Surviving the Black Friday chaos: Is your shared server up to the task?

Laura Wilson -

When it comes to handling traffic, is your server more like a tortoise or a race car? If you’re not sure , you might want to get it serviced just in case.

With Black Friday on the horizon, online retailers are already bracing themselves for the chaos of huge traffic surges. Friday 29th November is no longer just a shopping spree – it’s a test of your shared server’s strength. So, is your current model ready to put the pedal to the metal?

4 flashing neon signs you need to upgrade 

Before the rush starts, it’s important to make sure your site is prepared. How do you know if your server is feeling the strain? Here are some warning signs to look out for:

  1. Your bounce rates are soaring
  2. Your site is loading slower than usual
  3. You’ve faced frequent downtime or crashes during previous sales
  4. You’ve noticed users abandoning their shopping carts at checkout

With just 8 seconds to capture a potential customer’s attention, just one of these could signal that your server can’t handle the heat.

Your shared server can’t keep up

Ride-sharing is fun for a while, but imagine cramming all your friends into a tiny car that’s no longer fit for the road. Similarly, shared hosting means sharing resources with other websites, which can slow things down when the traffic starts pouring in.

With a virtual private server (VPS) or dedicated server, on the other hand, you get a whole Audi to yourself. And yes, you can blast your favourite tunes. Both allow you to scale your resources as needed, making it easier to handle spikes in traffic without breaking a sweat – though, like an Audi, they do come at a slightly higher price point.

Dedicated servers vs. VPS – the pros and cons

If you’re looking to move on and up from a shared server, knowing which of these two options to pick can be tricky. So we’ve broken it down for you:

Virtual private servers

Pros

Cons

  • Ideal for scale-ups

  • Dedicated resources

  • More affordable than dedicated hosting

  • Full root access and admin control

  • High security

  • Easily scalable depending on traffic and spikes

  • More expensive than shared hosting

  • Requires technical knowledge to set up

  • Potential security risks if set up incorrectly

  • Needs management

Dedicated servers

Pros

Cons

  • Perfect for large, multi-website businesses

  • Powerful performance

  • Enhanced security capabilities

  • Full root access for software control

  • One of the most expensive options

  • Technical assistance is needed for server management

  • Server maintenance is your responsiblity, like updating and installing patches

Ultimately, if you’re looking for an upgrade from your shared hosting solution, a VPS could be the perfect middle ground between affordability and server power. However, if you need more resources or are hosting multiple websites, a dedicated server could be calling.

Make your sales soar, with Fasthosts

Making sure your server can handle Black Friday traffic is crucial for your business’ success and lasting reputation – on 29th November and beyond. So don’t let your server be the weak link in your sales chain – upgrade from shared hosting to a VPS or dedicated server with Fasthosts for a smoother shopping experience this Black Friday, and every day of the year. Get in touch with our expert team today.