Web Development Archives - I/O Zoom https://www.iozoom.com/category/web-development/ VPS hosting, WordPress hosting, reseller hosting, cloud hosting Mon, 17 May 2021 17:11:48 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.0.9 What Is A Temporary URL & How Do You Use One? https://www.iozoom.com/what-is-a-temporary-url-how-do-you-use-one/ https://www.iozoom.com/what-is-a-temporary-url-how-do-you-use-one/#respond Mon, 17 May 2021 17:11:48 +0000 https://www.iozoom.com/?p=7044 While browsing the web hosting scenario, you might have come across the words “Temporary URL.” Furthermore, when it comes to website transfers, the temporary URL allows you to browse the site on the new server without having to change your domain’s DNS. What makes this so beneficial? Why do so many people choose this approach … Continue reading "What Is A Temporary URL & How Do You Use One?"

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While browsing the web hosting scenario, you might have come across the words “Temporary URL.” Furthermore, when it comes to website transfers, the temporary URL allows you to browse the site on the new server without having to change your domain’s DNS. What makes this so beneficial? Why do so many people choose this approach to pointing their domain names to different environments straight away? The solution is straightforward: reliability. 

In most scenarios, clients will prefer to expand on the temporary (or use the temporary URL) because they already have an operational website that is actually using the same domain as the one, they want to use for their new site and choose to keep it live for their users until the new website is able to launch. 

A temporary URL may look like this:

http://temp.domain.com/cpanelusername/

Why would you want to create a site using a temporary URL?

If you already have got a website with the same domain name as the one you want for the new website, you can opt to expand on the temporary URL so that your existing site can stay fully operational while the new one is being built. Building on the temp is a nice choice for existing businesses who want to keep taking orders from their old site as they develop and populate the new website, and until they’re able to completely launch the new one.

Is it possible to build a website using a temporary URL?

Well, indeed! You can use the temporary URL to build and populate the whole website. Although your latest services are already on the temporary URL, your developer can install the prototype for you. 

Using a Temporary URL in WordPress

You will need to use the temporary URL when transferring your WordPress installation to another hosting server; this URL would enable you to reach your site until the Name Servers have propagated.

  •         Switching to a temporary URL
  •         Switching from a temporary URL 

Switching to a temporary URL

There are some cases where you’ll need to go into the WordPress database to update a URL.

  •         Since your domain name isn’t yet resolving to your new account, you’ll need to use a URL like http://temp.domain.com/username/ to access your WordPress installation. There are no pictures or themes displayed; only the text appears.
  •         You can’t log into Administrator Panel because it needs to take you to a URL that contains your domain name. What options do you have for viewing your WordPress blog before your domain name resolves?
  •         http://www.domain.com/addondomain/ is an example of a URL. There are no redirects in the .htaccess file, either.
  •         If you built WordPress on an addon domain, you’ll need to update the database URL to something like http://www.addondomain.com. 

This generally requires a few basic database edits.

  1.       To begin, double-check that your WordPress installation is complete and you know the database’s name. The database’s name is probably something like:
  •         username_wp1
  •         If you don’t have the name of the database, you can look it up in the wp-config.php file using the File Manager.
  1.       Select Code Edit from the context menu when you right-click wp-config.php. The username and database are now visible.
  2.       After that, go to your cPanel and login. Look for the Databases section of the website. Choose phpMyAdmin.
  3.       On the left, choose the database name. (For example, “_wp1”)
  4.       Select “Browse”.
  5.       For the top row (option name is “site URL”), choose the pencil icon (for Edit) on the left.
  6.       Your domain name will be shown. You’d like to change it to
  •         http://temp.domain.com/~username/
  •         This step is critical to avoid making an error. Please double-check that the URL you’re typing in here is right, or nothing will happen.
  1.       After you’ve updated the URL, there’s a “Go” button at the bottom. Choose the “Go” option.
  2.       Choose the Next button. Look for the option name.
  3.   To edit, click the pencil button. Click the Go button after making the same URL update as you did for siteurl earlier.
  4.   All of your pictures will appear when you go to your blog’s Temporary URL (http://temp.domain.com/username/). 


