Managed WordPress Hosting Vs Shared Hosting: Which Is Better
Managed WordPress hosting is a better option if you want to build a WordPress site without having to worry about maintenance the web host takes care of updates and backups for you.
In addition, managed WordPress hosting providers set up a firewall and run malware scans on your website to strengthen its security.
Overall, the hosting provider optimizes the WordPress hosting environment to offer the best website performance possible.
On the other hand, shared hosting is still a good option for WordPress sites, costing less than managed WordPress hosting.
However, youll need to do a few maintenance tasks yourself, such as updating the core software, conducting performance tests, and running malware scans.
Thus, shared hosting will require that you spend extra time managing the sites technical aspects, while WordPress hosting allows you to focus on growing your business.
Create A WordPress Staging Site Using Your Builder
Many website builders offer one-click staging environments as part of their packages. The exact steps to set up a staging environment may vary slightly from platform to platform, but theyre all fairly similar. BoldGrid, for instance, offers staging as part of their premium package.
Here are the steps for creating a staging site on BoldGrid:
The Differences Between WordPressorg And WordPresscom
Once youve decided upon using WordPress as your CMS of choice, your next decision is to choose which version of WordPress to use.
Essentially, with WordPress.org youll be self-hosting your own WordPress site, while with WordPress.com your site will existing on WordPress.com and youll be using a sub-domain.
Think of it like owning your own home, versus renting an apartment. By owning your home you have complete control over it. With renting you can only do as much as the homeowner or property manager allows.
Take it back a minuteWordPress is an open-source content management system, meaning anyone in the world can code and develop for WordPress. But theres still a governing body if you will. Thats WordPress.org.
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What Is A Subdomain
If youre familiar with WordPress multisite, you may have come across the term subdomain. This is a URL for a specific portion of a website or a microsite in a network. Its designated by a prefix such as blog.example.com.
Subdomains are treated as completely separate websites by search engines and have many uses, especially when it comes to structuring larger sites. You can usually set them up through your hosting providers control panel.
Install And Setup WordPress
The first thing you need to do is log in to your current Account Cpanel, you can do this in two ways. The first is by clicking on the Control Panel button directly from the Accounts page.
Note: Infinityfree allows you to have a maximum of three domain names for a single account. To add more websites, you need to upgrade to their premium hosting services.
The second is by clicking on the Manage button which will open in a new tab. Then, you need to click on the Control Panel button.
Both of these work the same way.
Both of these will open in a new tab/window and automatically sign you into your Cpanel area. Once logged in, go to Softaculous Apps Installer under the Software section. A new tab/window will open where you can select a variety of scripts and cms. Choose WordPress and then click the Install Now button.
Next, you need to provide the necessary details:
Software Setup
- Choose the version you want to install you should select the most current version of WordPress. As of this editing, the current version is 5.8.2
- Choose Installation URL
- Choose Protocol choose whether you want your website to have a www or non-www. An HTTPS option is also available if you have a valid SSL certificate.
- Choose Domain if you have multiple domains, you can select them here. Otherwise, use the default domain for your account.
- In Directory you can specify a name here if you wish to give WordPress its own directory. Otherwise, leave this field empty.
Site Settings
Admin Account
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Things To Do Before Buying Your Domain Name
Attention, please. If you think youve found the perfect domain name, wait a little longer before purchasing it.
Dont rush! And check 4 important things. Lets see what they are right away.
Try to pronounce your DN out loud. Do you quickly get what it is? If so, you are on the right track. If not, read the following .
Which Hosting Is Best For WordPress In Godaddy
Editors note: GoDaddys Web Hosting Plus and Pagelys Enterprise WordPress Hosting plans combine the resources of a VPS with the convenience of a cPanel shared hosting interface. We think its a perfect fit for WordPress sites. Learn more about Web Hosting Plus or download our guide to cPanel + WordPress.
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Select The Best Domain Name Based On Some Simple Criteria
At this point, youre ready to narrow down your shortlist and finish out the process of how to choose a domain name. Part of this process is subjective after all, its important to choose a domain name you like. However, there are also some simple criteria you can use to make the decision easier.
For best results, youll want to pick a domain name that is:
- Concise and clear. Long and confusing names are harder to remember and easier to mistype.
- Creative and memorable. The more unique you can make your domain name , the more memorable it will be.
- Easy to read and pronounce. Avoid numbers and special characters because theyre confusing when spoken aloud. Its also worth asking your friends to pronounce it as well, so you avoid accidentally ending up on this list.
Finally, its also important to carefully consider your domain names Top-Level Domain .
