If your company, like thousands of others, has joined the ranks of those using WordPress then you need to consider hosting. A host can either help or hurt things like sales and SEO. Choosing the right host is vital to your website’s success. If the wrong host is chosen, slower load speeds, a lack of data security, and increased downtime are a few things that could be in store for your website. Let’s take a closer look at what makes a good host for WordPress.
What Exactly is a WordPress Host?
WordPress web hosting is just that, a host who specializes in WordPress. A good host will offer benefits such as one-click-install, which lets you promptly install WordPress to your site. Another feature that these kinds of hosts offer is automatic updates. If issues arise, a specialized host has support techs who are better versed in the nuts and bolts of the system. You probably won’t find the same level of qualification from techs who are employed by a host not optimized for WordPress.
Types of WordPress Hosting Available
Shared WordPress Hosting
Shared hosting is the most widely used hosting option for WordPress sites. The reason for this is simple; it is the cheapest form of hosting, in some cases under $5 a month. Shared hosting is where several websites share the same server. This type of hosting is ideal for companies on a budget and don’t have a high amount of traffic to their site. While the low cost is a great feature, shared hosting is not always the best option. There are often restrictions on the amount of bandwidth you can use, even if the site says it offers “unlimited” bandwidth. In those cases, your site is throttled, or the host may tell you that you have to upgrade your account to a more costly one.
Managed WordPress Hosting
Managed WordPress Hosting is where the host actually manages the day to day technical aspects of your site. Some of the things a managed WordPress Host will handle are:
- Updates.
- Speed.
- Security.
- Backups.
- Scalability.
In addition, they will have a support team that is highly trained and experienced with WordPress. These are best for companies that have the capital to pay for such hosting and don’t have the labor or expertise to maintain the site.
Should You Use Shared or Managed WordPress Hosting?
Which type of word press hosting your company should use really depends on two things: how much traffic your site gets and how much you are willing to spend to have someone manage your sites daily technical issues. If you have low traffic and don’t have a host of technical issues to worry about, shared is clearly the better option for your company. With that consideration in mind, if you have a moderate to high amount of traffic, but you or someone in your company is skilled with WordPress, shared hosting can save you hundreds to thousands of dollars a year. So, your company site’s needs really dictate what type of hosting you should select.
How Can You Tell if a WordPress Host is Qualified?
There are three basic things that you should expect from a qualified WordPress host:
- Quick load times.
- Uptime (the amount of time your site stays online) of 99%.
- A knowledgeable and easily accessible support staff.
Now that you are armed with the knowledge to ensure your company is using the right kind of WordPress host.
Is your WordPress site hosting provider working for you? If not, MosierData can help. Contact us here or call 863-687-0000 to find out more.