speeds and fast response times like no other.

Website performance has a HUGE effect on conversions, so if you’re running a small or high-traffic business, I highly recommend SiteGround.

Website performance has a large, measurable effect on conversion rates. Studies have consistently shown that fast page speed will result in a better conversion rate. In other words, the quicker a webpage loads, the more likely a user is to perform the targeted action on that webpage.

4. Your Website Will Be Secure

I don’t know about you, but when I’m hosting my website with a web host, I like to know that there are security measures in place to protect me! SiteGround has some pretty awesome security features that give me the confidence I need to host with them.

I’m not going to cover all of their security features in great details because it would probably bore you, but here are some key elements that I think are really useful:

• Anti-Spam: SpamAssassin is a brilliant tool to ensure that your website mailbox doesn’t get flooded with spam mail, as well as mail that could be potentially harmful (not just annoying).
• CDN service: CloudFlare is an awesome CDN provided for free to SiteGround customers. Just check it out for yourselves and be amazed!
• SiteCheck: An automatic tool that scans software to ensure your website is running as best as it can be.

5. You Can Migrate Your WordPress Website For Free

If you’re moving from one web host to another, it’s good to look out for free site migration. Why? Well, it just makes everything a lot easier! I know I wouldn’t feel comfortable transferring all my files from one server to another!

Before signing up to SiteGround I had previously heard that they offer free site migration for WordPress websites.

If you know what you’re doing then the process doesn’t require much effort at all. But for people like me, it’s nice to know your web host has your back if something goes wrong!

I spoke to SiteGround’s live chat to ask them about the migration process. As you can see they answered everything

I asked in one message and confirmed that the free site migration is available to all customers on the GrowBig and GoGeek plans.

If you have a WordPress site that you want to migrate to SiteGround, it couldn’t be simpler to move your site across. There are two methods in which you can do this:

1. Using SiteGround’s automatic migration for WordPress sites using their Migrator Plugin
2. Professional migration by a SiteGround expert

To transfer an existing site using WordPress Automigration, simply click on Migrate Website from step 2 of the Website Setup Wizard and then select WordPress Automigration.

Alternatively, if you wish for one of SiteGround’s experts to manually transfer your website, you’ll need to submit a ticket to the support engineers (which is a paid-for service) and they will do the rest.