Web hosting is a service that enables individuals and businesses to place a website or web page online. A hosting service provider, or an internet server, is a company that offers the services and technologies necessary for the page or the site to be viewed on the internet. Websites are saved or hosted on computers. When internet users want to visit your site, all they have to do is enter your domain or website address in their browser. Their computer will connect to a server, and your pages will be sent via the browser to them.
Most hosting companies require you to have your own domain in order to host with them. If you don’t have a domain, the company can help you purchase one.
Here are some features you should expect from a hosting provider:
As mentioned earlier, many hosting providers require users to have their own domain. With a domain name (e.g. www.yourwebsite.com) and email account features provided by your hosting company, you can create domain accounts (e.g. yourname@yourwebsite.com).
Using FTP allows you to upload files from your local computer to a web server. If you build your website using your own HTML files, you can transfer the files from your personal computer to the web server via FTP, allowing your site to go live.
WordPress is a website development tool. It’s a website content management system and blogging platform, which is a way to create a website. It powers over 25% of the websites online. Most hosting providers will tell you immediately whether their plans are WordPress-compatible or not. The basic requirements for hosting your own WordPress sites include PHP version 7 or higher and MySQL version 5.6 or higher.
If you choose to create and host your website using Website.com, in addition to accessing the drag-and-drop website builder, you can get a custom domain name, email address, and web hosting all bundled into a single subscription.
A benefit of using a website builder is that it allows you to drag and drop the content to create your site and publish your site with a few clicks. No experience is required. With the Website.com website builder, you won’t have to build your website using programming, and you won’t have to transfer files from your desktop to the server via FTP.
If you prefer to build your website through a CMS tool such as WordPress, we have selected some hosting providers based on their features and cost:
In order to publish your website online, your business website needs a web hosting service. But a hosting company provides more than just a place to host your website to business owners! For instance, web hosting companies employ technicians to ensure that their customers’ sites are running 24/7 and up. Plus, when site owners need assistance or troubleshooting (e.g. script debugging, email unable to send/receive, domain renewal, and more), the web host’s in-house support is the go-to team. A web host ensures a hassle-free experience for business owners, allowing them to focus their time and effort elsewhere.