If you’re looking to create a WordPress website, one of the first things you’ll need to do is find a reliable WordPress host.

A host is a company that provides servers and other technology that enables people to view your website. If you make a mistake when choosing your WordPress host, it can have a negative impact on your website’s performance, security, and even its search engine ranking.

So, what should you look for when choosing a WordPress host? Here are seven key factors to consider.

Uptime

Uptime is the percentage of time that your website is online and accessible to visitors. A host with a low uptime percentage is likely to cause your website to crash or load slowly, which can frustrate visitors and hurt your business.

Choose a host with an uptime guarantee of 99.99% such as WordPress hosting on AWS. This means that your website will only be down for a maximum of one hour per year, which is practically unnoticeable.

Security

Your WordPress website is vulnerable to attacks from hackers and malware. A good WordPress host will have security measures in place to protect your sites, such as firewalls and intrusion detection.

Look for a host that offers free SSL certificates, which encrypt data transmitted to and from your website and help to deter hackers.

Also, it is important to note that Google has over 200 ranking signals, and SSL is one of them. This means that finding a host that offers free SSL could also help your website to rank higher in search results.

Speed

The speed of your website is important for two reasons. Firstly, fast loading times improve the user experience of visitors to your site. Secondly, Google uses page speed as a ranking factor, so a faster website can enhance your SEO efforts.

When choosing a WordPress host, look for one that offers cache, which speeds up the loading of pages by storing static files on the server.

You should choose a host with a content delivery network (CDN), which further improves speed by caching static files and delivering them to visitors from servers that are close to their location.

Support

When you encounter problems with your WordPress website, it is important to have access to 24/7 support from a knowledgeable customer service team.

Look for a WordPress host that offers live chat or phone support so that you can get help as soon as possible when you need it.

Some hosts offer video tutorials, FAQs, blogs, and other resources that can help you to solve problems yourself. Once you land on a problem, these resources should be your first point of content. Only reach out to customer service as a last resort.

Pricing

You don’t have to break your bank to get a good WordPress host. However, it is important to find a host that offers value for money.

Look for a host that provides all of the features you need, such as uptime guarantees, security measures, and support, at a price that suits your budget.

However, remember that cheap can be expensive. If you choose a host that is too cheap, you may end up paying more in the long run in terms of lost sales, customers, and website ranking. Similarly, expensive doesn’t always mean better. Understand what a host offers before you commit your hard-earned money.

Ease of Use

You shouldn’t need to be a tech expert to be able to use your WordPress host. Look for a host with an easy-to-use control panel such as cPanel, which makes it easy to manage your website, create email accounts, and more.

Some hosts offer one-click WordPress installation, which makes it even easier to get started with your new website.

Scalability

Your WordPress website will grow over time as you add new content and features. It is important to choose a WordPress host that can scale with your website so that you don’t have to switch hosts as your site grows.

Some hosts offer unlimited storage and bandwidth, which means that your website can grow as much as you want without exceeding your plan’s limits.

There are several hosts that offer features such as unlimited email accounts and domain names, which can also help your website to grow. Ensure that the host you choose can accommodate your website’s future growth.

Final Thoughts

Finding a good WordPress host is essential to the success of your website. By considering the seven factors listed above, you can be sure to find a host that suits your needs and budget.

Once you have found a good WordPress host, you can focus on creating content and promoting your website. Don’t forget to regularly back up your website so that you can restore it if anything goes wrong. In fact, some hosts have an automatic backup feature, which makes this process even easier.