What Is Web Hosting? A Beginner's Guide
What Is Web Hosting? A Beginner's Guide
This post contains affiliate links, meaning I get a commission if you decide to make a purchase through my links or promo code, at no cost to you. For more information, see my disclosure here. Thanks!
For many people, starting your own blog can seem confusing and overwhelming. Thankfully, one of the most popular blogging platforms available right now is WordPress. This platform offers a wide range of features that make starting your own blog easy for virtually everyone. If you've thought about starting your own blog through WordPress.org, you'll have to also have a web host. Trying to find a web host may seem a bit intimidating, but in all honesty, it is actually pretty simple and doesn't take that long to set up.
So, if you're asking yourself, “What is web hosting?”, no worries, this post is a beginner's guide and will teach you all you need to know!
What Is Web Hosting?
A web host essentially gives your blog a place to live. Have you ever thought about how a blog is able to make its way from a computer to the internet? When you design your new blog, it does not magically appear on the internet. Instead, the files from the site are uploaded to a server that is connected to the internet. Once your site is on the server, people from all over the world will be able to view it. A web hosting service allows you to use their servers so that your content can be viewed on the internet.
Not only does web hosting allow your site to be viewed on the internet, but it can also provide you with other benefits such as:
- Website security
- Advanced technical support
- Personalized domain name
- Email associated to your blog's domain name
There are several blog building platforms that offer web hosting for free. WordPress.com, for example, offers free web hosting to its subscribers. However, with a shared hosting site on WordPress.com, you don't have the freedom to monetize your site and you have to share a domain name with the hosting site. This is why most people choose to start their blog on WordPress.org and buy their own web hosting service. This gives you all of the benefits of using WordPress, while also allowing you to have more control over your site.
Different Types of Web Hosting Services
When it comes to web hosting, there is not a one-size-fits-all solution. Many different web hosting services will offer their customers a variety of services, which can greatly differ in price.
1. Shared Hosting
Shared hosting is one of the most common types of hosting services that people choose to buy. It is usually the easiest and least expensive option. However, when you choose a shared hosting service, you are having to share a server with several other websites. Shared hosting is the most popular choice for new bloggers and other websites that don't get a lot of traffic.
The downside to shared web hosting is that because you are sharing a server with a multitude of other sites, you could be opening yourself to many security risks because it is easy for someone who shares your server to infect your site with malware and other viruses. Also, because you are sharing a server with so many people, there are space restrictions and other limitations that are put on your site.
Using a shared hosting site is kind of like renting a house with a bunch of strangers. At any time, someone can come into your room and go through your stuff. And because there are other people living in your home, you are only allowed to bring a few items with you when you move in order to ensure that everyone else in the house has plenty of room.
2. Dedicated Server Hosting
Dedicated server hosting is usually one of the most expensive types of hosting services that you can buy. When you choose a dedicated server hosting service, you are getting a server that is used only for your website(s). Dedicated servers can cost up to a few hundred dollars each month. However, it offers the best security and storage space for your website.
3. Virtual Private Server Hosting
Virtual Private Server (VPS) hosting is sort of a cross between shared hosting and dedicated server hosting. You are still sharing a server with other website owners but you get your own personal space within the server. This means that you will have more freedom to do what you want on your site and you don't have to share space with the other users. If shared hosting is the same as living in the same house with other people, VPS would then be similar to sharing an apartment complex with other people; You share a building with others, but you still get your own apartment which gives you better privacy and more space.
When it comes to the price, VPS hosting is somewhere in between the cost of dedicated server hosting and the cost of shared hosting. It isn't free but it also isn't usually nearly as expensive as a dedicated server.
Choosing the Right Web Hosting Service
There are many web hosting service providers to choose from. They all offer a wide range of packages and services so it can be confusing trying to figure out which one would be right for your site. When trying to narrow down the competition, there are a few questions that you should ask yourself:
- What type of website are you creating (i.e. blog, eCommerce, online portfolio, etc.)?
- How much traffic do you expect my website to have?
- Are you tech-savvy or will you require a lot of technical support?
- What type of server would be right for your site?
Once you have answered those questions, you will be able to pick a provider that can better suit your needs. One of the best web hosting services for people who are just starting to create their professional blog on WordPress is BlueHost (affiliate link). They have several different affordable packages to choose from and they have one of the best customer service teams in the business. They offer shared hosting, VPS, cloud hosting, and dedicated server hosting. If you are not sure which service would be best for your, their friendly and knowledgeable staff will happily walk you through the process and help you find the best solution.
BlueHost has packages that start at $3.95 a month. However, Blog with Ben readers will get a special promotional price when they use BlueHost for their WordPress blog. Just use my affiliate link to get BlueHost web hosting services for only $2.95 a month. For only a few dollars a month, you can have a professional blog that allows you to share your ideas or products with the world.
This post contains affiliate links, meaning I get a commission if you decide to make a purchase through my links or promo code, at no cost to you. For more information, see my disclosure here. Thanks!