In simple terms, this is the part at the end .com, .org, .net, and so on. For many sites, .com is the best choice, since its what most visitors will expect and is easiest to remember. However, its getting harder and harder to find quality .com domain names, and users are becoming more accustomed to other extensions. So if you absolutely love a non-.com name, go ahead and buy it.
The only thing to be careful with is TLDs that apply to a specific region . to help goetarget websites, so only pick those extensions if you really do want Google to geotarget your site.
Managed WordPress Hosting Faqs
Over the years, we have helped thousands of users and have heard every hosting related question imaginable. Here are the answers to some of the most commonly asked questions about managed WordPress hosting.
Do I need managed WordPress hosting to start my website?
Managed WordPress hosting offers a premium hosting environment specializing in WordPress. It includes expert WordPress support, automatic updates, and performance optimization for WordPress. This premium experience often costs extra but offers a completely hassle free WordPress hosting.
If you are concerned about price, then you can see our guide on how to build a website on shared hosting like Bluehost which costs $2.75 per month and comes with a free domain. You can always upgrade your site to managed WordPress hosting later if you need it.
Can I install Plugins on Managed WordPress Hosting by myself?
Yes, you can. Managed WordPress hosting makes it easy to update all your plugins automatically from the dashboard. It doesnt stop you from installing WordPress plugins. However, some managed hosting companies may block some plugins that are not compatible with their hosting environment.
Can I Install WooCommerce in managed WordPress hosting?
Yes, you can. WooCommerce allows you to add an online store to your website. You can install it on your managed WordPress hosting like you would install any other plugin. You can also see our comparison of the best WooCommerce hosting companies.
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How To Create WordPress Website Offline Using Local By Flywheel
Local by Flywheel is a new tool by Flywheel hosting that allows you to install WordPress locally on your computer for learning and testing purposes.
I recently came to know about this and found it very easy to use for building WordPress offline websites.
Here are the steps that you should follow to install WordPress locally using Local by Flywheel:
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Reserve Several Domain Names
Should you buy several domain names? This is a question that often comes to the center of the table. To answer this question, consider that:
- You can buy the other popular and relevant extensions for you .
- You can also buy the variations with hyphens and typos, if available: wp-marmite.com and wpmarmitte.com. Try typing facebbook.com or ffacebook.com or even faceook.com on your browser. You will be redirected to facebook.com because they have bought various DNs to avoid direct competition on their domain name. This is called Cybersquatting or Typosquatting.
Congratulations, you are now in possession of one or more domain names.
Remember to make redirections to your main domain name to avoid visitors arriving on a blank page.
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The Dangers Of Leaving The Com Available
As we mentioned before, if people remember the name of your brand but dont remember the URL, theyll often attempt to go to yourbrand.com. If your brand isnt there, they may assume you have no website at all and give up the search and this is only one of the dangers of leaving the .com associated with your domain name available.
Another, more significant danger is that somebody else will use the .com domain. This may be a competitor, in which case theyll land your clients, or it may be an entirely different type of business, leading to confusion about what you do. If the site is involved with something risky, such as adult entertainment or gambling, it could even damage your reputation.
Finally, if you choose to invest in the .com domain later on, you may find that someone has bought it for the specific purpose of reselling. This will require a longer, more involved purchase process, and will likely also cost you more money. For this reason, we recommend buying the .com domain, even if you primarily use a different extension.
Restrictions On Website Customization
The beauty of having a website is the ability to change its features to suit your brand aesthetics. It gives your website a unique touch. But with a free WordPress website, you wont be able to customise your website to suit your taste. A free WordPress website comes with a limited set of features that can rain your parade. It restricts you from uploading plugins to customize and extend the functionality of your site.
Some themes on WordPress are free, which work best for free hosted websites. However, you will have limited options to choose from, unlike a website with paid hosting. It also restricts you from modifying your theme features and functionality. You can only add custom CSS and fonts to your theme, but other modifications are off-limits. If you want a fully custom-built website, consider paying for web hosting.
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Connect Your Account To Gmail
Now youre ready to go ahead and actually use Gmail with a custom domain. To do so, were basically going to configure Gmail to send and receive email for your custom email from earlier.
First, log in to the Google account that you have and click on the Cog icon in the top right and go to Settings. Now, just click on the Accounts and Import tab at the top.
After that is done, scroll down and look for the Check mail from other accounts section. Here, click on Add a mail account. Well now enable forwarding from your custom mail address to your Gmail.
Doing so will make a new window pop up. Here, just enter the custom mail from earlier in the Email address field and click on Next. Then click on Next once more on the new page that appears.
