How to Get the Most from GoHighLevel WordPress Hosting
There is no question that WordPress is one of the most popular content management systems in the world. Many businesses, bloggers, and content creators use WordPress to create web content that is then shared across social media channels or simply kept as a blog.
No matter what platform you might be using to share your content, WordPress is a perfect fit as it is supported by a massive community of developers and businesses that embrace innovation and creativity.
However, just because WordPress is popular and a great fit for so many businesses and blogs, it does not mean that you should solely rely on using the platform to host your content. While it is a fantastic choice, there are several other hosting platforms that you should also consider.
Consider a VPS
If you are looking for a free web host that you can use to create a blog or website, you should consider a virtual private server. A VPS will give you the flexibility to code and innovate on your website without fear of crashing or losing everything due to server overload. A VPS also gives you access to additional resources such as databases and e-mail which you might not necessarily have access to if you were relying solely on the free hosting.
There are several hosting providers that offer a VPS for free, including Bluehost, WPEngine, and Just as Good, to name a few.
Consider a Dedicated Hosting Plan
A dedicated hosting plan offers you complete control over the content that you create and the resources that it is stored on. This is perfect if you are looking for a clean and secure space to house your blog or website. You can also look into dedicated hosting plans from Bluehost, Hostinger, and PressThis which offer a free domain, free backups, and free hosting with custom-branded support.
A dedicated hosting plan can also be a great choice if you plan to monetize your website. The fact that it is dedicated means that you can scale up or down as needed without worrying about the resources being occupied by someone else. If you do need more resources, you can get a dedicated plan from any of the hosting providers mentioned above.
Consider Using a Content Delivery Network (CDN)
A content delivery network (CDN) is a group of websites and servers that are distributed across the Internet. As a user browses the web, their browser will connect with the closest server to get the requested content very quickly. The advantages of using a CDN are numerous including the fact that it speeds up page load times, reduces congestion, and delivers content from a reputable source.
One of the best CDNs to consider for your blog or website is Cloudflare. Not only do they offer free TLS encryption and domain privacy, but they also speed up page loads by caching and compressing the content which reduces the number of bytes needed to load a webpage. In addition, their community of developers and designers are always finding new ways to improve performance and make the experience of using a CDN even better. For instance, they recently launched Flock, a tool to help you find the best possible server for your site based on several variables including how much traffic you get, the type of content you produce, and your budget.
To get started, simply sign up for a Cloudflare account and then create a new network in the dashboard. You can then point your domain at the newly created URL and begin using the site immediately. Cloudflare also offers a free tier which allows you to install one web app on your site and run one database. If you are looking for a free, streamlined hosting experience with the additional feature set of a paid plan, Cloudflare is the best option out there.
Along with Cloudflare, another option is to use the Amazon Cloud Platform. The advantage of using the Amazon Cloud Platform is that you can utilize their vast array of tools and applications including Elastic Cloud Compute (EC2), Elastic Cloud Storage (ECS), and SimpleDB which you can use to build your blog or website. In addition, you get a free domain, free backup, and free installation of the Amazon Web Server which makes it a no-brainer to consider this option if you are looking for a simple, yet powerful, web hosting solution.
Use Google App Engine
Google App Engine is the hosting service from Google which allows you to build and deploy web applications which can then be accessed online. Once your application is live, you can use the Google App Engine dashboard to monitor its performance, functionality, and security.
You can think of Google App Engine as a cross between a PaaS (platform as a service) and IaaS (infrastructure as a service). With a PaaS, you get a predefined set of tools and services that you can use to create and run your application. With IaaS, you get a barebones server which has everything you need to run your application including a powerful web server, an easy-to-use interface, and 24/7 support.
One of the best parts of Google App Engine is that you get to use Google’s own products including their email service, cache layer, and datastore which makes development and deployment much smoother and more efficient. For instance, if you are looking for a free host for your blog or website, you can’t go wrong with Google App Engine.
Use AWS
Another option for a free, web-hosting service is Amazon Web Services. Similar to Google App Engine, Amazon Web Services offers you a platform to build and deploy web applications. However, unlike Google App Engine, Amazon Web Services gives you full control over the entire infrastructure including disk space, network security, and the power of their servers. As a result, you can optimize resource use and get greater performance out of your application.
You get two options for server types when you are using Amazon Web Services. You can either go with a standard server which comes with 4 GB of RAM, a 40 GB hard disk, and the ability to process up to 20,000 requests per day for free or you can get access to a higher-tier server which offers you more resources including 24 GB of RAM, a 120 GB hard disk, and the ability to process up to 100,000 requests per day for a paid plan.
If you are looking for a free host for your blog or website, you can’t go wrong with Amazon Web Services. Not only do they offer a fantastic product at an excellent price, but they are also committed to supporting Open Source development.
Use Microsoft Azure
Finally, we have Microsoft Azure. Much like Google App Engine, Microsoft Azure allows you to build and deploy web applications. However, unlike Google App Engine, Microsoft Azure gives you complete control over the infrastructure including servers, storage, and the network security. In addition, you get all the features of a managed service which simplifies the process of getting up and running.
The best part of Microsoft Azure is how integrated it is with other Microsoft products including Windows, Office, and SQL Server. If you are looking for a free host for your blog or website, you can’t go wrong with Microsoft Azure.
Choose the Right Location
When choosing a location for your blog or website, you need to consider several factors including cost, speed, and reliability. If you are on a tight budget, you might want to consider a cheaper option such as a shared hosting plan from Bluehost or Hostinger who offer great value for money while maintaining a high level of performance.
However, if you are looking for something more sophisticated, you should consider a VPS with a dedicated IP from one of the larger providers such as Dreamhost, Hostinger, or Bluehost. A dedicated IP gives you an address which is more stable and less prone to glitches than a shared IP. Overall, if you are looking for a reputable, and cost-effective, option for a free host, you should consider Bluehost.
Choosing the right location for your blog or website is a critical decision which will have a dramatic impact on the overall performance and usability of your site. If you are on a limited budget, you might want to consider a shared hosting plan or a VPS with a dedicated IP from one of the larger providers.