How (and where) do I host a website?

Web hosting is a service that allows individuals and organisations to make their website accessible on the internet. Web hosting providers offer space on servers to store website files and data, and make them accessible to users who want to access the website. If you have read the article about website builders and have chosen to go with Squarespace or Shopify, you do not need to set up webhosting because it is included as part of your monthly subscription. You would simply point your domain name to Squarespace or Shopify’s Nameservers using DNS entries and you are good to go.

If you chose WordPress, you will need some webhosting to run your WordPress instance. In this article, we will discuss the basic concepts of web hosting and how to set up hosting for your WordPress site.

Choosing a Web Hosting Provider:

The first step in setting up web hosting for your website is to choose a web hosting provider. There are many web hosting companies to choose from, and the provider you select will depend on your needs and budget. Some of the factors to consider when choosing a web hosting provider include:

1. Reliability and uptime: The web hosting provider should have a high uptime percentage to ensure that your website is accessible to users at all times.
2. Support: Look for a web hosting provider that offers 24/7 support to help you troubleshoot any issues that may arise.
3. Speed: A fast website is essential for providing a good user experience, so choose a web hosting provider that offers fast server speeds.
4. Price: Compare prices of different web hosting providers to find one that fits your budget.
5. 1 click install: Many provides offer 1-click-install options for WordPress. This makes life much easier than installing it yourself which involves downloading the install files, connecting to your host via a connection protocol called FTP and then uploading the files. If you are not technically savvy, I highly recommend you look for a provider such as Hostinger who offer 1-click-installs.

Setting Up Hosting for Your website:

Once you have chosen a web hosting provider, the next step is to set up hosting for your WordPress site. Here’s how to do it:

1. Choose a hosting plan: Most web hosting providers offer different hosting plans with varying features and prices. Choose the plan that best suits your needs.
2. Register a domain name: A domain name is the web address that users will type in to access your website. You can register a domain name through your web hosting provider or through a third-party domain registrar.
3. Point your domain name to your hosting package: You will need to change your DNS entries to point name servers or CNAMES to your host. Refer to your chosen hosting providers documentation for more details.
4. Install WordPress: Many web hosting providers offer one-click WordPress installation, which makes it easy to install WordPress on your website. If your provider doesn’t offer this feature, you can also install WordPress manually.
5. Set up your website: Once WordPress is installed, you can start customising your website. Choose a theme, install plugins, and create pages and posts to add content to your website.
6. Configure security: It’s important to configure security settings to protect your website from hackers and malware. This includes installing security plugins (a good one I use with a free offering is Ninja Firewall) and keeping WordPress and plugins up to date.

In conclusion, web hosting is an essential service that allows individuals and organisations to make their website accessible on the internet. Choosing a reliable web hosting provider and setting up hosting for your WordPress site is a straightforward process that can be done in a few steps. By following the steps outlined in this article, you can set up hosting for your WordPress site and get your website up and running in no time.