Now, this is where the earlier information from Mail Client Manual Settings will be used. In the Username field, just enter the username provided there. Just enter the Password of your mail below. Under POP Server, enter the data from the Incoming Server information field.
For the Port, you can just use the number under the POP3 Port field. Also, remember to check the Always use a secure connection when retrieving mail option. Finally, click on Add Account.
After that, just click on Next to keep going and fill in the Name field of the new page. Once you do that, click on Next Step.
This will send a confirmation email to your custom email address. You can close the window and move on to confirming your email now.
What Are Domain Extensions
Domain extensions are used to categorize websites. In professional web development spaces, theyre often referred to as top-level domains.
Despite this name, theres no level system for domain extensions. All domain extensions are top-level domains . Your browser will treat them the same way, and Google has also stated that no preferential treatment is given to .com or any other TLD.
There are, however, three types of top-level domains:
- Generic Top-Level Domains these are domain extensions that can be registered anywhere in the world. This includes the commonly used .com, .org and .net, as well as less-common extensions, such as .info and .io. The vast majority of domain extensions are gTLDs.
- Country Code Top-Level Domains as the name suggests, these extensions can only be registered by residents of a specific country. Some commonly used ccTLDs are .ca, .co.uk and .ru.
- Restricted Top-Level Domains these are domain extensions that can only be used by specific types of institutions, such as .edu for post-secondary educations. Because of the restrictions, we wont be discussing these TLDs in the bulk of this article.
New TLDs are added occasionally, and you can find a full list of domain extensions here.
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The Easiest Way To Build A WordPress Website
The single easiest way to set up WordPress is to start with a hosting account specifically designed for WordPress websites. If you choose a plan like the GoDaddy Managed WordPress Hosting account, for example, WordPress is already installed for you. Furthermore, if you purchase any annual WordPress Hosting plan from GoDaddy, you can also get a free domain.
GoDaddys WordPress Hosting makes building your first WordPress website easier with a Quick Start Wizard, pre-built themes, core software updates, daily backups and 24/7 support.
Many hosts will offer a one-click option or simple directions to install WordPress directly from their control panel. If WordPress is already installed, you can skip the next section.
What If The Com Address Is Already Taken
You may be researching this question because the .com for the domain you want is already taken. If the domain is in active use, you probably wont be able to buy it. So, what do you do?
The best option is often to choose a different domain. And by this I mean choose a completely different domain name instead of using the same name with a different TLD. There are two reasons for this:
To create a different domain name with a similar feel, consider adding a word, subtracting a word, or changing the spelling of a specific word in your domain. There are endless ways to create a unique domain, including the use of domain name generators.
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What Is Domain Privacy
When you purchase a domain name, youre registering it as part of a public record. The Internet Corporation for Assigned Name and Numbers is responsible for maintaining a directory of who owns every domain name on the web.
However, ICANNs records include your contact information, which may not want to make public knowledge. Purchasing domain privacy keeps your personal details under wraps so theyre not visible as part of this record.
Domain privacy is also sometimes referred to as WHOIS protection. Typically, it will be offered as an add-on during checkout when you purchase your domain name:
Some registrars, such as Namecheap, include WHOIS protection for free . Others may list is as a separate charge, but your privacy is worth the investment.
Lets Back Up A Little
Have you heard the expression Renaissance Man?
It all started with Leonardo da Vinci, the famous Italian painter, sculptor, architect, musician, engineer, mathematician, and scientist.
A Renaissance Man refers to a person with many talents or areas of knowledge.
Anyway, 150 years later, the Renaissance Man evolved into the geniuses of the 17th century, like Isaac Newton, influential composers and painters like Bach, Vivaldi and Rembrandt, and great philosophers, mathematicians and scientists like Descartes, Galileo, Pascal, John Locke, Thomas Hobbes, Voltaire and Spinoza.
Ok, so whats all this got to do with WordPress, domains and hosting?
Hang on, I promise Ill get there in just one more sentence.
So fast forward another 100 years to the industrial revolution blah blah division of labor age of specialization more subdivision of labor age of hyperspecialization, yada yada information age, and then finally here we are in the digital age .
And there you have it. We now live in an age where things have become so complex and specialized that no single individual can master anything .
Which brings us back to the point about WordPress, domains and hosting.
If you want the very best setup for your WordPress site, you will want your domains to be looked after by people who truly know and understand about managing domains. The same goes for hosting. And as we have explained in , there are lots of options to consider when it comes to WordPress hosting .
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