Switching from a temporary URL 

You don’t need to go back into phpMyAdmin until you’ve modified your name servers so that your domain name resolves to your account.

  1.       Go to your WordPress Admin Panel and login.
  2.       Select Settings. You’ll find WordPress and the site’s address (URL). Your Temporary URL is set to (http://temp.domain.com/username/).
  3.       Replace this with your domain name, along with the appropriate folders, and you’re good to go. 

Temporary URL servers have lower storage since they’re just used to test a website on the network until it goes online, not to benchmark performance. 

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5 Things You Need to Consider Before Building a Website https://www.iozoom.com/things-to-consider-before-building-a-website/ https://www.iozoom.com/things-to-consider-before-building-a-website/#respond Mon, 10 May 2021 11:09:54 +0000 https://www.iozoom.com/?p=7076 When building a website, you must first choose the right web hosting service. With the thousands of available web hosting providers nowadays, choosing the best one could be very challenging and overwhelming. However, you should not worry about having various choices. What you need to do is to consider six things, and you’ll find the … Continue reading "5 Things You Need to Consider Before Building a Website"

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When building a website, you must first choose the right web hosting service. With the thousands of available web hosting providers nowadays, choosing the best one could be very challenging and overwhelming. However, you should not worry about having various choices. What you need to do is to consider six things, and you’ll find the right web hosting provider for your website.

Differences Between Web Hosting Types

There are various types of web hosting. Some of these include dedicated, VPS, shared, reseller, and cloud. You should learn the differences in the features of each web hosting provider to come up with the best choice. It is vital to note that not every web hosting provider offers all these types of web hosting.

Shared

However, all hosting providers have the shared hosting feature. This type of hosting is when a website shares a server and its resources with other websites. Typically, shared hosting is the cheapest; however, it provides a limited size and traffic of a website. Tiers of shared hosting are ideal for startup businesses. A downside of shared hosting is that there can be issues on performance and may even experience an occasional slowdown.

VPS

For websites with a massive amount of traffic (often in large corporations), a VPS or dedicated hosting is the one commonly used.

This is because these two can provide better or enhanced performance. WordPress hosting lets you build a site on a platform catering to the world’s most known CMS, WordPress. Therefore, you can conveniently set up a website on most hosting plans available today.

Reseller

Reseller hosting permits you to build your own business without building an infrastructure from scratch. It is indeed economical if you want to offer hosting to your clients. 

Cloud

On the other hand, cloud hosting is totally different because it allows someone to scale the site power in multiple servers.

You need to compare prices first because each web hosting type costs differently from the other. Also, determine first what kind of web hosting you will need in the future.

Check Performance

Never disregard the hosting performance. Check for security, reliability, and uptime scores. These metrics are also used by most providers when third-party reviews are needed. Weak servers and unstable network connections will definitely result in downtime. This is critical, particularly if your website is catering to e-commerce customers who would like to shop and check your products. Downtime also results in low ranking in search engines and loss of customers’ trust.

Make sure to work with a reputable and reliable hosting company. Choose the one with excellent uptime scores, preferably 99.5 and above. A web hosting company should also be secured and trusted so that you can safeguard your website from data leakages and security breaches.

Site Backups

There are times websites become susceptible to get hacked, crash, fail, or infected with a virus. This is why an occasional update to your CMS and plugins should be done. Make sure to have a backup before doing any updates. Your hosting company should have a trustworthy backup policy. They should be able to restore the full data and prevent significant data loss and damage to your website’s reputation.

Future Thinking

Always consider the future growth of your website. You might have started with a single domain name and website, but you may be required to have multiple sites and subdomains. This is also why you should check first the various plans and packages offered before signing up with a particular service provider.

Determine also the cost of unlimited domain and site packages. It is always an excellent idea to make comparisons of various hosting options. Opt for a web hosting provider that provides various service plans that will let you add new domains as your business grows in the future.

Refund Policy and Free Trials

Let’s admit it. Hosting your website can be expensive. This is especially true when you start with a limited budget. Fortunately, most hosting companies offer free trials of their hosting services. A refund policy is also offered to help lower the risk of losing a huge amount of expenses if something goes wrong.

