Getting Started with WordPress Hosting – NameHero
WordPress was first released in 2007 and since then it has grown to be the #2 most popular content management system (CMS) in use worldwide with 500 million active users monthly as of April 2019.
It’s easy to see why – not only is WordPress free and open source but it also has tons of powerful features which can be utilized to create amazing websites.
However, as with any other product, there are various different ways to achieve success with WordPress. Some may prefer to use pre-made themes and components while others may prefer to build their sites from the ground up. Additionally, there are several different hosting providers available to choose from when setting up a WordPress site. While some may be better suited for certain types of sites than others, it’s important to understand the basics of WordPress hosting so that you can use the tool to its full potential.
What is WordPress Hosting?
Put simply, WordPress hosting is when a website uses software provided by a third party to provide content to users. WordPress itself does not provide the software or hosting, it simply provides the content along with a few tools to make it easier to maintain.
There are several different hosting providers available, all with varying features and prices. The most basic level of WordPress hosting only provides the software and a free domain. However, the most popular and powerful hosts provide advanced features like free backups, free domain privacy and more.
Features of a Good WordPress Hosting Plan
To get the most from WordPress, you’ll want to host on a server that provides the following features:
- Free backups
- Free domain privacy
- Free traffic
- Free security updates
- SSH access
- 1-click installer for WordPress
- Recommended caching solution (for WordPress Performance)
- Modern and responsive design
Additionally, you’ll want to make sure that your host provides one of the best customer support experiences possible. You can read our in-depth review of the best WordPress hosting providers to learn more about the features that they offer.
Different Types of WordPress Hosting
There are several different types of WordPress hosting, ranging from simple and basic to more advanced and sophisticated. The most basic level of WordPress hosting provides a free domain and web space, along with free backups. However, it is recommended that you avoid this type of hosting if your site gets lots of traffic. The reason is that shared hosting limits the amount of features that you have access to, as well as the performance of your site. For example, if you’re using WordPress’s popular plugin Shopify WooCommerce, you won’t be able to take advantage of the free version of Shopify’s hosting.
Thankfully, there are several more sophisticated and advanced types of WordPress hosting available which provide all of the above and much more. For example, the Bluehost Hosting plan provides you with free backups, free domain privacy, free traffic, a free security badge, and much more.
Setting Up WordPress
First, you’ll need to register a new domain name for your blog. For example, if you visit
- wordpress.com, it will direct you to a login page where you can create a new account
- (if you’ve recently registered a domain), use the same email address as you did for your account
- Once you’ve logged in, you can click on the Create a new WordPress site button.
The next step is to decide what type of WordPress content you’ll be creating. If you’re just getting started, you can use the ready-made starter content that comes with WordPress. Alternatively, you can choose to use WordPress’s built-in content manager to quickly and easily build out your site’s content. Remember: once you have your site up and running, you’ll need to continue to update its content regularly to keep it special and fresh.
Choosing A Hosting Provider
After you have your WordPress site up and running, the next step is to choose a hosting provider. There are several different popular hosting providers available including Dreamhost, Bluehost, and 1&1. For the best overall experience, we recommend using Bluehost as it provides all of the features that you’ll need and it also offers additional dedicated features aimed at increasing your site’s speed. Additionally, we recommend their shared hosting plans for individuals and business websites alike because they are very affordable.
If you’re feeling extra creative, you can use 1&1’s unique “mini-dummy” hosting package to host your website on a single IP (internet protocol) address which is what you’ll need to do if you’re using a free blog platform like WordPress.com. Alternatively, if you have a custom domain name that you’d like to use, you can use 1&1’s custom web hosting service to set it up directly from their control panel.
Additional Resources
There are several different resources available online which you can use to get more information about WordPress and how to use it to its fullest potential. Here are some useful tutorials and guides which you can reference: