How to Publish Your WordPress Website
WordPress is one of the most popular Content Management Systems (CMS) on the web, and it’s been around for a while. The good news is that, as with any other CMS, once you learn the basics, you have the power to build any site you can think of.
But just because you can doesn’t mean you should. Just like any other complex tool, there are a few tricks and shortcuts to making the most out of WordPress.
Find The Right Hosting For Your Site
One of the first things you should do before launching your site is to find the right host for it. Not all web hosts are made equal, and you should go for the one that is the best suited for your purpose. This article will tell you about the various aspects you should consider before making a decision.
VPS Or Dedicated Hosting?
The first step is to decide whether you want to go for a Virtual Private Server (VPS) or a dedicated hosting plan. A VPS gives you the freedom to use whatever resources you need while still having the stability of a dedicated hosting plan. In most cases, a VPS is the better option as it gives you more control over the resources used to run your site.
RAM And Storage
The amount of RAM (Random Access Memory) and storage you need depends on the size of your website. Smaller sites can get away with using a shared hosting plan, which makes things like caching very useful. However, as your site grows in size, you’ll either need to upgrade to a VPS or find a dedicated hosting plan that offers more storage.
Bandwidth
Your internet service provider (ISP) will have a bandwidth limit in place. This limit determines how much data you can download and how fast your site can load. It’s a good idea to find out what your ISP’s bandwidth limit is before making any plans to increase your traffic. If you go over your allotted bandwidth, you will be charged accordingly.
Features
Your host will have a bunch of features that you can take advantage of, but you have to be smart about it. Some hosts offer features like free backups, spam filtering, and security measures, while others offer just that one feature.
If you’re looking for a one-stop-shop, then go for the dedicated hosting plan as it will offer you all the features you could need. On the other hand, if you’re looking to build a simple blog, then the shared hosting plan will be your best bet as it will offer you more flexibility in terms of the features you can use.
SSL Or Not
Security through encryption is another area you should look into before making your decision. The standard that governs this type of encryption is SSL (Secure Sockets Layer).
You don’t need to have SSL for your site to function properly, but getting it will be a great advantage. The main purpose of SSL is to protect your personal information, including credit card numbers, when you make a purchase online. With SSL, all the information you enter is encrypted, making it much harder to either eavesdrop or have your information stolen by a third party. Having SSL will also give you a better experience when making purchases online as the site will be protected and the information entered will be encrypted. Most web hosts offer SSL, so you don’t have to worry about it too much.
Performance & Uptime
Your host’s performance determines how well your site will perform when accessed by a large number of people or when accessed by people on mobile devices. For this reason, you should look for a host that offers reliable service and speeds that are fast enough for the number of visitors you will attract. To give you an idea of how well your host will perform, take a look at their reviews and the load times their users have reported.
Uptime is also important, and you should go for a host that is available 24/7. This means that even if you host has other customers, they will still be able to access your site when you need them. If your site becomes inaccessible for some reason, you will be able to log back in and continue working as usual.
Backups
A good web host should have some sort of backup system in place in case their server malfunctions or crashes. This way, you can safely restore your site to its original state at any time. All the hosting providers we recommend here at Cloudwards.com offer regular backups, which means that you can rest assured your site will be restored when needed. In most cases, the backups will be stored in a safe place, so you don’t have to worry about losing any important data.
If you decide to go with a shared hosting plan, then look for a host that offers both automated and scheduled backups. This will help you avoid back problems as it will free up your time to focus on creating content for your site. It’s also a good idea to have regular backups as sometimes things happen that cause websites to crash or become inaccessible. With regular backups, you don’t have to rebuild your site from scratch as you can easily restore it to its previous state. If you go with a VPS, then regular backups will be created automatically, so you don’t need to worry about scheduling them yourself.