When you are starting a blog, choosing your website hosting company is one of the most important decisions.
The decision can make or break your blog. You’ll want to find a hosting company that provides the following features.
- Easy to install WordPress
- Fast website speeds
- Quality customer service
In this article, we will discuss why website hosting is important, the different types of website hosting, and what to look for from a website host.
What Is Web Hosting?
Web hosting is a service that gives you access to a web server. The server stores your website and its files. When someone wants to view your site, they need to type the website URL into their browser. Their computer will then connect to your server and load your website for viewing.
Think of it as renting an apartment. You pay rent each month to an apartment complex. The complex owns the property. It’s responsible for maintaining it.
The same goes for web hosting. You rent the server space from a company that owns and maintains the servers. They are responsible for keeping the servers up and running. A website hosting company also works to provide a fast and stable connection. You need to pay to use their space.
Why Is Good Web Hosting Important?
When you’re running a blog, your host needs to be reliable and fast. Your readers won’t stick around if your site takes forever to load. They also won’t return if your site is down all the time. Your web hosting company should also provide good customer support in case you have any problems.
The Most Common Types of Web Hosting
There are four main types of web hosting.
- Shared
- VPS
- Managed
- Dedicated
Shared Hosting
With shared hosting, your website shares a server with other websites. It’s the most common and most affordable type of web hosting. Shared hosting is best for small websites with low traffic.
VPS (Virtual Private Server) Hosting
Your website still shares a server with other websites when using VPS hosting. However, you have your own virtual space. You also have more control over the server and your website’s performance. Virtual private server hosting is best for medium-sized websites with moderate traffic.
Managed Hosting
Managed hosting is best for medium to large websites with decent traffic numbers. The web hosting company manages the server and your website. It also provides customer support.
Another Option: Managed WordPress Hosting
Managed WordPress hosting is a specific type of managed hosting made for WordPress websites. It’s becoming more popular because it’s a great way to get all the benefits of managed hosting without the high price tag.
Dedicated Hosting
You get your own server with dedicated hosting. It’s best for large websites with high traffic numbers. It’s also the most expensive type of web hosting.
Why Don’t You Want Free Hosting?
Free hosting sounds great in theory. However, there are some downsides. First of all, you’ll have to deal with ads on your website. Your domain name will also include the hosting company’s name. It can make your site look less professional.
The main downside is that you won’t have as much control over your website. The free hosting company can shut down your site without notice if it doesn’t like your content. You also won’t get good customer support with a free host. Finally, free hosting is unreliable and often slow.
Paid web hosting may cost you a few dollars each month. However, it’s worth it for the peace of mind and the professional look.
11 Factors To Consider When Choosing a Web Hosting Company
Let’s look at everything you need to research about each website host you may consider using.
Uptime Reliability
You want a web hosting company that will keep your website up and running. Look for companies that guarantee at least 99% uptime. It means your site will only go down for short periods, if at all. Consider the negative aspects of seeing your site go down.
- You lose traffic
- You lose potential customers
- Your search engine ranking suffers
Technical Support
When you have a problem with your website, you want to be able to talk to someone who can help you fix it. Make sure the web hosting company you choose has good technical support.
Test out their support before you commit to a long-term contract. Look for the following technical support options.
- Phone support
- Live chat support
- Ticketing system/help desk
Does it look like the company welcomes support tickets? Or, does it put up roadblocks to asking for help? You don’t want to engage with a company that points you to a knowledge base without easy access to starting a direct support ticket.
Scalability
As your website grows, you may want to scale up your hosting plan. Otherwise, your site will become slow and unreliable. A good web hosting company will make it easy to scale up your hosting plan as your website grows. Research and look for web hosting companies that offer the following features.
- An easy way to upgrade your hosting plan
- A wide range of hosting plans to choose from
Server Features
The server is the backbone of your website. Compare the server features each website company offers to customers. The best web hosting companies will offer the following features as standard.
- PHP support
- MySQL support
- SSD (Solid State Drive) hard drives
- Unlimited storage space and bandwidth
Control Panel (Cpanel) Functionality
A control panel is a web-based interface that allows you to manage your hosting account and server. The best control panels are easy to use and give you control over your account. A good Cpanel will provide the following features.
- An intuitive interface
- The ability to create email accounts
- An easy way to install WordPress
- A wide range of themes and plugins
- One-click installation of apps and software
Price
The price is always an important consideration when choosing a web hosting company. However, the cheapest option is not always the best one. In most cases, you get what you pay for in terms of quality and features.
Server Location
The server location is vital for two reasons. First, it can affect the speed of your website. Second, it can impact which countries you can target with your website. If your target market is in the United States, for instance, then you want a server located in that country.
