If you’re planning to launch your site online, then web hosting is what you need.
Web hosting is a service where companies store your website’s files on their computers so people can visit your site through a web browser. These computers are known as servers.
If this seems complicated, don’t worry. By the end of this article, you’ll have a clearer understanding. I’ll explain the basics of web hosting, its benefits, the various types available, and what you should look for when selecting a web hosting provider.
What is Website Hosting?
Web hosting is a service that lets you put your website or webpage on the internet. Think of a web host as a company that gives you space on a big computer (called a server) where your website’s files live.
When someone wants to see your website, they just type your website’s address into their browser, and their computer connects to the server where your website is stored, showing them your website.
If you want to use a web hosting service, you usually need to have a domain name (the web address people use to find your site). If you don’t have one, the web hosting company can help you buy one.
Types of Web Hosting
1. Shared Hosting
Shared hosting involves placing multiple websites on the same server, where each site is allocated a certain amount of storage space and bandwidth.
Resources such as memory, the MySQL server, and the Apache server are shared among all websites on that server. If one website experiences high traffic and uses a significant amount of resources, it can negatively affect the performance of all other sites hosted on the same server.
2. Virtual Private Server (VPS)
A Virtual Private Server, or VPS, is a hosting environment that simulates a dedicated server within a shared hosting environment. It divides a server into multiple virtual servers, each isolated from the others.
This means that each VPS has its own dedicated portion of the server’s resources, including memory and CPU. Unlike shared hosting, the activities on one VPS do not impact the performance of other sites on the same server.
3. Dedicated Server
A dedicated server provides a single server solely for one customer. This type of hosting offers the most control, power, and security, as all of the server’s resources are dedicated to a single website.
It is ideal for businesses with high traffic volumes or specific needs that cannot be met by shared or VPS hosting.
4. Reseller Hosting
Reseller hosting allows individuals or businesses to buy hosting services and then sell them to others.
This model enables the reseller to act as a middleman, offering hosting services under their own brand without having to manage the underlying server hardware or software.
5. Cloud Hosting
Cloud hosting, which has become quite popular, can be a bit confusing because different companies might mean different things when they offer it. Originally, cloud hosting was about spreading your website’s files across several servers.
This setup was great because if your website suddenly got a lot of visitors, the system could quickly adjust by using more resources from the cloud to handle the traffic, making sure your site stayed up and ran smoothly.
This type of hosting usually comes with flexible pricing, meaning you pay more if you use more resources.
But now, as cloud hosting has gotten more attention, some companies might just be using the term “cloud hosting” for what is essentially their standard shared or VPS (Virtual Private Server) hosting, which doesn’t necessarily offer the same flexibility and scalability as true cloud hosting.
Big tech companies like Amazon Web Services or Microsoft Azure do provide genuine cloud hosting services. They offer a wide range of advanced cloud-based tools along with hosting, making them a good choice for complex web projects.
However, using these services for a simple website might be more complicated and technical than what most people need.
6. WordPress Hosting:
Now, let me talk about WordPress Hosting, as it is really popular because it makes running a WordPress site easy and fast.
You can start your website with just one click, which is super simple. It’s also safe from hackers, which is important because a lot of people use WordPress.
If you ever have problems or questions, there are experts ready to help you out. And as your website gets bigger, WordPress hosting can handle it, growing with you. It even updates itself, so you don’t have to worry about keeping things up to date.
Here’s why so many people like using WordPress:
1. It’s Versatile:
You can use WordPress for almost anything. It’s perfect for blogs, business websites, big companies, online stores, portfolios, social networks, and more. You can keep changing and adding to your site as your needs change.
2. Easy for Everyone:
WordPress is super easy to use, even if you’re not a tech expert. You can set up a site quickly, and adding content is straightforward with its visual editor. No coding is needed!
3. Lots of Design Choices:
With WordPress, you get tons of options for how your site looks. There are thousands of themes (like website templates) that you can use and change anytime to make your site look just the way you want.
