How to Choose a Good Web Hosting Provider for WordPress
You have decided to create a blog for your business or personal brand. Congrats! It is a decision that will surely pay you back with lots of wonderful benefits. But you might be wondering… where should I host my blog?
The answer is: it depends. What are your needs? How much are you willing to pay? Is reliability and support a top priority?
A good web hosting provider should possess the followings:
- affordable
- reliable
- secure
- easy to use
- customizable
- intuitive
- intuitive dashboard
- world class support
- free backups
- free domain privacy
- free domain forwarding
- free domain registration
Now, it is not an easy task to choose a good web host. There are hundreds of famous hosting providers out there. And what is more, there are many different types of hosting plans to choose from, all claiming to be the best! How can you possibly know which ones are good and which ones are bad?
To help you find the best web host for your needs, we have compiled a list of the most important things to consider before making the decision.
Features
One of the first things to check for when choosing a hosting provider is the features. What does that mean? It means that you need to make sure that the host you are considering will offer the services you need. For example, if you are looking for a blogging platform, you should ask the hosting provider whether or not they offer that service. If you are looking for an eCommerce store, you should ask them whether or not they offer that service and what kind of pricing they offer for those who are interested in taking the eCommerce plunge.
Another important feature to consider is the customer support. Just because a hosting provider is reputable doesn’t mean that they will be the best at providing support, if you ask us. You should be prepared to spend some time chatting with a support agent to get the help you need. But, as long as you are chatting, you are not spending time doing business, so it is not such a big deal. Plus, you can always switch providers if the bot support is not up to par.
Security
Another important factor to consider when choosing a hosting provider is the security. Does the host you are considering offer security through military-grade, 256-bit SSL encryption? You should ask them and be sure they answer yes. 256-bit encryption is considered the gold standard for security because:
- it is incredibly hard to crack
- it is more secure than regular SSL encryption
- it provides end-to-end encryption meaning that all your information, from username and password to credit card numbers, is encrypted which makes it extremely difficult for hackers to get ahold of your information
Another important factor to consider is the authentication method the host offers. Does the host you are considering offer two factor authentication via email or phone? Again, you should ask them and be sure they answer yes. Two-factor authentication adds an extra layer of security because it is difficult for someone to access your account without the correct email address and phone number. It is also possible to set up two-factor authentication through an application on your phone, making it that much more convenient.
The last thing we want to discuss under the security heading is the login credentials of the host. This is extremely important, and you must make sure that you choose a hosting provider that follows all the good password practices. Storing a bunch of insecure passwords for various sites and services is extremely dangerous because it makes it easier for hackers to get ahold of your account. So, be sure to ask the hosting provider about their password policies and whether or not they require you to use a unique password for each account. Moreover, you should ask them whether or not they store any of your personal information in plain text on their servers.
Reliability
Reliability is another important factor to consider when choosing a hosting provider. You want to ensure that the host you choose is up and running all the time, so you can have confidence that your site will always be available when you need it. To that end, you should ask the provider whether or not they use high-quality, redundant servers that are well-maintained and secure. You should also ask them whether or not their network is secure and if they use advanced technology to keep track of their servers. One more thing you should ask their is whether or not they offer money-back guarantees if the service becomes unavailable for some reason. Being able to have your money back if the service is down is a great way to ensure reliability.
Scalability
Scalability is the capacity to handle a growing number of visitors. Many websites reach their peak performance at some point, meaning that they have to upgrade their server or hire more people to handle the load. This could mean that your site might become unavailable for a short period of time. But, if you are prepared to deal with that, then scalability is certainly an important consideration. You don’t want to choose a host that will be unable to handle your growing popularity because they are already maxed out on their resources.
Cost
Cost is always a major consideration whenever you are making a financial decision, but it is especially important when choosing a web host. The price you pay directly relates to the features you get. So, it is important to find a host that is within your budget. You also don’t want to pay too much for features that you don’t need. For example, the more expensive the host, the more features they will offer (sometimes to the point of being over-hyped and unnecessary).
The best way to find the cheapest host is by comparing prices. You can find numerous hosting plans from different providers and choose the one that is right for you. Just make sure you are comparing apples to apples and not apples to oranges (i.e. not comparing one gold plan from one provider to a silver plan from another). Moreover, be sure to look for the best price rather than just the cheapest one.
There, now you know what are the most important things to consider when choosing a web hosting provider. We hope this article was helpful. If you have any other questions or comments about web hosting or this article please feel free to leave us a comment below! Happy hosting!