Conclusion

If you want to build a compelling website, you need to have reliable web hosting, too. Choose the one that offers excellent performance, reasonable costs, free trials, backup, and flexibility for future growth.

IO Zoom provides web hosting services provided by experts that can ensure that you will not experience downtime and other website problems. Contact us today for more details!

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Holidays & Website Speeds: Why Your Site Needs to Keep Up https://www.iozoom.com/holidays-website-speeds-why-your-site-needs-to-keep-up/ https://www.iozoom.com/holidays-website-speeds-why-your-site-needs-to-keep-up/#respond Mon, 14 Dec 2020 06:57:57 +0000 https://www.iozoom.com/?p=6307 To most business owners, the holidays truly signal the most wonderful time of the year with more sales, profit, greater returns, and opportunities to turn customers into lifelong patrons. Although it is safe to assume that most of your tools are ready to take on the biggest shopping season of the year, there’s one part … Continue reading "Holidays & Website Speeds: Why Your Site Needs to Keep Up"

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To most business owners, the holidays truly signal the most wonderful time of the year with more sales, profit, greater returns, and opportunities to turn customers into lifelong patrons. Although it is safe to assume that most of your tools are ready to take on the biggest shopping season of the year, there’s one part of your strategy that might not be as ready: Your website.

The heavy battle that lies ahead

Compared to the other tools and facets of a holiday campaign that take a beating during the season, websites often take the biggest hit because of the greater amount of stress that it’s subject to.

Often, pages that aren’t prepared for the holidays and the larger influx of visitors that they’re bound to take end up crashing under the loads they experience. Unfortunately, these crashes often result in businesses inadvertently disgruntling or dissatisfying customers to the point where they lose conversion opportunities and fall short of their sales goals.

Although it may seem like having your website suddenly crash during the holiday is your biggest problem, the truth is that the bigger hindrances actually come from slow website speeds.

Why does your website speed matter during the holidays?

If there’s anything that’s bound to tick customers off and shoo them far, far away from your business, it’s a slow website that doesn’t want to load no matter how many times it’s refreshed.

Contrary to popular belief, compromised website speeds and loading times are the biggest deal breakers because of how negatively they can affect user experiences. Compared to crashes that can be remedied with a reload and a few minutes of patience, slower websites make for a problem that lasts hours or days and discourages customers from purchasing. 

The importance of an adequate website loading speed comes from the fact that speed (alongside reliability) work hand-in-hand to determine the operational success of e-commerce websites. Seeing that users grow even more impatient by the day, it’s also easy to see why the rate at which a website can load and operate matters when it comes to satisfying customers well enough for a sale!

How to prepare your website for faster loading times amid more traffic 

At this rate, you might start to feel worried about whether or not your website can hold up in terms of maintaining faster loading times and satisfying customers. Thankfully, there are a few preventative measures that you can set in place so that you won’t need to worry about having a website that falls behind and robs you of a successful season:

Measure #1: Upgrade your servers with a better hosting service

With a hosting solution that is more capable of taking on a greater influx of customers, your website can have the reinforcement it needs to load smoothly and quickly as expected. For instance, investing in the enterprise solutions that I/O Zoom provides will make it easier to keep everything up to spec even as the number of visitors you get grows!

Measure #2: Test, test, and test

Among the different ways you can prepare your business’s website for more success over the holidays, one of the most effective methods is continually testing. When you start testing your website’s capacity more often, it becomes easier to point out weak spots that need to be remedied or reinforced to minimize slowdowns!

Conclusion

When it comes to improving your website and ensuring that it doesn’t fall below expectations in the face of bigger crowds and more visitors, one of the most critical factors you’ll need to take care of is your page speeds. Through this guide’s help, you will have a firm understanding of why speed matters and get a keen understanding of what it takes to keep everything running as smoothly as possible!

At this point, you may want to consider a new VPS online for your business. We specialize in providing world-class hosting solutions for websites all over the US, Amsterdam, and the UK, with eight different data centers scattered across the globe. Get in touch with our IT experts today to learn more about how you can experience top-level hosting with us!

