Uninstall WordPress from Shared Hosting
If you’re reading this, I assume you’re either a) an extremely impatient person, b) a noob who just wants to try out WordPress, or c) both.
In any case, regardless of why you’re here, you likely realized that WordPress is a lot more than just a website publishing software, and you may be wondering what all the fuss is about.
Here’s the deal: WordPress is a juggernaut. It is the most popular content management system in the world, with around 500 million active monthly users. It powers 28% of the internet, according to NetMarketShare. That’s a LOT of websites, and a lot of server space (which you’ll be sharing with other customers).
If you’re thinking of trying out WordPress, consider using a hosted platform instead of installing it directly on your computer. You can start with Shopify, which is one of the most popular platforms used by beginners. It’s super easy to use and lets you focus on growing your business rather than doing tech support.
Why Install WordPress Locally Instead Of On A Hosted Platform?
The first and perhaps most compelling reason to install WordPress locally is security. WordPress is a famously (and notoriously) insecure product that is always trying to expand its user base, thus putting more and more user trust in the hands of its developers. As a result, many WordPress installations are targeted by hackers and malware, resulting in tens of thousands of malicious websites being created every year.
On the surface, this may not seem like a problem, as WordPress users are always quick to patch their websites once they’re hacked. However, this constant need to update plugins and themes to stay secure presents a significant obstacle to the end user.
For example, let’s say you want to create a blog about Apple devices. You could theoretically download and install WordPress on your computer, but unless you want to spend your time updating the software, securing it from malware, and dealing with customer support issues, you might as well just use a hosted platform like WordPress.com or WordPress.org. That way, even if somebody gets hacked, they’ll still be able to access your blog without having to worry about whether or not they’ll freeze because your WordPress install is outdated.
What If You Already Have A Blog On WordPress.com Or WordPress.org?
The second and arguably most compelling reason to use a hosted platform instead of installing WordPress locally is scalability. If you already have a blog on WordPress.com or WordPress.org, you can use their CDN (content delivery network) to easily increase its performance and functionality. Essentially, the CDN is a bunch of computers connected to a high-speed backbone network that can process, store, and deliver content – including webpages and videos – to end users. So, in theory, if you have a WordPress blog on a hosting platform like this, you can give almost any description of what you need and their CDN will be able to provide it.
On the other hand, if you have a website that you host yourself (which you should do anyway for security, SEO, and to gain more control over the appearance of your site), you’ll have to manually configure the servers that you use to serve your site’s content.
Manual Configuration Of Servers Required For Direct Installation
The final and perhaps most compelling reason to use a hosted platform instead of installing WordPress directly on your computer is security. There are many reasons why you might want to install WordPress locally, but security is at the top of the list. However, if you insist on doing things the hard way and are opting for a direct installation of the software, you will need to take the time to configure the servers that you use to serve your website’s content. This involves a lot of technical work, and for the average person, it’s probably not worth the effort. Plus, you’ll need to be constantly on top of bug fixes and security patches to ensure that your site is always secure and up to date.
In contrast, if you have a blog or website on a hosting platform, this is usually taken care of for you. You just have to configure the software (which, again, you should be doing anyways for security reasons). Once that’s taken care of, you can just continue to use the service to grow your blog or website.
Summary
If you’re looking for a simple solution to publishing a blog, it’s pretty hard to beat WordPress. However, if you’re looking for a secure, scalable solution that allows you to focus on growing your business rather than spending your time dealing with tech support issues and updating plugins and themes to stay secure, you can’t go wrong with a hosted platform.