What do the billion biggest websites in the world share in common? They all use website hosting.
Website hosting allows anyone to view and interact with your website from anywhere in the world.
Perhaps you are wondering, “How can I host my site?” There are two choices.
- Hiring a Hosting Provider
- Your site can be hosted
Keep reading to learn more about website hosting.
- How can I make a website?
- How much does hosting a website cost?
- Is it possible to own a website?
If you have questions regarding hosting your website, please contact us online.
How to host a site with a web hosting company
Would you like to host your site through a website hosting company like HostGator or GoDaddy? Read on to learn how to host your site with a web hosting service provider, and how to select the right hosting provider for your business.
1. Select the type of website hosting you need
First, you must determine what type of website hosting your company needs.
Professional website hosting is possible with four types of hosting:
- Shared website Hosting: Your site is shared with other websites. Server resources are lower because they are shared.
- Cloud hosting
- Virtual Private Server (VPS). Virtual Private Server (VPS) allows you to have your server or share space with other websites.
- Dedicated – Your website will be hosted on a dedicated server with a hosting plan. Ideal for websites that get a lot of traffic from sources like Google, Buzzfeed, or Target.
Which hosting plan would be best for you? Use this handy table to help you make a decision!
| Hosting | The Best For… |
| Shared | Small Websites for Hobby and Blogs |
| Cloud | Websites established Small-to-Medium websites |
| VPS | Websites designed for small-to-medium-sized businesses that are rapidly growing |
| Dedicated | Websites with more than 100,000 visitors per month are considered heavy-hitters |
Talk to representatives from several hosting companies if your company isn’t certain what kind of website hosting would be best.
Service representatives from different providers can be contacted to obtain different opinions and you don’t have to sign a contract.
2. Get the web hosting price
Consider the cost of hosting. This can help you plan your budget and help your company make informed decisions.
These hosting options typically cost:
| Hosting Website | Average Cost |
| Shared | $24-$120 per annum |
| Cloud | $9000 to $6000 annually |
| VPS | $240 to $600 per annum |
| Dedicated | $1200 to 24,000/year |
Don’t let price determine website hosting prices. While it is possible to get cheap web hosting, this could hurt user experience and result in fewer visits, calls, and purchases.
You don’t have to have the biggest budget. However, you need to be realistic about your goals.
3. Create a list of hosting providers
Once you’ve researched website hosting, you can start looking at potential providers. You must narrow down your options.
You can refine your list by doing a few things.
- Set a maximum price point
- How much storage and bandwidth are you able to use?
- Create a list of must-have features, such as a free domain and 24/7 support
- Hosting companies with a high user rating (e.g. Four stars is the best rating.
Signing up with a hosting company can be a lot easier if you are clear about your needs. You can focus your efforts on five top hosting companies and spend time researching them.
4. Choose your hosting company
Now you can make your final decision and compile your top-of-the-best list of web hosting providers.
Compare the features, pricing, and pricing of the top website hosting companies and share your findings with your team.
“Researching in detail about hosting companies will help you avoid signing up for a provider that isn’t compatible with you or doesn’t offer the services you need. “
Doing your research will ensure that you don’t sign up for hosting companies that aren’t compatible. Contacting the provider or communicating with their staff is a waste.
You should review these features before signing a contract with web hosting companies.
- Cost
- Bandwidth
- Storage
- RAM
- Number IP addresses
- Guaranteed uptime
- Hours Support
- Scalability
- Get a domain name for free or an SSL certificate.
Now it’s time for you to host your website.
5. Register your domain name
If you’re interested in hosting a website for a new site, this step is crucial.
Domain names act as digital addresses. Domain names are digital addresses.
Hosting companies often offer a free domain along with their plans. Domain names are an essential part of hosting plans.
Domain names usually cost $1 per month or $2 to $20 each year.
But, the domain name might be more costly. If you buy a domain name with a high perceived value or that is in use already,
These are some of the most expensive domain names ever purchased.
- For $11 Million, visit www.hotels.com
- Go to www.voice.com for $30 million
- “www.tesla.com”, $11 Million
Domain name registrars must be used when purchasing a domain name. You can easily purchase your domain name if your site is hosted with HostGator and GoDaddy.
Some best practices for domain names include:
- Avoid choosing a domain name.
- Use a top-level domain (TLD), such as “.com”.
