How Shared Server Architectures Can Influence Your SEO Efforts

Published: September 17, 2024
Updated Date : January 29, 2025

It pays off to rank high in search engine results: at most, 1% of people go to the second page of their Google search results. Sites that rank on the

Author

Editorial Team

Outrightcrm.com

It pays off to rank high in search engine results: at most, 1% of people go to the second page of their Google search results. Sites that rank on the first page have an average load speed of just 1.65 seconds. In comparison, websites on shared servers load in three seconds on average. On mobile devices, the average website loads in 8.6 seconds!

More than 60% of websites use shared hosting in 2024, and search engines understand that shared hosting is popular and common. Website owners cannot control who uses the same IP and is on the same server. However, SEO tends to suffer.  


The Effect of Loading Time on SEO


Page speed is a well-known ranking factor. Fast sites are also more likely to rank higher, and fast hosting can improve your site's probability of ranking well. Around 50% of online users would prefer to miss out on a video or animation if it meant the site would load faster.


A fast shared hosting service ensures a higher loading speed and better user experience. Visitors are frustrated when they have to wait for a site to load. They are more likely to leave before the slow site loads, leading to a higher bounce rate. The latest statistics provide proof of this connection. Pages that take 1-2 seconds to load record a 9% bounce rate, but when the site loads in five seconds, the bounce rate increases to 38% on average.


The bounce probability rises by 32% as load time rises from one to three seconds. Sites that load faster also invite visitors to stay longer. This is also called dwell time, and it's an indication that people find the content useful and pertinent, which is good news for search engines.


Don't be the only Legit site on the Server.


Proceed with caution if you see a server with thousands of spammy or illegal sites. If your site is the only legitimate one within that architecture, people might still be distrustful of it. The top-ranked site on Google has an average spam score of 1-3%, with domain authority in the range of 85-95%. 

In SEO, quality sites on a server dominated by spammy ones are known as sites "in a bad neighborhood." 


Overloaded servers impact SEO Adversely. 


Being on an overloaded shared server will affect your SEO efforts negatively. If the number of websites on a server is too high, it will overload, resulting in slow loading and latency. A slow site challenges crawlers, which is not conducive to organic traffic. Shared hosting isn't necessarily the problem. VPS hosting does not eliminate the risk of server overload.


The Role of Uptime 


Quality web hosting providers are aware of the importance of uptime. Google needs to know that your website is reliable and will not suddenly go offline. The website needs to maintain high uptime to keep its rank. The average uptime is around 99.95%. 


FAQ


How does server location affect SEO?

The nearer your server is to your target audience, the higher your site's load speed. This will improve your SEO and will enhance the experience of your users as well. What's more, the location of the server affects network traffic routes and connectivity. It is crucial to website performance. In 2024, 79% of shoppers who have issues with a website's performance will not return

Does switching hosts affect SEO negatively?

It will unless you follow best practices. You must ensure minimal downtime and resolve any issues that arise as quickly as possible. 

Does server-side rendering improve SEO?

Server-side rendering processes have the ability to improve your website speed, performance, and user experience. Not only this but also capable of enhancing SEO and content accessibility.

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