4. Add Cool Features Easily:
If you’re looking for something special for your website, like a shopping cart or a photo gallery, then WordPress it the right choice. WordPress has plugins, which are little add-ons, to do all sorts of things without having to build them from scratch.
5. Great for Google:
Websites made with WordPress tend to show up high in Google search results because they are3 good at SEO (Search Engine Optimization). This means more people can find your site when they search online.
6. Mobile-Friendly:
WordPress sites work well on phones and tablets, not just computers. This is important since a lot of people use their phones to go online.
7. Has a Blog Built In:
WordPress started as blogging software, so it has great blogging features built-in. If you want a blog on your site, it’s really easy to add one.
8. Lots of Help Available:
There’s a huge community of WordPress fans out there who are always making it better and helping each other out. If you need help, there are lots of places to find answers.
How to Choose the Right WordPress Hosting Provider
When choosing a WordPress hosting provider, it’s essential to consider several factors to ensure you select the best one for your website. Listed below are some examples of what you should look for to help you make sense of what we are saying.
1. Security:
Your website’s safety is crucial. A good hosting provider will offer strong security measures like firewalls, login protection, daily backups, and SSL certificates to keep your site secure from hackers and data breaches.
2. Customer Reviews:
Check what others say about the hosting service. Look for genuine feedback on platforms like Trustpilot. Be cautious of overly positive or negative reviews without details.
For example, WPX Hosting has a strong reputation with many positive reviews highlighting its reliability and customer service.
3. Support:
Having reliable support is a lifesaver. You want a hosting provider like Kinsta that offers 24/7 customer service, so help is always available when you need it, whether for server issues or WordPress-specific questions.
4. Performance:
Your website needs to load quickly to keep visitors engaged. Companies like Cloudways focus on providing fast loading times and reliable performance, which can help keep your site speedy and reduce bounce rates.
5. Cost:
Hosting prices vary, so choose one that offers good value for the services provided. While cheap options like Hostinger might be tempting, ensure they meet your site’s needs without compromising on quality.
Always check for any hidden fees or extra costs. For instance, Hawhost offers hosting at just $2.24 per month.
6. Reliability:
Look for hosting with high uptime, meaning your website is always accessible. WPX Hosting, for instance, offers a 99.9% uptime guarantee, ensuring your site is rarely down.
7. Compatibility:
Ensure the hosting is compatible with your essential WordPress plugins and themes. Some hosts might restrict certain plugins, so if you rely on WooCommerce for an online store, make sure your host supports it without issues.
For instance, WPX Hosting is great for online stores because it offers really good hosting services just for WooCommerce. They also have special support for both WooCommerce and WordPress websites, helping you run your online shop smoothly.
8. Scalability:
As your site grows, your hosting needs to adapt. Services like WPX Hosting offer scalable solutions, allowing you to upgrade your resources without downtime and ensuring smooth growth for your website.
So, by now, you must have zeroed down on the hosting provider for your website. Thus, now let me explain to you how to set up your WordPress site with the hosting provider.
How to set up your WordPress site
1. Select a WordPress plan (WordPress.com only).
To start making your website, you need to pick a WordPress plan. If you go with WordPress.org, there’s only one option, and it’s free.
However, you need to pay for your own website name (domain), where your website lives on the internet (hosting), and any extra features or looks (plugins and themes) you want.
2. Set up your domain name and hosting provider.
By now, you’re familiar with the concept of a hosting provider, as we’ve discussed above. Your domain name is essentially the specific web address that people type to visit your website, such as www.example.com.
Meanwhile, a hosting provider is a service that stores all the files for your website on a server, making it accessible on the internet. Without a hosting provider, your website wouldn’t be visible online.
Some top choices for WordPress hosting include WPX Hosting, Kinsta Hosting, Cloudways, and HawkHost.
3. Install WordPress.
Setting up WordPress on Hosting: If you’re using a hosting provider outside of WordPress, you’ll need to install WordPress yourself. But if you’re using services like WP Engine or Kinsta, they handle this for you.
Installing WordPress: After installing WordPress, you’ll need to provide some basic information like your domain name, where you want to install WordPress, and your admin details.
