Picking a WordPress host is like getting a car. The handling, interior, and even price tags vary. Some hosts are like Ferrari, while others are like Toyota. You may want the Ferrari, but you can’t afford it. A Toyota may fit your budget, but it may not meet your demands. Before settling on a specific host, you need to know the recommended WordPress hosting that will work for you.
The 5 tips for picking the best WordPress host include the loading speed for your website, the available WordPress support from the host, and their WordPress expertise. You also need to consider security for your site, the price of web hosting, and specialty WordPress services offered.
Now that the world has gone digital, your website is your lifeline. It is the source of your livelihood, and you must ensure you get the best WordPress host.
The speed of your website
I bet you have come across websites that take too long to load. What do you do when this happens? Most people will abandon the search and move to the next website, hoping it will load faster than the previous site.
The website’s speed is so critical that search engines like google consider it an important component influencing user experience.
A great website loads within 1-2 seconds. Long loading times result in missed opportunities and limit your site’s growth potential.
When choosing a WordPress host, you need to find out if they have servers in the countries vital to your business. Ask the various WordPress hosts if they use a content delivery network (CDN) and if they have servers across the globe.
You want to ensure that potential clients have easy access to your site, irrespective of location. You may get away with slower speeds in destinations with no target audience, but you cannot compromise speed in places most important for your business.
Customer support
Find out how involved and available the host will be should you have issues with your site. When you have problems updating a WordPress plugin or have lost your logins, you want a readily available host to assist you.
You also need to know how best you can reach customer support. Is it by phone, or will you get a response faster via email? Does the host have a chatbot? Test their response time before you purchase your preferred hosting plan. A host that takes too long to respond will cost you money and time and further increase your stress.
Security Level
Is the website host ready to provide an SSL certificate? Today, this certificate is mandatory because it authenticates the website, allowing the site to transition from HTTP to HTTPS. Many hosts don’t offer this service, but if you get one that does it, great.
You should also look at other security features, like:
- Firewalls
- Server hardening
- Domain privacy
- Virus scanning
- Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) protection
Often, the security offered is pegged on the price. The plan that costs the least will often leave you with greater responsibility for your site’s security.
Specialty WordPress services
Does the web host provide specific WordPress services? This may set some hosts apart from others because they are offering a service that your business needs. Some hosts provide a managed and unmanaged plan.
An unmanaged plan usually has a lower price tag. This means you will handle all the WordPress issues, such as installing and updating plugins and database optimization, among other tasks.
A managed hosting plan means the host will offer specialized support to ensure your website is continuously updated and running efficiently, especially if it has high traffic.
Some of the services in a managed plan include:
- 24/7 support
- Automatic backup
- Malware cleaning
- WordPress theme and plugin updates
- Security monitoring
- SEO optimization
- Analytics reports
- Website enhancements, such as the creation of new pages
The web hosting price
The hosting price will often influence the host’s choice and hosting plan. When analyzing the cost, you need to consider how much you are willing to spend and the potential return on investment (ROI).
If you expect a high ROI, investing in a cheaper plan with slow speeds or limited space may be counterproductive. You need to see where your business is today and the potential future growth.
You also need to consider the possibility of additional costs that you should factor into your budget. For example, you may need to buy new plugins or pay subscription fees for some e-commerce services.
Picking a WordPress host is sometimes quite technical. You need to consider more than the price to help you understand if the host has a plan that suits your needs.
