Gone are the days when word of mouth was the kind of promotion a business needed to reach the target audience. Today, every venture requires building an online presence with a responsive website packed with high-quality images.
It’s great if you already know what your website would look like, the features and images you want to add on the pages, and the type of content you want to promote, but have you thought about which image hosting service you’ll go with to keep your files safe and secure?
I believe not.
Choosing the best possible option for hosting is crucial because it determines the security, backup, and storage of the images, reflecting on your brand.
But when you are spoilt for choices, how do you pick the best option for your business?
Worry not! This blog will outline the six crucial things to consider while choosing an image hosting service. But before that, let’s quickly understand what image hosting is.
What is Image Hosting?
Image hosting sites are platforms where you can share images for free. For instance, when you upload an image, it is “hosted” on a particular platform so others with an internet connection can see, share, and download it on any device. All image hosting sites allow users to share their images and even make money.
Most free image hosting sites use advanced features like Content Distribution Networks or CDN to increase the image loading time and provide additional bandwidth. It also helps in the online distribution of images and media files without affecting the site’s performance.
How to Choose the Right Image Hosting Service?
Key factors to keep in mind for choosing image hosting services:
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Load Time
The first thing that you must look out for is the load time. When you upload images – be it the snapshots of an English assignment to help your friends or an entire photo album of your 21st birthday celebration, it’s essential to consider the images’ loading speed.
Slow loading speed means you are likely to miss out on potential visitors. According to a Google study, 53% of mobile site visitors leave if the images take over 3 seconds to load. That’s why it’s essential to choose a hosting service that can offer a loading time of 3 seconds or less. If it’s more than 3 seconds, look for a different image hosting service.
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Brand Needs
Another crucial step towards choosing an image hosting service is identifying your specific needs. For example, some users require higher storage and file-sharing facilities to manage different outputs and improve accessibility, while others may require a site to maintain an online portfolio.
Regardless of profession, most users turn to a free image hosting sites like Imgur and Google Photos to host images. Also, understand what types of files you need to upload to create an account that matches your brand’s needs.
For instance, let’s say you are a professional assignment writer. A standard plan would suffice if you only need to upload images or assignment snapshots. On the contrary, if you look to upload videos and audio files of study lectures, you may require upgrading the plan.
So make sure the potential image hosting service has all your brand needs covered, or else it will become challenging to download or convert files from your site.
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Security & Sharing
Security and privacy are highly crucial when you upload images online. And that also depends on how you want to share your files. For example, if you are a photographer, you probably want to create an online portfolio to publish your best clicks. Now you have to decide whether you want space for a private collection for selective groups or want to share your collections with all in your network.
Some services offer both sharing options, but not all – like Flickr. In addition, Flickr doesn’t provide much flexibility compared to other platforms like Strikingly. Therefore, be clear of the features and sharing options you require to support the security norms of your brand and the industry domain.
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Storage Space
One of the challenges of using a free image hosting site is that it offers limited storage space. Even while starting, some platforms may provide a decent amount of space, but as your archive grows, you may have to switch to an upgraded plan to get unlimited storage.
You must carefully analyse the amount of space your archives require before signing up with an image hosting service or purchasing a plan. As a starter pack, most image hosting sites offer basic plans that allow users to accommodate their existing files and provide a bit of space for new files.
Chances are, some services may offer you unlimited space, but the quality may be hampered. Hence, it’s highly advised to opt for a free 30-day trial or get the platform’s basic plan to test the features and performance quality.
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Image Quality
Most image hosting services aim to store and display images in the best quality possible. However, for professionals who want to create and maintain online portfolios, you must find a service that won’t compress pictures to the extent that it destroys the original quality when you host them on the site.
Different platforms offer different image hosting services, leading to compatibility issues while uploading and sharing files. Remember, a good image hosting service should help you elevate your work’s quality and not deter the quality or user experience. Thus, make sure you research the service before hosting the files yourself.
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Navigation & Support
An image hosting site should be user-friendly and offer active customer support. Pay close attention to the site’s navigation speed and previous client reviews. If you find it challenging to host or takes too long to load, it’s better to consider the other options on your list. Trust me; nothing is more annoying than sites that take forever to pull up images.
Getting good customer support means you can deal with your hosting issues faster and better. As most image hosting services offer support via phone, chat, or tickets, make sure your potential service has a knowledgeable support team to provide a quick response when needed.
Finding a good image hosting service is vital for building your online presence. But at the same time, it’s also crucial to acknowledge that finding an exemplary hosting service is no cakewalk. Nonetheless, always consider these factors while searching to find the right service to meet your needs.
Author Bio
Henry Tesfaye is an enthusiast of digital communication and a full-time digital marketer. He has worked with several reputed clients to organise brand promotions across different digital platforms. Apart from digital marketing, Jennifer is also a tutor at Allessaywriter.com, where students hire professional do my assignment writer for guidance.
