Website Hosting 101

Web hosting may not be as glamorous or as fun as the design side of creating a website however, without it, a functional website simply can’t exist! So, let’s talk about it. 

Join us as we go back to the basics and dive deeper into understanding website hosting, what it is, and our top web hosting recommendations.

What is Website Hosting?

So, if every website needs hosting – what is it exactly?

In order to have a website, there is a lot that goes into it aside from the design. You’ll have content, images, logos, possibly videos, and more! All of these items will need a place to live online. 

Website hosting is essentially the storage place for all of the information on your website! Along with the website design and content storage, a web hosting service will provide the connection of your website to the Internet. 

A fun way that we like to explain website hosting to our clients is by comparing it to renting a house or apartment. Website hosting is essentially how you rent your little corner of the Internet and a web host or web hosting provider is the landlord that you go through to get it done. 

When do you need Third-Party Hosting?

If you don’t own a web server and aren’t using a website platform that provides hosting as part of their service (like Squarespace, Shopify, Wix, or Showit) then you will need third-party hosting. 

Let’s talk about WordPress for a minute. WordPress is open-source software with very little limitations when it comes to a website’s capability and potential. The sky’s the limit. However, WordPress is a Content Management System (CMS) that still requires you to secure a website hosting provider. Many of our WordPress clients decide to host with us, as we have monthly hosting and maintenance plans for clients whom we have built websites for or they have already secured their own third-party hosting provider. 

Using a Website Platform That Offers Hosting

You may be familiar with some of the popular website builders like Squarespace, Shopify, Wix, or Showit. These platforms made specifically with small business owners in mind also have the ability to host your website (and may even require it), providing an all-in-one solution.

For example, our Showit and Shopify clients do not have to worry about signing up for and paying a third-party hosting provider, because the platforms will host their website as a part of the subscription plan they sign up for.

Our Website Hosting Recommendations

When it comes to choosing a website hosting provider, there are tons of options out there these days. Security, backups, email, and support are all major considerations. We put together a quick guide below to cover our top 3 picks for website hosting:

GoDaddy

GoDaddy offers everything from domain names to website hosting. Their hosting plans offer something for everyone, from large businesses to small ones.

Bluehost

We’ve worked with Bluehost for years and they have been one of the top choices on the charts for top website hosting providers for a long time.

Bluehost offers great shared web hosting (which is usually what our clients need) and affordable prices and even throws in a free domain and SSL certificate. WordPress recommends this platform and we can also attest to their awesome customer and technical support teams. 

HostGator

HostGator has similar options to Bluehost, from Shared Hosting to WordPress Integration. As with the above options, HostGator has different plans for businesses of all sizes but we think that it is best for businesses who have fairly simple websites without a boatload of extra features. 

Like both GoDaddy and Bluehost, they have a ton of how-to guides for technical support but also have a wonderful support team available by online chat or phone. 

When it comes to choosing a website hosting provider, there are tons of options out there these days.

Host With Us!

With our WordPress website design offerings, we have hosting and maintenance packages available to our clients.

Contact us if you’re interested in discussing website hosting and maintenance options.

I hope you found this article helpful in learning a bit more about website hosts and what third-party options we recommend for our clients. Please feel free to reach out to us with any questions!

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