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Things to Do Before Launching Your Website (Part 2) https://www.iozoom.com/things-to-do-before-launching-your-website-part-2/ https://www.iozoom.com/things-to-do-before-launching-your-website-part-2/#respond Mon, 26 Oct 2020 16:02:21 +0000 https://www.iozoom.com/?p=6119 As soon as you learn that your website is ready for launch, the next thing that you will probably ask is, “When?” Letting the world finally visit your website to learn about what you offer is always exciting, but before you do, make sure that errors are checked and corrected.  In our previous article, we … Continue reading "Things to Do Before Launching Your Website (Part 2)"

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As soon as you learn that your website is ready for launch, the next thing that you will probably ask is, “When?” Letting the world finally visit your website to learn about what you offer is always exciting, but before you do, make sure that errors are checked and corrected. 

In our previous article, we listed the questions you can use as a guide to help you go through and double-check each web page. If you are already done with that, here are the steps to do next.

Step 2: Check the site’s functionality

Having error-free web pages is just the beginning. You also need to make sure that they all function effectively. Here are the questions you can ask to ensure that your website performs as it should.

Do the site and all its pages load quickly?

People no longer have the patience for slow-loading websites. Most internet users expect websites to load in less than a second. That means they are more likely to leave or click away from websites that make them wait, making you lose a potential customer and sale. 

What does your site look like on mobile?

How you see your website on your desktop is not always the same as what you will see on your tablet or mobile device. It is crucial that you check how your website loads on your phone. If your website has a responsive design, it will automatically adjust according to the device’s screen size.

What does it look like on different browsers?

Not all site visitors use the same browser when visiting websites, so aside from the different devices, check how your website looks on other browsers. You can download a browser testing tool or do it manually. Your objective is to check whether something is not working on a specific browser and make the necessary adjustments. 

Is the favicon showing?

The favicon is the small image you see on the tab in your browser. It may not be a big deal for some, but it adds up to your website’s branding and personality. It will also make your website look more professional and well-established.

Are the forms and buttons working correctly?

Aside from checking whether your web pages look good, you need to inspect every element inside them. Click all the buttons and fill out forms to experience everything firsthand. If you have forms, make sure that they are straightforward and that the information you gather goes to the right location. Failing to secure this will lead to missed opportunities and failed contact attempts, and it will provide a disappointing experience to your customers. 

Step 3: Perform the final steps

There are only a few steps to go through before you finally launch your site. 

Set up your “Error or Custom 404 Page”

If you have successfully checked all the broken links as advised, your site visitors are less likely to experience any error pages. However, you need to be prepared all the time, so create a customized 404 page that can direct users to where they need to go to reduce the likelihood of losing them. 

Set up a backup system

You also need to prepare for the worst possible scenario: losing your website entirely. Look for hosting companies that also provide an automatic backup service. It may be an added cost, but it can save you from a lot of headaches later.

Sign up for Google Search Console and set up your Google Analytics 

Google Search Console is a platform you can use to communicate with Google for many concerns, and Google Analytics helps you track your website’s performance over time. Make sure you use these tools before you launch your site.

Conclusion

Congratulations! Now you are ready to launch your site. If you followed our recommendations, you have checked and addressed all the potential problems. If you missed anything, remember to go over them and make the necessary adjustments. 

Do you need web hosting for your site? I/O Zoom can provide you with a secured VPS hosting infrastructure for different operating systems, such as Windows VPS, Linux VPS, WordPress hosting, and more. Each hosting solution comes with different packages at affordable prices, with fast servers and 24/7 support. Contact us today to learn more. 

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Things to Do Before Launching Your Website (Part 1) https://www.iozoom.com/things-to-do-before-launching-your-website-part-1/ https://www.iozoom.com/things-to-do-before-launching-your-website-part-1/#respond Mon, 26 Oct 2020 15:44:00 +0000 https://www.iozoom.com/?p=6118 There is nothing quite as exciting as your web designer sending you your finished website. After all the back and forth revisions, you are now ready to finally launch it. However, this is the part where you should pause and take a moment. If you think that you are ready to finally launch your website, … Continue reading "Things to Do Before Launching Your Website (Part 1)"

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There is nothing quite as exciting as your web designer sending you your finished website. After all the back and forth revisions, you are now ready to finally launch it. However, this is the part where you should pause and take a moment.

