Hosting Options for WordPress Blogs
WordPress is one of the most popular content management systems (CMS) used for blogging. The fact that it’s free, open source, and extremely versatile means that it’s a suitable choice for anyone who’s looking to set up a blog. If you’re just getting started or you’re dissatisfied with the free blogging platform Google offers, then you have plenty of alternative options to consider.
Hosting Options for WordPress Blogs
To ensure that your WordPress blog is as user-friendly and convenient to access as possible, you’ll want to host it on a server that’s equipped with the most up-to-date hardware and software.
In this article, we’ll discuss some of the most popular web hosts that offer special deals for bloggers and webmasters. We’ll also cover some of the features that these hosts offer that could be useful to you as a WordPress user.
Features That A Host Should Offering
If you’re just starting out and don’t have a ton of experience, then you might not know exactly what you need in terms of features. That’s why it’s important to consider the various aspects of web hosting before making your decision. Here are some of the features that you should be looking for in a web host:
1. The server should be highly performant.
The performance of your website or blog is largely determined by the hardware and software that you use. If you’re looking for a free service that provides you with shared hosting, then you should be wary of hosts that offer slow performance. Ideally, you want your site to load as quickly as possible in all regards. Whether you’re hitting a button to access a page or you’ve got a lengthy article to read, you want your visitors to feel as though the experience is as immediate and convenient as possible. Sometimes the speed at which a site loads is correlated with its popularity. A fast load time can help you achieve higher search rankings which increase traffic to your site. While it’s not always the case, a good shared hosting plan will usually have a maximum load limit which prevents your site from being overloaded.
2. The server should be flexible.
Flexibility is one of the main selling points of any web host. This is because you can always change the configuration of the server (i.e. the software and hardware) to suit your needs. With flexibility, you don’t necessarily need to purchase additional servers as and when you increase your blog’s traffic. Instead, you can focus on growing your audience and enjoying the benefits that more visitors bring. Ideally, you want your web host to be highly configurable so that you can have as much control as possible over the functioning of the server. Some of the more popular web hosting brands that are highly configurable include: Bluehost, Dreamhost, and Hostinger.
3. The server should be secure.
Security is another important consideration when choosing a web host. After all, your site is potentially open to the public so you want to make sure that your information is safe and that intruders aren’t able to access it. When it comes to security, shared hosting providers that offer PCI DSS compliance are some of the safest choices available. PCI DSS stands for Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard which is a credit card security protocol that was initially developed in 2012. Essentially, PCI DSS helps merchants to manage the security of credit card information and prevents unauthorized access to such data. As a result, sites that are PCI compliant tend to have a higher degree of security which makes them more suitable for sensitive activities like e-commerce or blog commenting systems where you’re collecting personal information from users.
4. Spam filtering and malware protection.
Antispam measures are also considered to be a part of web security which helps to prevent email spam. Most web hosts that offer shared hosting solutions will include some sort of spam filtering in their plans. This is largely due to the fact that a significant portion of the site’s visitors will be using free email services like Gmail, Yahoo, or Hotmail which are all at risk of being spammy. In most cases, the spam filter is fairly basic and doesn’t offer a lot of customization so it might not be the best option for those who’re looking for something more advanced. However, most web hosts will provide you with enough control through their backend to easily configure it to your liking. Keep in mind that you’ll still be responsible for keeping your email address safe and not sharing it with others.
Popular Web Hosts That Offer Special Deals For Bloggers And Webmasters
As mentioned, WordPress is one of the most popular content management systems (CMS) used for blogging. It’s also one of the most preferred options for those who want to begin a blog or website. Why? It’s free, open source, and extremely versatile! This means that you have plenty of options when it comes to hosting your blog and don’t necessarily have to go with the “popular” web hosts like Bluehost because they offer special deals for bloggers and webmasters. Here are some of the most popular hosts that offer special deals for bloggers and webmasters:
1. Bluehost
For those who want to begin a WordPress blog or website, Bluehost is one of the best web hosts available. This is because besides having one of the most convenient interfaces for setting up a blog or website, they also offer special deals for bloggers and webmasters. When you sign up for a free account with Bluehost, you’ll immediately be presented with a voucher code that can be used for 20% off your first purchase. This discount can be used for either hosting or domain registration. You should opt for the best possible option for your blog’s hosting needs and consider their tiered plans which start at just $2.95 per month. For those who’re looking to monetize their blog or website through affiliate sales, then their tiered plans come with a free marketing platform (like Google Analytics) plus you get to activate a free WordPress SEO plugin (like All-in-One SEO) and a free SSL certificate (for securing online transactions). As a result, Bluehost is the perfect option for beginners who are looking to monetize their blog or website.
2. Dreamhost
If you’re looking for a web host that offers special deals for bloggers and webmasters, then you might want to check out Dreamhost. Aside from having some of the most popular plugins available for WordPress (e.g. Google Analytics, WP Email Reminder, etc.), you can also install a dedicated IP which will give your blog or website its own unique IP address. This is important because when someone clicks on a link to your blog or website, they’ll see a landing page that is personalized for your domain. You can also install a free WordPress installer that makes it much easier to get up and running with a blog or website. One of the best things about Dreamhost is that they’re extremely flexible when it comes to the various hosting plans they provide. This is because you can always contact their technical support team who will be able to help you out with any issue you might come across. For those who’re looking to begin a blog or website and don’t want to spend a lot of money, Dreamhost is the perfect alternative as they offer a free domain and hosting plan that will work for just about anyone.
3. Hostinger
Another great option for bloggers and webmasters who want to host their sites on a dedicated server is Hostinger. They offer a free domain and hosting plan as well as a free copy of WordPress which can be used to build a minimalistic blog or website. You can install wordpress using their dedicated server, or you can opt for their shared hosting plan which is powered by Dreamhost (one of their data centers). It’s also worth noting that you get a free SSL certificate (which ensures your site’s security) along with both shared and dedicated hosting plans from Hostinger. This is another reason why they’re a popular option for bloggers and webmasters who want to get started without spending a lot of money.
Free Blogging Platforms That Work Great For Beginners
The main reason why WordPress is so popular is because it’s free and open source. This means that you have access to a large community of developers who can help you make your site as user-friendly and convenient to access as possible. To make matters easier for beginners, WordPress comes with a massive list of free templates that you can use to create a professional-looking blog or website. This makes it much easier for anyone to get up and running with a blog or website and start monetizing their content.