Hosting WordPress for Free – Should You Consider Hosting Your Site on WP Engine?
WordPress is the most popular content management system (CMS) in the world with over 100 million active monthly users. Countless businesses have built their websites using WordPress including Forbes, the New York Times, and the US government. Plus, it’s free!
While there are certainly perks to using a free CMS, understand the limitations. Most notably, you’re bound to one hosting plan which doesn’t provide the flexibility of choosing between different servers or hosting plans as you would with a paid CMS. Also, the free version of WordPress has restricted features which don’t allow you to deploy certain marketing strategies. Finally, keeping your site free also means you’re at the mercy of the platform’s developers who may or may not decide to provide you with bug fixes and security patches.
Despite these inherent limitations, there are still many reasons why you should consider hosting your site on WordPress. If you’re looking for a free solution or just want to take a look at what all the hype is about, then this article is for you.
Why Should You Host Your Site on WordPress?
The popularity of WordPress is undeniable. Launching a site with the popular CMS is likely the first step to building a community. Not to mention the fact that it’s one of the easiest platforms to use for novices and even experienced webmasters. With so much momentum behind it, it’s clear that WordPress is here to stay.
From an SEO perspective, WordPress is an excellent option due to its flexibility in allowing you to replicate any SEO structure from top to bottom. Essentially, you’re free to do whatever you want with SEO and aren’t bound to any rules. For this reason, SEOs and webmasters around the world use WordPress for the best SEO practices.
Free To Try Or Buy?
The beauty of WordPress is that you’re not forced to purchase anything to use it. Instead, you can freely download and install the platform on your site. Furthermore, there are numerous free alternatives to WordPress including Joomla, Drupal, and Squarespace. In theory, you could launch a fully-functional website without having to spend a penny. Not to mention that these platforms are among the most popular and secure CMSs in existence. If you’re looking for a dependable content management system (CMS) that’s secure and free, then consider these platforms as your best bets.
Fully Customizable
An important factor to consider when choosing a content management system is how easy it is to customize the appearance of your website. In theory, you could launch a blank canvas and implement any design you want. However, since WordPress is one of the most popular and customizable CMSs available, you may want to consider using it for your site. With so many pre-designed templates to choose from, you’re sure to find something that will suit your needs. As mentioned before, the CMS is completely free so you have no excuse not to choose something pretty.
User-friendly
As a user, the last thing you want when trying to navigate a website is a poorly-designed, unresponsive interface or an overwhelming amount of pop-ups. Unfortunately, this is the case with many content management systems including WordPress. To combat this, the platform provides you with numerous options to ensure your experience is as hassle-free as possible including choosing a custom domain, installing a WordPress mobile app, and turning off plugins you’re not using.
From a marketing perspective, user-friendliness is essential. After all, you’re not going to appeal to everybody. Instead, you need to focus on building a community of like-minded individuals who will value your content. For this reason, WordPress’ interface is perfectly designed to help you communicate with your audience.
Scalable
Another important factor to consider when choosing a content management system is how easy it is to scale your website. After all, at some point, you’re going to have to expand your operation and require more resources. Fortunately, all CMSs are designed to allow for future growth including WordPress. To illustrate, the platform offers up multiple options to deploy additional websites including the Bluehost shared hosting plan. Essentially, this plan provides you with a free domain, plus unlimited storage, and a free WordPress installation. Plus, with the added features of the Pro plan, you can install an unlimited number of websites, deploy unlimited databases, and set up email campaigns. This is a great option for those just getting started or those who want to scale up their operation quickly.
Secure
To secure your content, you need to consider the fact that hackers and cybercriminals are always looking to exploit any unpatched vulnerabilities in your hosting environment. As a result, you need to take the time to keep your site’s security patched so no nasty surprises happen. Fortunately, you have multiple security measures at your disposal including strong passwords, regularly scanning for malware, using a VPN, and installing an SSL certificate. Of course, you should also consult with an expert website security firm to help you set up the right measures for your unique situation.
Fully-featured
When choosing a CMS, you want to make sure that it’s fully featured. In other words, you want to find a solution that offers everything you need without any limitations. Fortunately, the WordPress team is constantly expanding and updating the platform to include the latest features and functionalities. As a result, you can be sure that WordPress is always improving and will continue to provide you with cutting-edge features.
For those looking for a secure and fully featured solution, WordPress is the clear winner. Not to mention that it’s one of the most popular options out there. If you’re wondering whether or not to choose the platform, then the answer is a definite yes.
Keep in mind that choosing a content management system isn’t an easy process. Instead, it requires a lot of research and some trial and error to find the right solution for your needs. That being said, the benefits of using WordPress far outweigh the limitations which make it a one-stop-shop for many businesses and individuals around the world.