Beginners Guide to WordPress Hosting
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Using WordPress to manage your site offers a great deal of flexibility and room for expansion if you choose the right kind of hosting. Different options are available to meet the needs of all types of sites from personal blogs to e-commerce operations.
Types of WordPress Hosting
Shared hosting is the most common type for WordPress sites. Sharing a server with hundreds of other users keeps costs low but puts a limit on how much processing power is available. Sites on shared hosting are managed via a dashboard such as cPanel. While you don’t get a lot of flexibility with scripting, there is enough to install and run WordPress. However, security can be an issue since one compromised site can allow all the others on the server to get hacked should something go wrong.
VPS hosting shares space and power between a smaller number of sites. The dashboard on these plans gives you better access to administrative features and script installations while the host handles the lowest levels of system administration. Other sites on the server don’t affect your security, so the measures you put in place to protect yourself ensure safety.
Dedicated WordPress hosting gives you your own server with 100 percent control over all levels of administration and security. You’re free to tweak any settings you desire, install any scripts you want and make changes as needed. Managed hosting is a type of dedicated hosting where the host company handles management of the server including configuration, backup, security and support. Either option is a smart choice if you run a site that handles large volumes of visitors on a daily basis.
Features to Look For
In order to run WordPress, your host must have PHP 5.2.4 or higher and MySQL 5.0 or higher. Aside from these, there are several other key features to keep an eye out for as you shop around for a WordPress hosting company:
* High percentage of uptime with fast page load speeds
* Reliable security for all operations including e-commerce
* Ease of installation for WordPress and regular updates to support it
* Enough bandwidth to handle your expected volume of visitors
* Ample storage for website files and media
* Easy-to-use control panel or dashboard interface
* Support for multiple domains and email addresses
* Regular website backups to a secure location
* Flexibility to create databases and run scripts as needed
* Ability to upgrade to a different type of server or account as your site grows
Choosing a Reliable WordPress Hosting provider
Things are bound to go wrong with your site from time to time no matter what web host you choose, which is why it’s necessary to go with a company that provides reliable tech support whenever you need it. Beware of deals that seem too good to be true, because they probably are. Those low prices can come with high amounts of downtime, a lack of necessary resources and the inability to get in touch with someone when you need help.
On the other hand, don’t pass up a truly good deal if you find one. Some hosts run specials if you sign up for a full year at the start. Just make sure that there are no harsh penalties for canceling early and that the price isn’t going to shoot up once that first year is over.
With the right web host, you can take your WordPress site from simple to amazing without worrying about running up against restrictions as you expand. Whether you’re an individual or a business owner, WordPress gives you the tools you need to make a site that impresses visitors and supports all of the features you’re looking for.
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