A Basic Guide to Web Hosting for Beginners

What is Web Hosting?

Web hosting is an online server that stores all your data and files that you want to publish on your website so that people can access your website from different web browsers. See Siteground alternative. In a nutshell, you rent a space on a server that manages every detail of your website so that users can visit your business online uninterrupted.

A web hosting provider also provides several benefits that can make your company appealing to users, such as scalability, high uptime, security, website building tools, speed, and so on. Since people around the globe are connected to the internet, without a web host, your audience would be able to view or access your website swiftly. Hosting Foundry has compared some of the best hosting services in the market; their reviews focus on the different advantages and drawbacks of different hosting providers.

Types of Web Hosting Plans

There are different types of web hosting available in the market that offer great value and return on your investment. Depending on the type of website you want to build, you will have to choose the right hosting service for your company. However, we will look at some of the most common web host options that can work great for your website:

Shared Hosting

Shared hosting is when your server is shared with multiple website owners. Along with the server, you will also share the maintenance, features, and other add-ons with more than one customer. It is a great option for small businesses or business owners with a small budget as it is affordable and yet effective in producing everything your website needs. You can go to hostadvice to see the price range of this type of hosting.

Dedicated Hosting

With dedicated hosting, you have the entire server to yourself where you can configure and manage your website easily. It is considered a more secure option as you do not share it with any other website owner but it is also a costlier option compared to other hostings. Websites that have a high traffic rate regularly can make the most value from this hosting.

Virtual Private Servers Hosting

A VPS hosting is similar to shared hosting but has some of the advantages of dedicated hosting. It is a more advanced approach to hosting your website which gives you control of the server at a lower and affordable cost. The server is divided into virtual compartments that function independently and offer high security for your website data.

Cloud Hosting

Cloud hosting is when your data and files are saved on the cloud and not on a physical server. Since it is a space on the internet, you can easily view your files from any part of the world. Sometimes a server at a physical location can affect your speed and downtime. A great benefit of cloud hosting is that you are not limited to a single server. Your hosting can shrink or expand according to the traffic you get.

Depending on your needs, you can choose the right hosting. Some of the other hosting plans you may come across are E-commerce hosting, Reseller hosting, CMS hosting, and so on

Choose Between Linux and Windows Hosting

Most websites on the internet will allow you to choose between Linux and Windows hosting. These two operating systems (OS) manage your web applications and ensure your server is secured. Linux is considered a more popular OS compared to Windows as many web designers, developers, and webmasters are more compatible with this system. Both systems are secure and manage data through different control panels. While the most obvious choice is Linux due to its popularity as more applications are compatible with this system. You can consider windows as well if you are working with windows only based applications.

Choose a Domain Name

Once you have bought your plot of land on the internet, it’s time to create your digital address. Before you start uploading all your website data, you need to set up your domain so that people can find your website easily. Many hosting platforms have domain name registration while signing up for free, while some may charge you. However, you can purchase your domain separately and link it with your hosting provider. The goal is to keep your domain unique, simple, and easy to remember so that your users can find you without any confusion. Your domain name will stay with you forever so ensure that you spend time brainstorming the right address for your website.

Upload Your Website

Now that you have accomplished all the above-mentioned steps, you can begin uploading your website data and files to the server. By determining the feature you require for your website, use your hosting server to set up everything according to your preference. The most commonly used file manager is the cPanel or the FTP which will allow you to add and delete files directly from the server. Always make sure that you re-check your uploaded files so that you don’t miss out on any component of your website.

Final Thoughts

Web hosting is one of the most crucial components for websites to survive online. With the right web hosting provider, your website will thrive online and attract users to your website. However, choosing a hosting service can be difficult, no matter the niche. If you are looking for a reliable hosting service for your online business, use this guide.

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