Where to Host Your WordPress Site?
It is always a good idea to take a close look at the places where your audience is going to visit you from.
In today’s world, everyone is comfortable online. People are taking their cues from social media and searching for content using keywords and phrases that are popular on sites like YouTube, Facebook, and Twitter (GOOGLE, FACEBOOK, and TWITTER). As a result, many businesses are moving to digital marketing and using platforms like WordPress to gain more traction online.
Whether you are a local business or an established brand, having a physical presence online is becoming essential for all businesses.
So, where should you host your WordPress site? And what should you do to make sure your website ranks high in the search engines?
Cost
One of the biggest considerations when choosing a web host is the cost. Just about any decent-sized company or individual should be able to afford a hosting plan that comes with a free domain. However, if you are looking for a quality hosting company with a large database of pre-built websites, then you might have to pay a little more.
Keep in mind: the cost of web hosting can vary, so you will need to research the various plans offered by different companies.
Location
Another important factor to consider when choosing a web host is the location of the company itself. If you live in Australia, for example, you will want to look for a web host that is headquartered there as well. This way, you can be sure that you are dealing with someone who understands the peculiarities of doing business in the country you live in.
If you are based in the U.S., you will want to look for a web host that is based there as well. This is so you can make sure that you are dealing with someone who is used to dealing with American businesses.
Bandwidth
The amount of data you want to transfer per month is another important consideration when choosing a web host. Bigger is generally considered better when it comes to bandwidth, so make sure you are looking for a package that has enough data transfer. If you are just starting out and don’t have a big audience yet, then opt for a cheaper plan that limits the amount of data you can upload.
Once you start getting a lot of traffic, you can upgrade to a plan that has greater bandwidth.
DNS
Domain Name System is another important factor to consider when choosing a web host. The DNS system basically maps domain names to IP addresses. So, if you have a website with the domain name “mybusiness.com”, then your domain name server will translate the “mybusiness” part to an IP address.
If you are unsure what DNS is, don’t worry—most web hosts will automatically configure the DNS settings for you.
Features
As you search for a web host, make sure to consider its features. In today’s world, everyone uses different devices—laptop, desktop, smartphone—so it’s important to choose a web host that is flexible enough to support all of them.
The features you should look for in a web host include:
- cPanel – the control panel
- 1-click installation – the ability to install WordPress in just a few clicks
- 24/7 customer support – available via email
- free backups – all websites stored on the server will be backed up automatically
- free domain registration – you will be given a free domain when you sign up for a hosting package
While some prefer to do all of their shopping online, others still like the fact that a physical store gives them the option to touch and feel the products before purchasing them.
If you are visiting a brick-and-mortar store and want to create an account so you can buy the products you like online, all you need to do is provide the store with your email address and a password. Once you verify your identity with the store, you can purchase the items you need using your digital wallet (e.g. VISA, MASTERCARD, AMEX, CD/DVD, and JCB).
Brick-and-mortar stores might not seem as appealing as going online to purchase products, but there are a few perks that come with shopping in person. For example, you can get discounts and savings when visiting a store—often times, those seeking out physical stores are going to be located in an area with many brand-name stores (e.g. Macy’s, Burberry, and Dior). Furthermore, many brick-and-mortar stores offer special events and deals that are only available through online forums like social media (e.g. Macy’s Black Friday Ads).
Security
Last but not least, we have security. Hackers are constantly trying to find ways to break into websites, so it is vital that you get a web host that offers the best possible security. There are a few things your web host will be responsible for keeping your website secure, including:
- monitoring malware – keeping track of malicious software on your server
- monitoring spam – stopping unsolicited emails from being sent to your inbox
- disabling unattended accounts – preventing unauthorized users from creating accounts on your server
- protecting your website from brute-force attacks – preventing automated software from trying to guess username and passwords
- encrypting your website – protecting your website’s contents from unauthorized access
- restricting access – limiting who can view/access your website
You should consider the above points when choosing a web host. Keeping your website secure is a lot of work, and you will not be able to get quality support if you are not willing to put in the time.
Make sure to look for a hosting company that is committed to keeping your website secure, and has the resources to do so.
Above all else, make sure to choose a host that is tested and reputable. You can find tons of articles and reviews on the internet that will give you an idea of whether or not a particular web host is a good choice for your needs. Just make sure to look for reviews that are from several years ago, as newer reviews might not be as reliable since they are generally positive (i.e. “this host is great, I recommend it!”).