- Choosing a branded domain, like “www.mcdonalds.com” versus “www.fastfoodrestaurant.com”
Once you have purchased your domain is ready to go live with your website.
How to host a website on a Windows, Macintosh, or Linux device
Do you want to learn how to host your website? Next, we will talk about how to self-host a website using a Windows, Macintosh, or Linux device. Learn what you need to make your site live
1. Investigate WAMP, MAMP, or LAMP software
To self-host a website you will need to use the following software:
- WAMP stands for Windows, Apache MySQL MySQL, MySQL, and PHP. WAMP lets your Windows computer be a dedicated server for your website. Secure Wamp and WampServer are two examples.
- LAMP stands for Linux, Apache MySQL, and PHP. It is an abbreviation for Linux, Apache MySQL, and MySQL, and PHP. LAMP turns your Linux device into an Internet server.
- MAMP: Shorthand for Macintosh Apache MySQL, PHP, and Macintosh PHP, MAMP turns your Mac into a server to host your website. It can be purchased as free or paid software.
No matter what device you are using, you will need the WAMP/LAMP or MAMP software.
2. Install your favorite WAMP, LAMP, or MAMP software
Once you have selected your server software, install it. If you’re new to website hosting, you can play with the settings.
Once the installation is completed, you can add your site and domain to the software. Log in.
3. Your CMS has been set up
Your content management system (CMS) will need to be set up. This is critical for modern websites.
If you use a hosting company, they’ll install your CMS. “
MySQL Community Edition is free. You can also purchase paid versions of the software.
Once you have installed MySQL, you can open your CMS files to follow these steps.
When you host your website through a company you can get your CMS installed for free.
4. Upload your files from your website
Next, upload your website files. These files can include:
- Website photos
- Sitemaps
- Page scripts
- CSS
Keep in mind your site hierarchy when you upload site files
This layout is possible if you have an online store:
- onlinestore.com
- onlinestore.com/products/
- onlinestore.com/blog/
- onlinestore.com/img/
Upload product pages to your directory/products/. Images for site pages will be placed in the directory/img/.
Before your site goes live, you will need to create an organization. To make it easier for users to navigate the site, you can use a navigation system.
5. Make your website public
After completing the three steps, you can launch your website.
These steps will make your website live:
- Visit Apache
- Choose the “httpd.conf.” file
- Modify the file settings to allow or deny orders from all.
Anyone who visits your domain should now be able to see your site. For assistance, you can refer to the troubleshooting forums or LAMP, MAMP, or WAMP software’s help pages.
How do I host my website? FAQs
Still unsure?
- How much does hosting a website cost?
- How can I make a website?
- Where can my website be hosted?
We know the answers so it’s awesome!
What’s website hosting?
Hosting refers to the service or process of making a website available via the Internet. A server is a computer that hosts multiple websites.
How can I make a website?
First, you will need to buy a domain name. Next, you will need to choose a hosting provider. Finally, you will need a plan. Learn more in the previous sections of this page.
How much does hosting a website cost?
Hosting costs can range from $24 to $10,000 per annum depending on whether the server has a dedicated or shared host. Prices also depend on the features and services included in the hosting service.
Can I host a website for free?
Yes and No.
Some website builders, such as WordPress will host your website free of charge, but they have some restrictions. Your domain name, for instance, features the website builder’s name, like “examplesite.wordpress.com” versus “examplesite.com. “
Most providers will create a package that includes hosting fees and a domain. If you register a domain, you will be charged for hosting.
Website hosting is a significant expense for many businesses.
Would you rather have your website managed or hosted by a company?
It depends.
GoDaddy and HostGator offer great convenience. You can trust your hosting company to take care of your server 24/7.
Many hosting companies can scale up to accommodate your changing needs. If you need more server space due to increased traffic, you can do so easily. This requires you to upgrade your hardware, which can be time-consuming and expensive.
Self-hosting can be a great option if your website is hobby-related. Hosting companies are the best choice for most businesses.
Still, have questions about creating a website?
Kobe Digital is here to help you with web hosting questions.
Search engine optimization allows people to find your website via search engines such as Google and Bing.
Learn more about SEO and how it can help you bring valuable traffic to your site (such as high-value leads and ready-to-buy clients) by reading our beginner’s guide to SEO. Or, contact me online to speak one-on-one.