If you think that you are ready to finally launch your website, go over these steps first and make sure to go through each before clicking that ‘publish’ button. What you want is to be completely sure that your website is ready for the public.

Step 1: Review, review, review

The most crucial thing you need to do is to check every web page on your website. When doing so, use the following questions as your guide:

Are there any spelling and grammar mistakes?

Everyone makes mistakes, especially when it comes to writing. Make sure to read through your website and spot typographical errors, misused words, missing punctuations, or grammatical mistakes. Even if the content team already went through this step, there is nothing wrong with going over everything again. More importantly, make sure that all words on your website are aligned with your branding and strategy. 

Do the pages reflect the appropriate formatting?

There are instances when the formatting for each paragraph does not reflect well on the site. As you proofread every section, make sure that they are also formatted in an easy-to-read way and with consistent spacing. 

Are all the links working correctly?

Make sure to click on the links in your content. Ensure that none of them are broken and that they direct you to the intended page. While there are tools you can use to double-check these links, it is best to do it manually to ensure that everything is working properly.

Are all images loading properly?

A website with broken images can be a huge turn-off. As you go through each page, make sure that all the uploaded photos show up correctly. Pay attention to the small images in your pages, too, especially the social media icons. 

Are all pages optimized?

One more thing you should check is whether you were able to utilize the SEO features of your website. Ensure that your site’s or page’s main keywords are in the right places, such as the title tags, page headings, meta descriptions, and image alt texts. Do not forget to check whether they are all spelled correctly. If not, they will not work to your advantage.

Also, keep in mind that keyword stuffing is bad for SEO, and it can negatively affect the user experience. Keep them flowing naturally.

Does each page clearly show what you want the visitors to do next?

Lastly, ask yourself whether the goal you set for each page is clear. Was it reflected in your design, images, and copy? For example, if your objective is to generate an email list, make sure that you communicate the message clearly to your site visitors and that there is an easy-to-find email signup form.

Conclusion

While you can always improve your site later, it is better to ensure that your site visitors will encounter as few mistakes as possible. What you see above represents just the first step of the final website checking process. To proceed with the next stage, check out part two of this article, where we outline the proceeding steps you need to take before deciding to publish your website. 

Every website needs web hosting. If you are still on the lookout for a hosting solution, I/O Zoom can provide you with the best VPS hosting infrastructure for different operating systems. Each of our hosting solutions comes with different packages at affordable prices, complete with fast servers and 24/7 support.

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eCommerce 101: Business Models and Website Types https://www.iozoom.com/ecommerce-101-business-models-and-website-types/ https://www.iozoom.com/ecommerce-101-business-models-and-website-types/#respond Mon, 28 Sep 2020 12:47:59 +0000 https://www.iozoom.com/?p=6030 Running a business can be an incredibly exciting venture, but entering the world of eCommerce entails a ton of considerations. It is vital that you choose and apply for the right eCommerce business model, for instance, but doing so can be a huge challenge. Choose the wrong one, and you’ll end with empty hands.  That … Continue reading "eCommerce 101: Business Models and Website Types"

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Running a business can be an incredibly exciting venture, but entering the world of eCommerce entails a ton of considerations. It is vital that you choose and apply for the right eCommerce business model, for instance, but doing so can be a huge challenge. Choose the wrong one, and you’ll end with empty hands. 

That said, make sure to begin your road to success by choosing the right model based on your target market, resources, and goals. Right after identifying your business model, should come to the right type of eCommerce website, another key player to your success.

While an eCommerce business requires intuition, nothing beats an extensive knowledge of business foundations. That said, here is an eCommerce guide for you, specifically made for beginners. We talk about the business classifications, along with the variations of eCommerce websites you can choose from. Let’s begin!

What are the eCommerce business classifications? 

