Why is bandwidth important for an e-commerce site?

By Lena West

entrepreneur daily

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

What is bandwidth and how much bandwidth is necessary for an e-commerce site?

Good question - one many people don't ask until their hosting account is suspended for exceeding their bandwidth.

Bandwidth is the amount of "traffic space" your website uses -- and it's usually measured per month by most hosting companies.

Popular e-commerce sites need to be careful of exceeding their bandwidth as do businesses that get a lot of high-profile media coverage. When people visit your website, when they access or view the graphics and information on your site, it takes up space - that space is called bandwidth.

A good rule of thumb is to ask your hosting company how they handle excess bandwidth usage. Some hosting companies will automatically bump you up to the next plan level while others will disable your account altogether - not good.

Ask your hosting company to recommend bandwidth levels based on existing traffic and then if you need to adjust it downward at the end of the month, you'll have that option.

Lena West is the CEO and Chief Strategist of xynoMedia Technology, a New York-based firm that helps high-growth companies leverage the power of social media, blogs, podcasts and online communities.

Want to be an Entrepreneur Leadership Network contributor? Apply now to join.

Editor's Pick

Side Hustle

This Gen Zer's Stylish Side Hustle Earns About $20,000 a Month and Paid Off His Parents' $200,000 Debt: 'I Enjoy the Hands-Off Nature'

Ray Cao went from working as a barista for $8 an hour to being a successful seller on online marketplace StockX.

Business Ideas

63 Small Business Ideas to Start in 2024

We put together a list of the best, most profitable small business ideas for entrepreneurs to pursue in 2024.

Leadership

5 Habits of Leaders at the Top of the Ladder

Here's a checklist of must-do's for company leaders. Use it daily.

Business News

'A Lobstrosity': Social Media Is Losing It Over Martha Stewart's Latest Meal Posting

The 82-year-old caused quite a stir on Instagram this week.

Business News

This Retailer Is the Latest to Remove a Major Feature From Its Stores Due to Rising Theft

Five Below CEO Joel Anderson addressed the company's plans to combat theft in an earnings call earlier this week.