Choosing the Best WordPress Hosting Provider: AWS Vs. Rackspace Vs. WP Engine Vs. Liquid Web
Every website owner knows that running a blog can be both fun and rewarding, but also quite the learning curve. For those looking to dive headfirst into the world of online publishing, whether they’re experienced veterans or simply enthusiasts looking for a new challenge, choosing the best WordPress hosting provider can seem almost overwhelming. After all, there are a wide variety of options to choose from, each offering its perks and quirks.
If you plan on diving into the world of online publishing, it’s vital that you choose a host that is reliable, cost-effective, and has the features you need for your site. In this article, we will discuss the benefits and drawbacks of each of the major player in the WordPress hosting arena and help you make the right choice for your blog.
The Differentiators Between the Biggest Name Blog Hosts
Before you begin your search for the perfect host, it’s important to understand what sets the big names apart from the rest. There are a variety of differentiators that you should research before making a decision. Here are the major ones.
Geography
Where does your target audience reside? You’ll want to choose a host that is based in your country or at least in the country where your audience is located. For example, if you are targeting the US-based market, you’ll want to ensure that you are using a US-based hosting company. If you’re just getting started and don’t have the budget for global hosting, it’s perfectly acceptable to start small and build your way up as you gain experience. As long as you’re aware of the limitations, you will not be disappointed.
Features
Even after you’ve chosen a hosting plan that suits your needs, you’ll still need to perform a trial and error cycle to determine which features work best for your blog. Some hosting providers offer a fully-featured free plan, while others may only offer basic functionality with a paid plan. Some hosts will even charge you monthly for maintaining a certain amount of storage space on their servers.
Cost
How much are you willing to spend? Once you’ve determined the features you need, it’s time to focus on cost. The major difference between the big names and the little guys is that the big names are usually more expensive yet offer more features. While the little guys may be dirt cheap, but don’t offer the bells and whistles that make a big difference. It’s all about getting the best of both worlds. If you’re on a tight budget or simply want to keep your costs down, it’s advisable to stick with the little guys. However, if you’re looking for something that’s going to grow with your company, it’s time to splurge on a big name. You’ll have a bigger impact in the long run, and it’ll be much easier to find a replacement if you decide to go down the road of amicable disagreement later on. The key takeaway here is not to get a cheap plan from a small host, as you’ll end up regretting it later. Always look for the best value and quality when choosing a web host. Sometimes it’s worth paying a bit more for the peace of mind that comes with a premium product.
Reliability
How long can you expect the website to be up and running? You’ll want to choose a web host that is dependable and has the reputation of being able to withstand heavy traffic. There are many variables that can affect how long your site will stay up, but one of the major factors is the amount of bandwidth that you’re using. The more bandwidth you use, the more likely your site is to be unavailable. If you’re on a shared hosting plan and the rest of the websites on your server are consuming more bandwidth than they’re using, guess what? Your site will most likely be affected. Make sure that your host is reliable and can handle heavy traffic before making any decisions. Otherwise, it’s a better idea to look for a different host.
Scalability
Is your target audience growing? Are you receiving a lot of online traffic, and is there any indication that this is going to increase? Your answer to these questions will determine your need for a scalable host. A scalable host can grow with your traffic, and, as long as you stay within the limits set by your host, you should not have any problems. But if you’re hitting the limits of what your host can offer, you may have to look for a different solution. In this case, make sure that your host is capable of handling your current traffic level and any estimated increase in traffic. If you don’t know what scalability is or how it affects your blog, choose a hosting plan that is not scalable. It’ll be much easier to find a replacement host if you decide to go down the road of amicable disagreement later on.
Support And Documentation
Finally, don’t forget about the support that you’re going to receive from your web host. It’s vital that you choose a host that provides 24/7/365 support through live chat or email. Additionally, don’t forget to check out the documentation that your host provides, as this will also guide you along the way. Sometimes it’s easy to get frustrated with WordPress and end up doing something that you shouldn’t, due to lack of documentation or confusing help screens. So, take some time to read the documentation that comes with your host and make sure that you’re not missing out on anything. Live chat is usually the best way to go as it provides immediate assistance and answers any questions you may have without the need to spend hours trying to figure things out yourself. Sometimes it’s just a matter of following the given instructions and everything will work out fine. However, if you’re stuck and need assistance, live chat is where you should turn to. Just make sure that you’re not abusing the support system by asking questions that can be easily answered via a quick internet search.
When choosing the best WordPress hosting provider, it’s important to look for a combination of the four differentiators listed above. You may find that one host offers all of these, while another only provides two out of the four. Do your research and make the right choice for your needs.