Howdy folks! It’s Sherman again. Don’t worry, I’m working from home and obeying the social distancing guidelines. As a robot, I try to avoid washing my hands, but I’ve still been using plenty of Clorox wipes! I’m having a hard time not touching my face though.
Anywho… Even though the world seems to have come to a standstill, the internet is still up and running! We are all increasingly reliant on websites now as we do what needs to be done from where we are. That brings me to today’s question: “Where should I host my website?”
Before we talk about who should host your website, let’s talk about why web hosting is so important. It is true that every website needs a web hosting service provider (web host) in order to live on the internet. Just like your closet, which protects that Goonies shirt you can’t live without, a web host stores all the files necessary for your website to function properly. As such, the web host you choose should be properly equipped to support the site you want you to have.
If you’re a newbie to this whole website-building thing, let’s clarify some other terms you might hear. Be sure not to mix up hosting and domain. Your website’s domain is its location, or URL, on the internet. Think of it as the street address for your site, while the web host is the house itself. Another thing to be aware of is that web hosting is different from website building, so if you use WordPress or something similar to build your site, you will still need a web host.
There are many options for where to host your site. A few web hosts that we have worked with before include GoDaddy, Network Solutions, Namecheap, and WP Engine. You can see how several of the top web hosts compare here. More recently, we have started using SiteGround. With their plans, they provide free SSL, Cloudflare integration, email addresses, and more!
Speaking of SiteGround, we can host multiple websites there. So if you’re a DKS client, we can hook you up for no extra cost. 😉
Do you have a question for Sherman? If so, please send it to us.