Economy Linux Hosting with cPanel and WordPress – How to Get Started?
While Linux hosting seems almost as trendy as Bitcoin mining, there is a lot more to running a website than people realize. Especially since the software and tools you need to run your website don’t have to cost a fortune. In this article, we will discuss how to get started with economy Linux hosting with cPanel and WordPress. Why these two popular platforms? First, because they are free and open source, and therefore, there are thousands of tutorials, guides, and StackOverflow answers waiting to be discovered. Plus, with WordPress, you don’t need any technical expertise to get started–all you need is a simple web browser.
What Is Linux Hosting?
As its name suggests, Linux hosting is when one or more servers run the open source Linux operating system. In most cases, these servers are controlled remotely (via SSH) via a web browser using a graphical user interface (GUI). To create a Linux hosting account, you will need to enter some basic information about your website (e.g., name, category, short description, email), choose a password, and agree to the terms and conditions. After you’ve done that, a Linux hosting provider will give you a url that you can use to access your website. Note that not all Linux hosting providers are created equal, so make sure you read reviews before signing up.
What Is cPanel?
cPanel is the most popular web hosting control panel, and it is what most people mean when they talk about a hosting provider’s dashboard. The good news is that cPanel is open source and, as a result, you can download and install it on your own server if you want to give it a try (for free). When you log in to cPanel, you will see a main navigation menu at the top, a dashboard in the middle, and a set of tabs along the bottom–these are the most common areas you will interact with (see image below).
As you can see from the screenshot, each tab along the bottom has a set of links that you can use to manage your website. For example, the WordPress tab will allow you to manage your WordPress site from here. When it comes to choosing a Linux hosting provider, the cPanel dashboard is where you should start your search. It will save you a great deal of time and effort searching for products, comparing prices, and checking out reviews. As a general rule, look for hosts that offer 24/7 customer support via chat, phone call, or email. This way, if you have any problems, you can get them resolved immediately rather than waiting for hours on end until a live human being is available to help you.
WordPress vs. Magento vs. Joomla vs. Drupal vs. Open Source eCommerce Software
One of the first things you will need to decide when launching a new eCommerce store is which of the countless CMS-based eCommerce software packages to use. This is the big decision and something that can be difficult to make–especially if you are not completely aware of all the intricacies and advantages of each software package. To help you make the right choice, we have compiled a list of the most popular and well-known open source eCommerce software available today and why you should consider each one.
WordPress
WordPress is the most popular CMS-based eCommerce software available today and it is only getting more popular by the day. Launched in 2007, WordPress has become the go-to platform for bloggers and online publishers who want to create a simple and sleek store experience for their customers. WordPress is free and open source, which means that anyone can download it and set it up on their own server (or use a free hosted server like WordPress.com to make life easier).
This being said, if you are just getting started and do not have the funds (or the expertise) to run a serious website, then WordPress does not seem like the best choice for you. Also, if your ultimate goal is to have a store that can eventually turn into a real business, then you might want to look elsewhere since you will eventually need to upgrade to a premium plan.
Magento
Magento is one of the world’s most popular eCommerce platforms, and it was launched back in 2004. Like WordPress, Magento is also free and open source. In most cases, setting up a store using Magento does not require any unique or special skills. However, if you are looking for a robust platform that can help you build a professional-looking eCommerce store without any headaches, then Magento is the clear choice.
Magento’s biggest selling point is its built-in eCommerce functionality. This means that you do not need to purchase any separate software to set up an online store–all you need is a web browser and you can start selling your products directly from the platform!
Joomla!
Joomla! is another popular CMS-based eCommerce software–one that has been around since 2001 and which was used to build the ESPN.com website. Like WordPress and Magento, Joomla! is also free and open source–making it one of the most popular options for people looking for a basic eCommerce solution.
Joomla! is particularly useful for creating smaller websites–such as online stores for startups and small businesses. Plus, since Joomla! is open source, you can always take it down and move over to another host if you are ever unsatisfied with how things are running or if you want to launch a new project.
Drupal
Drupal is the open source content management system (CMS) that powers the The New York Times’ website. Since its inception in 1994, Drupal has become the standard platform for bloggers and news publishers who want to create a rich and interactive experience for their readers. Like WordPress, Drupal is also free and open source–making it one of the most popular options for people seeking a basic eCommerce solution.
The thing to remember about Drupal is that there are a lot of different editions and versions that you can choose from when building a website. This being said, most companies that use Drupal choose to go the cheapest (free) route and use the Basic plan when launching a new website. Since most news websites use this plan, you can usually find a lot of content to use for free (or nearly free).
Open Source eCommerce Software
As we mentioned above, WordPress, Magento, and Drupal are all popular choices when it comes to building an eCommerce store. However, if your ultimate goal is to have a store that can eventually turn into a real business, then you might want to look elsewhere since you will eventually need to upgrade to a premium plan with an open source eCommerce solution.
In most cases, open source eCommerce software is free and you do not need to purchase any separate packages to use them. For example, let’s say you decide to use Shopify to build your eCommerce store. Once that is done, you can use the platform’s APIs to integrate with other services like MailChimp and Stripe for payment processing. You do not need to run your own email server to use MailChimp’s free email marketing service, and you do not need to set up your own payment processing system to accept online payments via Stripe.
Open source eCommerce software is great because you can always take the code and go somewhere else if the service is not what you are looking for. In most cases, this is all you need to do to make a successful switch since most open source eCommerce providers are very easy to navigate and use. Plus, if you are ever unsatisfied with how things are running or if you want to launch a new project, then you can remove all the coding and start from scratch.
In short, if you are looking for a simple, cost-effective way to get started building a business, then open source eCommerce software might just be the right fit. Especially since you can get everything you need for free!
Why Should You Use Bitcoin As a Payment Method?
Just like any other type of payment, using Bitcoin as a payment method for your eCommerce store carries certain advantages and disadvantages. The main advantage of using Bitcoin is that it is widely accepted as a means of payment worldwide–especially in online transactions where purchases are concerned. For example, if you are selling a $100 dress on your home page and the customer decides to pay using Bitcoin, the transaction will be much less likely to be disputed (since Bitcoin is a digital currency).