Web hosting is a service that enables people and organizations to post a webpage or website on the internet. A web host is a business that utilizes special computer servers to store or host websites. Web hosts provide the user with the services they need to ensure that their websites or web pages can be accessed on the internet. This ensures that when internet users want to view your website, all they will need to do is type in the name of your website into their browser, and they will be able to access the site. Most web hosting companies require users to obtain a domain first or request them to help you find a suitable domain name for your website. If you are running a professional business on your website, a web host can assist you by ensuring that your website is up and running 24/7. Web hosts also help you by addressing any troubleshooting issues that might affect the effectiveness of your website, such as script debuting, need for domain name renewal, and issues with the linked email address.
Different Types of Web Hosting
Shared Hosting
This type of web hosting allows multiple websites to use the same server. It is the best option for entry-level hosting, although in most, cases you will not be able to identify the other individuals or companies you will be sharing the server with. This type of web hosting offers each customer a limit on the total amount of server resources that they can use depending on specifications indicated through the hosting package. You might be sharing the server with a hundred other users. For most people starting an online business, using a shared web hosting service allows them to cut down on the additional costs that they would otherwise have to incur by investing in a different hosting service. The operating costs of these servers are spread out among the users to reduce the overall costs. While you will manage to cut on the cost, the load time is usually slower because the server has multiple users.
| Pros | Cons |
| Cheap and the most economic. Most hosting companies have multiple levels of hosting available. | Sharing of a single server with multiple websites. The server can become overburdened. Limited resources. Other sites on the server can pose a risk to your website. The load time is usually slower than those of dedicated servers are. Lack of customization options. |
VPS Hosting
VPS hosting can be the best option for you if you are tired of using a shared hosting service. It stands for Virtual Private server, which suggests that you will be offered private services. This type of hosting uses virtualization technology to offer you private resources that align with your needs. It is usually more secure when compared to shared hosting and offers you a wide range of resources. It is also cheaper than renting an entire server. If you are a website owner with medium-level traffic, this web hosting option will be the best for your business. You will experience a faster loading time when compared to shared hosting. This will keep your clients satisfied ad will reduce the frustrations associated with not being able to access a website within a short time. The technology used in VPS hosting is similar to that used on Virtual Box as it ensures that the individuals using these services have their own virtual space and individuality. When using VPS, if you plan to install server applications that require you to restart the system, you can easily do that any time without affecting the performance of other websites that also share the server.
| Pros | Cons |
| Privacy. It has a faster load time than shared hosting. It is easy to control. Less costly than renting an entire server. It offers you dedicated resources. | It is costly. |
Cloud Hosting
This type of web hosting uses multiple different servers to offer a wide range of customers with web hosting services. The multiple servers enable cloud-hosting companies to balance their servers’ workload and avoid the risks of slow load time or other issues with the server. It also ensures that even in cases where one server can kick in to keep the websites running. Some of the key features of cloud hosting include the utilization of a cloud network as opposed to an on-instead offer deploying applications. The resources are scaled to the users’ needs, and individuals or organizations are only required to pay for the resources they use. Cloud hosting can also support SQL or NoSQL databases, and its solutions are automated and controlled using APIs, mobile applications, or web portals. It offers you flexible services and is more reliable when compared to shared hosting. Information about your website or organization is also more secure on cloud networks, and you can store sensitive data on the network without being worried about unauthorized access.
| Pros | Cons |
| Security. You only pay for the resources you use. It is flexible as you can get more resources easily. It uses a pay-as-you-go model. It is reliable. Its performance outweighs shared hosting services. Better data delivery speed. | It can be challenging to transfer your data from one service provider to another. The cost cannot be fully estimated. |
WordPress Hosting
WordPress offers users one of the easiest ways of setting up their websites. It is an open-source content management system that is suitable for beginners as it can be used to build anything from a simple blogging website to an e-commerce website. WordPress hosting is specifically customized to work with websites that are developed through WordPress. Some of the benefits of using WordPress hosting include access to other WordPress services, the ability to review the webpages of other WordPress users who are interested in the same things as you, and access to the WordPress technical support team, which runs the server. Since many users use WordPress, you might experience slow load time and other security challenges. The resources offered by WordPress and limited, and you might not be able to customize your website to suit your preferences.