Confirmation Email: After about a day, your website will be installed, and you’ll get an email from GoDaddy confirming this.
Setting up Primary Domain: Once WordPress is installed, you’ll want to set your main domain so that visitors see your website when they type your domain into their browser.
- Go to your WordPress dashboard, click on “My Site,” and then select “Domains.”
- Choose the custom domain you want as your main one.
- Click on “Make Primary” and confirm the change by clicking “Update Primary Domain.”
- Look for a green confirmation box indicating that your primary domain has been updated successfully.
Making Your Website Look Good: Now that the technical setup is done, you can focus on making your website visually appealing and user-friendly. This involves choosing themes, designing layouts, and adding content to your site, which I will discuss below.
4. Choose your theme.
Customizing Your WordPress Website:
WordPress offers many themes and templates to customize your website. These themes come with various layouts, colors, fonts, and styles to choose from.
Default Theme vs. Custom Theme:
WordPress starts you off with a basic theme, but it might not impress your visitors much. You can stick with it, but a custom theme, whether free or paid, will give your site a more professional and attractive look that suits your audience.
Choosing a Theme:
Just like there are many hosting options, there are hundreds of themes available. There are different themes based on different purposes, such as business, e-commerce, portfolios, blogs, etc. You can further customize your pages using tools like Elementor.
Finding and Installing a Theme:
In your WordPress dashboard, go to “Appearance” and then “Themes.” Here, you can browse through available themes or search for a specific one you like.
Once you find the right theme, simply install it to start customizing your site. Each theme has its own set of customization steps, so make sure to follow them carefully. If a theme has a website with documentation, check it out for extra guidance.
5. Add posts and pages to your website.
Posts and Pages:
In WordPress, your website content is typically divided into two main types: posts and pages.
- Posts: These are like entries in a journal. They’re great for blogs or portfolios because they automatically show your newest content at the top.
- Pages: These are more like traditional web pages. They’re static, meaning the content stays in one place, making them ideal for business websites.
Adding Posts and Pages:
- Adding a Post: Go to your WordPress dashboard, click on “Posts,” and then “Add New.” Here, you can write your post, add images, change the formatting, and use different page elements like blocks or shortcodes. You can save your work as a draft or publish it immediately.
- Adding a Page: Similarly, go to your dashboard, click on “Pages,” and then “Add New.” Add a title for your page, insert images or videos, and add your content. Again, you can save it as a draft or publish it when ready.
- Choosing Homepage: Decide if you want a post or page to be your homepage or any other page on your site. This is the first thing visitors see when they visit your site.
That’s it! You can create multiple posts and pages for your website using these simple steps.
6. Customize your website.
To make your website unique, you can customize various aspects beyond just choosing a theme. Here are some options to consider:
- Site Title and Tagline: Head to “Settings” > “General” in your admin dashboard to add your website title and tagline. You can also tweak other basic site info like your URL and time zone.
- Reading Settings: Under “Settings” > “Reading,” you can decide if you want your homepage to be a static page or display your latest posts. This choice is crucial depending on whether you prefer fixed content for business purposes or dynamic updates for blogging.
- Navigation Bar: Customize your navigation bar to help visitors easily navigate your site. Access “Appearance” > “Menus” in your dashboard to set up how your navigation bar looks, which pages to include, their titles, and their order.
Installing Plugins:
Plugins are like add-ons that expand the functionality of your WordPress website. With over 55,000 available, you can find options for almost anything.
For example, installing the plugin to enhance the website speed is crucial, as slow-loading pages can drive visitors away.
You can improve speed by enabling browser caching, which temporarily stores your website’s data on visitors’ browsers. Perfmatters is my favorite plugin for doing so.
Conclusion
In short, WordPress hosting is super important for getting your website up and running online. It’s like the foundation that stores all your website’s stuff and lets people see it on the internet.
Knowing the basics of web hosting, like the different types out there, is really important for anyone who wants to make a website. So, if you’re thinking about getting your own site online, understanding how hosting works is key!
With this article, you will be able to understand the basics of website hosting, and you are ready to get your WordPress site up and LIVE.
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