All electronic commerce transactions make use of the internet to connect buyers and sellers. Transactions are classified according to their main types of transactions, whether they sell to businesses or consumers, and if they’re operating as businesses or consumers themselves.

When starting out with eCommerce, it’s important to know the distinction between these classifications. Here are the most common classifications of transactions and brief descriptions of them:

  • B2B: Business To Business eCommerce: Business To Business (B2B) models operate through businesses providing products and services to other businesses. Most businesses that operate in a B2B model fall under services, supplies, and software industries. 
  • B2C: Business To Consumer eCommerce: Unlike B2B, in which businesses sell to other businesses, B2C works like the traditional retail model. In this model, a business sells its products and services to individuals rather than companies. Brick and mortar stores operate this way, and now it’s becoming more prevalent in eCommerce.
  • C2B: Consumer To Business Ecommerce: Compared to the first two, Consumer To Business (C2B) eCommerce is a lesser-known model of eCommerce. In C2B, consumers sell goods and services to businesses. This model is typically operated by sole proprietors selling to larger businesses. 

What are the different types of eCommerce websites?

While your choice of eCommerce business model indeed is necessary, the playing field is equal—everything runs online. In other words, your eCommerce business requires the power of a good website. Here are the different types to choose from:

  1. Single brand website: This type of website is best suited for individual brands, particularly those businesses that only sell products or services from a single brand. It’s one of the most common types of website, and the best way to begin your eCommerce journey. 
  2. Online retailers: These websites are also common, but are mostly used by the bigger retailers. This eCommerce platform is best suited for online retailers owning bigger stores, particularly those that sell other brands on wholesale prices. 
  3. Marketplaces: Marketplaces are websites that accommodate individual entrepreneurs, where they’re given a space to list their products for sale. Amazon is the classic example of an online marketplace, as with eBay and Etsy. 

Setting Your eCommerce Business Up For Success 

The world of eCommerce is full of trends, and it’s easy to get caught up in the excitement of adapting the new and shiny. Unless you’re aware of the principles, however, you’ll end up hitting a wall with no means of growth. As you venture into your new business journey, keep this guide in mind. You’ll want to begin with a bang, and that means choosing the right business model and website platform for you. 

If you need help, however, IO Zoom is the place to go. We are an eCommerce growth agency in Houston, Texas, dedicated to helping entrepreneurs all over the world reach their business dreams. We provide hosting solutions across the globe, ensuring that our clients enjoy the best hosting services at affordable prices. Let’s talk business—reach out to us today. 

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Speed Up Your Website With HTTP/2 https://www.iozoom.com/speed-up-your-website-with-http2/ https://www.iozoom.com/speed-up-your-website-with-http2/#respond Mon, 28 Aug 2017 17:59:30 +0000 https://www.iozoom.com/blog/?p=225 Every webmaster out there should know about HTTP/2, yet few actually do. In fact, the vast majority of website owners these days would be hard pushed to explain HTTP/1, despite the fact that almost all of them rely on it when it comes to establishing and maintaining their web presence. The reality is that HTTP/2 … Continue reading "Speed Up Your Website With HTTP/2"

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Every webmaster out there should know about HTTP/2, yet few actually do. In fact, the vast majority of website owners these days would be hard pushed to explain HTTP/1, despite the fact that almost all of them rely on it when it comes to establishing and maintaining their web presence.

The reality is that HTTP/2 could have a remarkable effect on improving the speed of your website, and it is something you should consider. But what actually is it, and how does it differ from HTTP/1? What benefits can online business owners expect from embracing the brand new HTTP protocol?

In this article, we’re going to take a look at the simple facts behind HTTP/2 and explain what it is, what it does, and how anyone concerned with website user experience should be considering it. But first, let’s take a look at a brief history of the HTTP protocol.

HTTP/1

Everyone knows about HTTP/1, even if they don’t recognize the name. HTTP/1 (Hypertext Transport Protocol 1) was the standardized transfer protocol established by Tim Berners Lee way back in 1989. HTTP defines how data is passed from one source to another – from computer to computer, for example. It also defines how messages are formatted and transmitted, as well as the actions that things like web servers and browsers take when presented with commands and instructions.  In essence, it is the reason you are reading this right now on your computer, smartphone, or tablet.

