Looking to source the best WordPress Hosting provider for your website? Now you’ve designed your oh-so-snazzy WordPress site, with our 5 helpful tips, you’ll have the tools you need to choose the right hosting for your needs.
1. Whats the uptime for your WordPress Hosting
Uptime matters. Put simply, it’s the proportion of time that your website is up, running and ready for business. The opposite is the dreaded downtime – when your website is inaccessible to your customers. It’s impossible to eliminate the risk of downtime entirely, but clearly you’d rather not see your website having a luxurious midweek lie in whilst you’ve got your nose to the grindstone.
Most hosting services offer uptimes of at least 99%. But whilst this might sound impressive, it’s important to keep this in context. 99% uptime across one year means downtime of 1%. That’s the equivalent of 3.65 days when your website isn’t working for you. For the best WordPress hosting, you need to have your eye on those extra decimal figures. 99.9% uptime reduces your expected downtime to just under 9 hours per year. Much easier to stomach, right?
2. WordPress Hosting Charges, are they worth it ?
WordPress now impressively claims to host more than 42% of websites. That means there’s a whole bunch of hosting services available. When exploring which is the best WordPress hosting service for you, it’s easy to simply focus on the bottom line – price.
The problem here is that, when it comes to hosting, price isn’t always the best comparator. Some hosting services offer a base price – but then whack you like a birthday pinata with hefty add-ons necessary to make your website function the way you need. Others lure you in with a big flashy neon sign of a low price, only to increase prices significantly after the first year or two.
Put simply, looking at the price alone doesn’t necessarily tell you how much your WordPress hosting will really cost you.
3. How secure is your WordPress hosting ?
Hackers, malware, data breaches. They’re ranking high in the “stuff of nightmares” list (alongside monsters in the wardrobe or being late for a very important meeting – or maybe that’s just me?).
With a UK small business reportedly hacked every 19 seconds, it’s important that your hosting is secure. The best WordPress hosting should offer assurances that your all-important data is boxed in with security layers so strong, the Hulk would have a hard time getting through.
You may also have specific requirements, such as keeping your data within the UK, to minimise your risk. Reputable, reliable WordPress hosting providers (like the fab folk here at Network & Security) can quickly and easily put your mind at ease about any security concerns you have. Leaving you to sleep easy (once you’ve double checked the wardrobe and your calendar, obviously).
4. You think you have found excellent WordPress hosting – but is it scalable ?
You’ve poured your heart and soul into your website, and it looks stellar. But as your website grows, its needs will change. You’ll need to find the best WordPress hosting to cope with increasing levels of traffic, data storage and snazzy new features to keep your visitors engaging with your site.
That’s where scalability comes in. A quality WordPress hosting provider will offer options to help your site’s functionality expand as and when you require it. And those with top level service will give you a comforting hand-hold of support along your journey, too.
5. Up and running – but where is the support ?
Once you’ve got your website up and running, it’s easy to assume everything will be smooth sailing. But if you happen to sail headfirst into a tidal wave, or realise you’ve launched your WordPress site on the wrong side of the ocean, you’ll need support getting back to the right wavelength.
The best WordPress hosting providers not only have all the techy goodness you need to keep your website online. They’ve also got the people-power to steer you in the right direction when things aren’t going to plan.
Our sneaky insider hint? The really good guys go beyond online chat support. They’ll sit you down with a (virtual) cuppa and talk your problems through to find the most effective, long-term solution for your specific needs.
Choose a WordPress Hosting provider that keeps your website functioning, flexible and fuss-free.
Evaluating your website’s needs is the key skill in finding the best WordPress hosting for your site. Alongside considering the immediate needs of reliable uptime and cost, you’ll need to also consider the importance of longer term support across scalability, security and support.
Our team here at Network & Security can offer a wealth of information and advice about the best WordPress hosting for your individual needs. Get in touch with our friendly experts to discuss your requirements today.