Performance (Speed)
Look for a website known for providing fast loading times. If your site is slow, it will frustrate your users and hurt your business. No one wants to wait for a slow website to load. Google uses website speed as a ranking factor. So, a slow website will also impact your SEO.
Features to look for in this area include a fast and reliable server, CDN (Content Delivery Network) support, and caching.
Data Backups
You never know when something could happen to your website. Make sure the web hosting company you choose backs up their servers regularly. If the server crashes, you want to know your data is safe and recoverable. The best web hosting companies will offer daily backups as standard.
If your hosting company doesn’t offer backups for any reason, you can use a WordPress plugin like UpdraftPlus to create your backups.
Security
In today’s online climate, security is more important than ever. Your website hosting company should take security seriously. Look for features to help you protect your website.
- A firewall
- DDoS protection
- SSL certificates
- Malware scanning/removal
- 24/hour monitoring
Read Users Reviews
One of the best ways to get an idea of what a web hosting company is really like is to read user reviews. Look for both positive and negative reviews. Be wary of any company with only positive reviews. Also, take any one-star reviews with a grain of salt.
The best way to use user reviews is to look for patterns. If multiple people are saying the same jfthing, there’s probably truth to it. For instance, if several people mention that a company has great customer service, then it’s likely they do.
Look for objective reviews that mention both the good and bad points of a web hosting company. These are usually more helpful than either positive or negative reviews.
Best Web Hosting Companies for Your WordPress Blog
It’s time to take a look at some of the best website hosting companies. The following companies are all great choices for WordPress blogs.
Bluehost
Bluehost works well for WordPress hosting. The company offers fast website speeds, good customer service, and a wide range of plans. It’s easy to install WordPress with Bluehost.
One downside of Bluehost is that it doesn’t offer as many features as some of the other web hosts on this list. Additionally, its shared hosting plans are expensive.
HostGator
HostGator is one of the most popular web hosting companies. The company offers a wide range of plans, including shared, VPS, and dedicated hosting. It provides a simple way to install WordPress. Hostgator ranks well in terms of uptime and reputation.
You may need to wait longer for customer service when compared to other website hosts. Other hosts also provide faster website speeds on shared hosting options.
SiteGround
SiteGround is one of the most popular website hosting companies out there. It offers different hosting plans, all of which come with great features. The customer service is excellent, and they have a great reputation. If you’re looking for a reliable host for your blog, SiteGround is a good option to consider.
A2 Hosting
A2 Hosting offers affordable pricing. It brings over a decade of service to the table and works well for WordPress blogs. With an A2 Hosting plan, you get WordPress pre-installed. Its customer service options include phone, email, and chat. You should find their support team knowledgeable and responsive. The uptime numbers aren’t as high as other hosting options, however.
InMotion Hosting
InMotion Hosting is a great option for businesses and bloggers. It offers a wide variety of hosting plans. Each plan comes with great features. The company’s customer service is excellent, and they provide a 90-day money-back guarantee. InMotion Hosting is a bit more expensive than some of the other options on this list.
Kinsta
Kinsta is a quality option if you’re looking for managed WordPress hosting. It comes with a lot of features. Kinsta provides excellent customer service. You get the benefit and power that comes with Kinsta’s use of the Google Cloud Platform.
The cPanel isn’t what you may see with other hosting companies. It includes an option to hide any areas that don’t fit your needs. You can use a one-click option to install WordPress after opening an account. Kinsta provides 24/7 customer support. Its customer service team understands WordPress well.
Dreamhost
Dreamhost started in business over 20 years ago and provides quality hosting plans. The company offers fast customer service. Uptime is one of the best in the business. One downside of DreamHost is that it doesn’t offer as many features as some of the other companies
Hostinger
Hostinger is a nice option if you’re looking for an affordable host. You can get started for as little as $1.99 per month. On this plan, you can attract up to 10,000 monthly visitors. It works well when starting as a new blogger. You can install WordPress with the Hostinger one-click option.
WP Engine
WP Engine is one of the best choices if you’re looking for a WordPress host. It’s a bit more expensive than some of the other options on this list. However, it provides great features and comes with excellent customer service.
WP Engine offers four different hosting plans. All of their plans come with a staging area, which is useful when developing a new website. WP Engine also provides a CDN with all of their plans. It can help improve your website’s speed.
Conclusion
Picking the best hosting for your blog will take some time and research. Read reviews and compare pricing before making your final decision. The best hosting option for you will depend on your specific needs and budget. Consider the type of hosting, features offered, customer service, and pricing when making your decision.