For many people, starting your own blog can seem confusing and overwhelming. Thankfully, one of the most popular blogging platforms available right now is WordPress. This platform offers a wide range of features that make starting your own blog easy for virtually everyone. If you've thought about starting your own blog through WordPress.org, you'll have to also have a web host. Trying to find a web host may seem a bit intimidating, but in all honesty, it is actually pretty simple and doesn't take that long to set up.
So, if you're asking yourself, “What is web hosting?”, no worries, this post is a beginner's guide and will teach you all you need to know!
What Is Web Hosting?
A web host essentially gives your blog a place to live. Have you ever thought about how a blog is able to make its way from a computer to the internet? When you design your new blog, it does not magically appear on the internet. Instead, the files from the site are uploaded to a server that is connected to the internet. Once your site is on the server, people from all over the world will be able to view it. A web hosting service allows you to use their servers so that your content can be viewed on the internet.
Not only does web hosting allow your site to be viewed on the internet, but it can also provide you with other benefits such as:
- Website security
- Advanced technical support
- Personalized domain name
- Email associated to your blog's domain name
There are several blog building platforms that offer web hosting for free. WordPress.com, for example, offers free web hosting to its subscribers. However, with a shared hosting site on WordPress.com, you don't have the freedom to monetize your site and you have to share a domain name with the hosting site. This is why most people choose to start their blog on WordPress.org and buy their own web hosting service. This gives you all of the benefits of using WordPress, while also allowing you to have more control over your site.
Different Types of Web Hosting Services
When it comes to web hosting, there is not a one-size-fits-all solution. Many different web hosting services will offer their customers a variety of services, which can greatly differ in price.
1. Shared Hosting
Shared hosting is one of the most common types of hosting services that people choose to buy. It is usually the easiest and least expensive option. However, when you choose a shared hosting service, you are having to share a server with several other websites. Shared hosting is the most popular choice for new bloggers and other websites that don't get a lot of traffic.
The downside to shared web hosting is that because you are sharing a server with a multitude of other sites, you could be opening yourself to many security risks because it is easy for someone who shares your server to infect your site with malware and other viruses. Also, because you are sharing a server with so many people, there are space restrictions and other limitations that are put on your site.
Using a shared hosting site is kind of like renting a house with a bunch of strangers. At any time, someone can come into your room and go through your stuff. And because there are other people living in your home, you are only allowed to bring a few items with you when you move in order to ensure that everyone else in the house has plenty of room.
2. Dedicated Server Hosting
Dedicated server hosting is usually one of the most expensive types of hosting services that you can buy. When you choose a dedicated server hosting service, you are getting a server that is used only for your website(s). Dedicated servers can cost up to a few hundred dollars each month. However, it offers the best security and storage space for your website.
3. Virtual Private Server Hosting
Virtual Private Server (VPS) hosting is sort of a cross between shared hosting and dedicated server hosting. You are still sharing a server with other website owners but you get your own personal space within the server. This means that you will have more freedom to do what you want on your site and you don't have to share space with the other users. If shared hosting is the same as living in the same house with other people, VPS would then be similar to sharing an apartment complex with other people; You share a building with others, but you still get your own apartment which gives you better privacy and more space.
When it comes to the price, VPS hosting is somewhere in between the cost of dedicated server hosting and the cost of shared hosting. It isn't free but it also isn't usually nearly as expensive as a dedicated server.
Choosing the Right Web Hosting Service
There are many web hosting service providers to choose from. They all offer a wide range of packages and services so it can be confusing trying to figure out which one would be right for your site. When trying to narrow down the competition, there are a few questions that you should ask yourself:
- What type of website are you creating (i.e. blog, eCommerce, online portfolio, etc.)?
- How much traffic do you expect my website to have?
- Are you tech-savvy or will you require a lot of technical support?
- What type of server would be right for your site?
Once you have answered those questions, you will be able to pick a provider that can better suit your needs. One of the best web hosting services for people who are just starting to create their professional blog on WordPress is BlueHost (affiliate link). They have several different affordable packages to choose from and they have one of the best customer service teams in the business. They offer shared hosting, VPS, cloud hosting, and dedicated server hosting. If you are not sure which service would be best for your, their friendly and knowledgeable staff will happily walk you through the process and help you find the best solution.
BlueHost has packages that start at $3.95 a month. However, Blog with Ben readers will get a special promotional price when they use BlueHost for their WordPress blog. Just use my affiliate link to get BlueHost web hosting services for only $2.95 a month. For only a few dollars a month, you can have a professional blog that allows you to share your ideas or products with the world.
Written by Ben Cummings
Cofounder of Sage Wave Media
Ben is a professional blogger who holds an MBA with a specialization in Entrepreneurship. He enjoys teaching, blogging, startups, a hoppy IPA, and college basketball. Whenever he's not blogging, you can find him cruising around sunny San Diego with his amazing family.
Thank you so much ben
You're very welcome, Taiwo!