Back in 1999, the Internet was in its infancy. Web pages and connections were painfully slow – most people over a certain age will remember waiting for their dial up modem to load up a website. However, a quick look at a contemporary website these days in comparison to a site from the mid-90s and you can see that things have progressed.

And therein lies the issue with HTTP/1. The way we use the Internet today is vastly different to how we used to, and the original technology is full of limitations. A more complex environment requires a more complex solution – which is one of the major reasons behind the development of HTTP/2.

The introduction of HTTP/2

HTTP/2 is a relative newcomer to the web development environment, published as a Proposed Standard in February 2015. All of the major web browsers support it, such as Chrome, Firefox, Opera, Internet Explorer 11, Safari, Edge, and Amazon Silk. It’s one of the biggest changes that have occurred on the web so far, but to date, few companies are getting involved – which makes for an opportunity for anyone wishing to embrace the future.

As we discussed above, HTTP/2 was introduced to deal with the increasing complexities of the modern day web. The old web protocol (HTTP/1) is slowly transitioning to HTTP/2, to allow the web to be able to handle ever more amounts of data and information in a more robust fashion. In layman’s terms, it’s similar to the difference between a runner in high school and an Olympic athlete – faster, stronger, and more capable. In fact, tests on HTTP/2 have revealed the speed of the protocol could be up to 120% faster than HTTP/1.

[clickToTweet tweet=”Tests on HTTP/2 have revealed the speed of the protocol could be up to 120% faster than HTTP/1″ quote=”Tests on HTTP/2 have revealed the speed of the protocol could be up to 120% faster than HTTP/1″]

How is it faster?

So, now we have established that the HTTP/2 protocol is a leaner, meaner version of its ‘ancient’ ancestor, how does it actually work? The answer lies in a few areas that have caused HTTP/1 many different problems.

The first of these issues is due to the way that HTTP/1 can handle information. Basically, when the end user requests a file ( a web page, for example) HTTP/1 only allows it to travel through a single connection, one by one. This occurrence means that every action taken has to occur one after the other. So, the protocol requests a web page, waits for a response, downloads the file and then moves on to the next one, in order. It’s a little bit like a waiter bringing out each of your dishes separately when you go to a restaurant – incredibly inefficient.

While the actions are relatively quick when taken singly, it is easy to see where HTTP/1’s limitations lie. Page load times increase significantly as each part of the process is handled one after the other. And if you have a website with a lot of requests to get through, the longer it will take to load.

HTTP/2, however, is a little different in the way it works. Firstly, it uses a process called ‘multiplexing,’ which can get through multiple files over a single connection, as opposed to processing each one separately. Taking the waiter analogy we used above, this time, it’s like your waiter bringing out your entire meal on one tray – faster, more suitable to the restaurant experience, and more convenient.  

It also uses something known as header compression. Whereas HTTP/1 requests were always transmitted in plain text, with HTTP/2, the protocol compresses and sends in binary, making things a lot more efficient. Less time is wasted than with HTTP/1, more bandwidth is saved, and page load speeds increase dramatically.

Also, HTTP/2 uses a function called ‘server push.’ It’s a great time saver, in that it informs the browser of the precise information it needs to render a relevant page and is highly efficient in comparison with HTTP/1. With the old protocol, the HTML file is always sent first, before the browser requests everything else, including CSS, images, and JavaScript file. This almost always leads to slow downs, as the connections have to turn on and off during each request.

The importance of HTTP/2

For businesses, HTTP/2 is vital for a number of key reasons. First of all, the faster your website loads, the quicker you can serve your customers online. In an increasingly fast-paced world, no consumer has the time to wait 5-10 seconds for a business website to load – they will just go elsewhere. It’s especially true for companies who hold a lot of information on their website – large video files, for example, or graphic and image heavy sites.

Faster web pages also help to improve search engine rankings which is vital to ‘getting found’ online. The likes of Google and Bing are starting to place a lot of value on the experience of the user, and given that most people hate slow-loading websites, you can expect a penalty if your site is flagged for being too slow.