| Pros | Cons |
| Easy to set up. Cheap. Easy to use. Offer continuous optimization. | Security performance. It cannot be customized. Resources are limited. It is not flexible. |
Dedicated Hosting
Dedicated hosting describes web hosting packages that offer you a dedicated server with resources that are tailored to your needs. This web hosting service means that you will be paying for the single server and using it alone. These web hosting services are ideal for large organizations or websites, which usually have a higher traffic level and would lose the customer if they constantly experienced slow load time. Companies such as Amazon can benefit from dedicated hosting because of the number of people who rely on their online business. These servers are generally more expensive because they are limited to one user. The types of resources available also influence the pricing of dedicated servers. Additional expenses for individuals who use these servers stem from the need for different software packages and a technical team. Unlike shared hosting, where a client is sharing a computer with other clients, the organization is entirely entitled to the server in dedicated hosting. They offer the best services and are not associated with multiple technical issues when compared to the other types.
| Pros | Cons |
| Faster connectivity. Reduces risks of security breaches. Flexible. Tailored to your needs. Access to unlimited resources. | Expensive. They can be hard to manage. Require constant maintenance. |
What else is needed before starting a website?
Before starting your website, you will need a domain or a domain name that will assist you and other internet users to access your website easily. While working on the internet, your domain name acts as the unique identity that can be traced back to you or your website. If you are interested in having a professional website where customers can contact you, having your own domain name with an almost similar email address can make it easy for your customers to reach out to you.
What is a Domain?
A domain name represents a website’s IP address. For instance, when thinking of the website “google.com,” it is easier to remember the name google.com as opposed to the actual IP address “216.58.216.164.” People have a higher likelihood of remembering a name as opposed to a long series of different numbers. While computers use IP addresses to trace websites, domain names offer us an easy way of remembering the website linked to the specific IP address. Domain names can be any combination of letters and numbers, which are put together to represent the website. Coming up with a domain name that is closely linked to the type of content in your website is an effective way of attracting your target audience. For example, if your website deals with gaming tricks and reviews on upcoming games, using a domain name like “gamigworld.com” or “allthingsgaming.com” has a higher likelihood than using a domain created through a combination of words that are unrelated to the gaming world, such as “computertricks.com” or “hobbies.com” or similar unrelated names. As such, you should ensure that the domain name you select aligns with the content on your website.
Registering your Domain
The following steps should be taken when registering your domain to ensure that you have full ownership of the copyrights and trademark of the domain.
- Check whether the domain name is available: To check whether you can use your intended domain name or whether someone else is using it, go to Domain.com and type in your chosen name. Considering the millions of internet users that exist today, it is possible that someone else already thought of the domain name that you can up with and registered it before you. Be creative with your domain name and ensure that it can be easily linked to your website.
- Select the domain: If another internet user has not registered the name, you can select whether you want to register it as a .com, .org, .biz, or .net site before adding it to your cart.
- Duration: The next step before registering the domain name entails determine the duration you wish to register the name for or how long you wish to reserve the rights to the name. You can opt to buy your domain name through a year-long plan that allows you to pay for the domain name each year for a maximum of 10 years.
- Privacy: Before paying for your selected domain, you will need to check the privacy policy and determine whether you will want privacy protection. Suppose you are now worried about people linking the domain to your name or knowing that your own the website; uncheck the privacy protection section and proceed to the payment section.
- Payment: After finalizing the details, you will need to pay the registrar for the domain name. After paying for the domain name, you will have full ownership of it, and you can start using it immediately.
Wrap Up
In this article, we have explained and told you the differences between different kinds of hosting providers, and also explained what a domain name is and how to register one. Most hosting providers, provide you with a free domain name when you order hosting services from them. Although this is not ideal (difficult to change provider because they control your domain name) it is a great option to save money and it is really convenient.
With the information we provided you can make a confident decision about what for hosting you and/or your business needs and you are ready to start your online adventure.