- Liquid Web Survey Explores How Freelancers Rate Web Hosting
- Being sustainable comes last, but half of those surveyed would pay an extra $50 a year for sustainability.
- Businesses spend an average of just under $20 per month on web hosting services
Freelancers are increasingly finding that web hosting is a vital investment for business growth, although sustainability is often not their primary goal when choosing a provider.
New research by Liquid Web found that professionals spend an average of $214 a year on hosting, achieving a remarkable 2,319% return on investment, while solopreneurs earn up to 2,846%.
While more than half of respondents said they were willing to pay more for environmentally friendly solutions, they were primarily looking for services that offered tangible returns on investment.
Value for money in a hosting provider
More than half of respondents (54%) said they would pay an additional $50 per year for environmentally friendly lodging solutions, indicating that sustainable practices are an emerging consideration.
Meanwhile, 23% of respondents said they allocate more than $500 annually for optimal performance and support.
Liquid Web found that the vendor migration process is time-consuming and expensive, requiring an average of 6.6 hours or $115 in resources.
And yet, freelancers were found to regularly switch hosting providers due to cost, performance, or support issues. Nearly 7 in 10 reported switching at least once, and 13% did so annually.
Hidden charges and unexpected billing are the top triggers, and professionals who experience them are 35% more likely to switch providers.
“It’s fascinating to see how solopreneurs, freelancers and digital nomads prioritize sustainability and customer service. “It provides valuable insights to tailor our offering to your changing needs,” said David Eblen, Chief Product Officer at Liquid Web.