There’s another important part of the equation, too. Given that almost all the major browsers support HTTP/2 these days, the current number of people able to take advantage of the new protocol is somewhere in the region of 75%. That’s a huge number and one that no business can ignore – especially when you consider that number will only rise in the near future. Plus, as people’s experiences get better due to the speed of HTTP/2, they will become used to it, meaning any website using HTTP/1 will soon start to feel old and slow in comparison for the modern user.

Finally, when you consider all the other benefits of HTTP/2, it’s hard not to make the decision to take the plunge towards the new protocol – even if only from an SEO perspective. HTTP/2 is more secure, for a start, meaning the search engines will give you a boost in rankings. It’s a mobile friendly protocol, too, and features like multiplexing mean that it is simpler to use. HTTP/2 is compatible with its predecessor as well, meaning there is literally zero reason for refusing to make the change.

However, as with all new tech, HTTP/2 isn’t without its problems. Let’s take a look at some of those right now.

Are there issues with HTTP/2?

As a business owner, you should always be aware of the problems that could arise with using new technology, and it’s the same principal for making the switch to HTTP/2. First of all, it’s important to understand that the 25% of people with no access to HTTP/2 still represents a significant share of the Internet user base. And if you are operating in a developing country or region that is still using older web servers, it may not be practical to take the plunge just yet. KeyCDN’s HTTP/2 test tool can verify if your server supports HTTP/2.

Making the switch isn’t as simple as pressing a few buttons, either. For example, let’s say your site is using HTTP/1 but hasn’t yet started using HTTPS. In this scenario, a complete migration will require a lot more work due to the fact that HTTPS is a requirement of HTTP/2. It means shifting each page and URL to HTTPS, which is a positive ranking factor for the likes of Google. When using HTTPS with HTTP/2, it will give a significant speed boost to your site as evident on the test site httpvshttps.com.

It’s a big project to undertake, business owners will have to establish whether or not it is worth the time and money. For instance, if your company only uses a lightweight, simple website, there may not be too much of an improvement to be made from upgrading to HTTP/2, whereas the process could cost you a lot, both in money and resources.

The future

It is likely that HTTP/1 will be with us for some time. The Internet is currently undergoing something of a change, in that webmasters and business owners are beginning to understand the benefits of providing media rich experiences for their customers and audience. Given that HTTP/2 can handle the extra complexities of all these media, it makes sense for those business owners with relevant services to embrace the change. It’s cheaper to run and makes the process of delivering a media rich environment much more efficient.

The rise of mobile search is a key point to consider, too – well over half of all searches worldwide are now performed on a tablet or smartphone. That number is only expected to rise in the future, so business owners should be looking at technology that allows them to present themselves online to mobile users in the best possible way. HTTP/2 fits that bill entirely.


[clickToTweet tweet=”Over half of all searches worldwide are now performed on a tablet or smartphone.” quote=”Over half of all searches worldwide are now performed on a tablet or smartphone.”]

The modern online consumer is also highly concerned with security these days – thanks in no part to the many different hacks and scams that dominate the news reports. Back in the early days of the web, people tended to be relaxed about security, whereas today, it is all many can think about. Using the HTTP/2 protocol can help businesses prevent many different kinds of threat, particularly those which occur when transmitting data between clients and servers. Full encryption is a prerequisite for any online business these days, and again, HTTP/2 delivers.

Final thoughts

While making a move from HTTP/1 to its successor isn’t necessary for all businesses right now, there will be a time when it is imperative. Speed really is of the essence when it comes to consumers using online services, whether they are buying products or just browsing through a website – and HTTP/2 can help you deliver the experiences your customers need.

There is a competitive advantage involved, too, as not everyone is using the new protocol yet. If you are struggling to beat the competition, it’s certainly something to think about going forward. While making a move to HTTP/2 is not currently a requirement from the likes of Google, it will be eventually. And your business could be well ahead of the rest if you decide to take the plunge right now.

So, what are your thoughts on HTTP/2? Have you made a move already or do you plan on doing so in the future? Let me know your thoughts and experiences!

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