Are you looking to launch a new website using WordPress? If so, as one of the best CMS platforms on the market, WordPress allows you to not only design your site, but also to build and scale it.
However, if you want to launch your site online where everyone else can see it, you will need a host. Hosting companies are equipped with all the facilities required to create, maintain, and to make websites accessible on the world wide web.
With that said, the kind of features and services they offer may vary from one web host to another. So, before you settle on a WordPress web hosting service, you need to be aware of the features that you need for your site.
Here are some of the most important features to look for when shopping for high-quality hosting for WordPress:
Storage Space
Disk space is a critical factor to consider in a web hosting service. After all, a website typically has plenty of files that not only make up its visual appearance, but also directly influence its operations.
These files can take up a lot of space, depending on the size of your website. For this reason, it is important to choose a web hosting provider that offers the amount of storage capacity that you require.
Bandwidth
Bandwidth refers to the amount of data that a web host will allow you and your visitor to transfer within a specific time frame. It influences how fast or slow your web pages load on a browser, thus having an impact on the user experience.
For instance, if your web pages are slow at loading, this is likely to frustrate visitors and potentially put them off. On the other hand, if your web pages are responsive and load quickly, then your visitors are more likely to stick around.
Domain Name
The domain name is your website’s equivalent of your physical address. It essentially allows anyone on the internet to find your website without an IP address. Many web hosting providers offer free domain name registration in their hosting plans, which can be convenient and cost-effective.
Likewise, it is advisable to check whether the hosting provider allows more than one domain. This is especially important if you are planning to have more than one site, since it eliminates the hassle of managing different hosting accounts.
Site Builder
When first building your website, you’ll be happy to know that most hosting providers include site builders as an automatic feature in their hosting packages.
While the type, functionality, and features of site builders will vary depending on the hosting service you are using, most website builders come with a large array of templates, themes, image libraries and custom fonts to help you build your website in just a few clicks.
Backups
No matter how well-designed and secure your website is, a backup is essential for a wide variety of reasons. For instance, if your website is hacked, there is a risk that you may lose it or have your information compromised in severe ways.
Likewise, your website might crash or you might inadvertently delete important files. In any of these scenarios, not having a backup can be detrimental to the function and performance of your site.
For this reason, it is important to have a solid backup policy for your website. Make sure the web hosting service that you opt for allows for regular backups and can restore your website with as little downtime as possible in case the need arises.
Pre- Installed Apps
Most web hosting services offer dozens of apps (as part of their hosting package) that make it easy to manage your site. Depending on the service that you go for, you might have access to apps such as:
- cPanel: Also known as the control panel, this app gives you control over all server processes
- File Transfer Protocol: This app allows you to securely manage the files on a server
- One-click-installer: Makes it easy and quick to install your CMS (in this case, WordPress)
As you can see, the kind of web hosting plan you choose can greatly determine whether or not your website succeeds. As such, if you are looking for a hosting plan, you should be clear on what features you need to increase your chances of picking a hosting service that meets your requirements.