How to Choose the Right WordPress Hosting for Your Budget in 2015
WordPress is the most popular open source blogging platform out there, and with good reason; not only is it free, but it’s also extremely easy to use. Due to its popularity, there are literally hundreds of different WordPress hosting providers out there, all fighting for your business. So how do you choose the right one, given your budget? We went into great detail to find out.
Go For The Cheapest
Firstly, you want to strive for the cheapest possible price, because let’s face it, as a business owner or manager, you’re not exactly rolling in the cash. So, if you have a budget in mind, then go for the cheapest possible price which meets your needs. Remember though; you get what you pay for. If you go for the cheapest option, you will probably end up with a slower website, and perhaps even some downtime. So, if you are looking for a quality solution then you will have to spend a little more.
Go For The Industry Standard
If you’ve been around the WordPress block a few times then you’ll know that there is no standard set of requirements when it comes to WordPress hosting providers. However, there are a few industry standards that all good WordPress hosting providers should follow. These include things like data centers with multiple NICs (network interfaces), multiple SSD drives, and at least 1 Gbps (GigaBit per second) of incoming bandwidth. In addition, you want to ensure that the WordPress hosting provider you choose is up to date with the latest WordPress version, has a fantastic support team, and is easy to set up.
Go For A VPS (Virtual Private Server)
A Virtual Private Server (VPS) is a WordPress hosting provider that provides you with a virtual slice of hardware. What this means is that instead of renting dedicated server hardware from a company (known as a dedicated server) you get a virtual box on which you run your website. Think of it like this: you have a single dedicated server, except when you need it, it’s like turning on a tap and having infinite water supply.
The advantage of a VPS is that you get all the standard WordPress hosting provider functionality plus you have the flexibility to add more hardware (like CPUs and RAM) as needed. The downside is that you have to manage the server yourself, which requires a certain level of technical expertise. If this is not your area of expertise then go for the dedicated server option instead.
Go For A Managed WordPress Hosting
Managed WordPress Hosting is a great solution for those who need some help with the configuration or updates of their WordPress site. Simply put, with managed WordPress hosting you don’t need to worry about any of the technical stuff. The WordPress hosting provider takes care of all the configuring, updating, and fixing for you. So, while this may take a little bit of time to get used to, the convenience is worth it.
Go For A Dedicated IP
You can get a Dedicated IP from your hosting provider, which is an IP address that is specifically assigned to your website. In other words, your site will always have that IP address, even if you’re on a shared hosting plan. This means that if you’re ever experiencing problems then there is one less thing to worry about. Your site will always be available.
The Bottom Line
When choosing a WordPress hosting provider, keep your budget in mind and go for the cheapest option that meets your needs. If you want a free domain, then look for a hosting provider that offers that, too. In addition, if you want help with managing your site, then go for the managed WordPress hosting plan. Lastly, get a dedicated IP if you’re ever going to do any significant amounts of online marketing then you want to make sure that your site is easily accessible via a dedicated IP.