How to choose the best WordPress Hosting
What is WordPress?
In short, WordPress is a self-hosted blogging platform. From experienced developers to beginners, WordPress is the perfect tool for creating your website.
The key to the success of WordPress is its free and open accessibility. WordPress is an Open Source project. Being Open Source that it is “as an educational, advocacy, and stewardship organization” looking to bolster development through sharing and collaboration. What does this mean for users? No required fees, no license requirements, and no restrictions on content.
What does a web host do?
A web host, or web hosting service provider, offers a platform with the appropriate technologies and services that can be “rented” for the viewing of your web page on the internet. Web hosts are the landlords offering the ideal apartment space for your website.
How to Choose the Best WordPress Hosting Company
This step in website creation is often completed without thoughtful contemplation, yet it is an integral component of any successful web page. Not only will your chosen host handle security and speed, but an excellent host service can also improve SEO.
Know what you want from your host, what is most important to you, and understand their limitations. Various factors must play a part in your decision, such as ease of installation, cost, and web server management, yet the below factors often outweigh all others.
1) Best in the Business
WP Engine is one of the most well known managed WordPress hosts you’ll find.
Austin Gunter of WP Engine briefly explains the benefits of WP Engine:
“WP Engine has some of the best support for Managed WordPress Hosting on the internet. We have more support engineer per customer than anyone else, and each one of them has years of WordPress experience. We are also the only company that guarantees our security.”
The key to WP Engine is their front-end system called EverCache, as well as an additional layer of code, referred to as the “secret sauce layer.”
In short, the “secret sauce layer” includes developed layers embedded with thousands of code rules that fine-tune the delivery of WordPress. These layers are also an important part of WordPress security. The system receives, reviews, and validates browser requests for security and determines if they are benign or malignant threats. Valid threats are immediately blocked, while harmless requests are “served by WP Engine caching system or web daemons directly.”
In addition to the “special sauce layer,” WP Engine uses EverCache. This unique server software refreshes cache automatically offers complete management via WP Engine (no need to install caching plugins!) and allows the user to full access to purge at will. These aspects combined make EverCache the fastest server software averaging at six times faster than other software options.
Overall, WP Engine offers up managed WordPress hosting on a silver platter for a reasonable monthly rate of $29 for personal services.
2) Economic Advantages
One of the determining factors when deciding on a managed WordPress host is a budget. While it’s important to select a host that provides a majority of the technological services you require, you don’t want to go broke in the process.
HostGator offers dependable, extremely cost-efficient managed web hosting services. With international offices, HostGator is a provider of “Shared, Reseller, VPS, and Dedicated web hosting.”
Looking at the prices makes HostGator an incredibly attractive offer for individual website owners or a start-up on a tight budget. For a shared plan, HostGator offers a monthly rate of $3.33. The prices go up from there offering $3.98 for WordPress, $7.98 for VPS, and maxes out at $69.90 for dedicated host services.
A quick review of HostGator services provides a balanced list of pros and cons:
PROS:
- Diverse, feature-packed hosting plans
- Weebly site-building software
- Excellent customer service ratings
- Exceptional uptime
CONS:
- Does not offer Windows-based VPS hosting
- Does not provide one-step WordPress import
- Lacking in security, specifically in regards to email
While HostGator is a fantastic option for those on a tight budget, it’s also important to weigh what they are able or not able to offer. Long-term financial security may be obtained by selecting a more expensive host that provides a higher level of management. In the end, this may allow the user more flexibility to focus on their entrepreneurial endeavors.
3) Speed
There are two primary reasons why speed is an essential item for a WordPress host: the time it takes to load a page, and the amount of time it takes to create and edit from the admin panel.
For the user, a smooth running admin panel allows more work to be completed in a shorter amount of time. It also provides the creator and designer with the ability to see their changes, updates, or creations in real-time. Essentially, they will be able to view their page as visitors see it.
For the visitor, a quick WordPress host loads the page quickly. One of the most detrimental reasons that visitors abandon a website is due to the inability to view it. Therefore, the speed of your host can make or break the success of your site, decrease sales for those marketing a product, and even damage the legitimacy of the website.
A large part of securing a speedy site is selecting a managed WordPress host that uses appropriate and efficient server software. For example, as mentioned earlier, WP Engine developed a layered system of code rules in conjunction with EverCache server software. This code shows that the creators of the managed WordPress host are intelligently utilizing available technologies to serve the user better.
4) Security
With the widespread use and popularity of WordPress comes the attention of hackers.
Installing additional plugins is a great option for heightening security. Some of the most important security plugins include WordFence, IThemes Security, Sucuri Security, and Bulletproof Security. Yet, one of the best and most cost-efficient places to find security is a managed WordPress host. Commonly referred to as “hardening,” WordPress security is essential. When researching a WordPress host service make sure to review what security services they provide, if they are an additional cost, or if they offer other plugins.
While the “management” aspect of WordPress hosts often includes security services, it’s critical to be diligent about what type of security they offer and how aggressive those services are. How often does your host review and update their security measures? Hackers are diligent creatures and are continually looking for new ways to access vulnerable systems. With that said, your selected managed WordPress host must take the same tact.
Diligence, as well as intelligent and experienced staff, are highly advantages traits for a host service.
Site Solution’s creator offers 17 years of experience building, editing, and supporting website development. It’s through this experience that Site Solution came to life as an offering to those looking to learn more about website creation. For more information or to speak with the mastermind behind Site Solution, feel free to contact us.
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