No matter what type of website you have or what it does, it plays a big part in building your brand. To get the best results, your website needs to look good and work well. A website’s performance relies heavily on its hosting. Web hosting not only makes sure your website is accessible online but also provides all the resources and hardware it needs to run smoothly for visitors. This article highlights common pitfalls to avoid when selecting your initial WordPress hosting.

Therefore, selecting the right web hosting from the get-go is crucial – consider Hostinger’s high-quality web hosting plans. Otherwise, your website won’t deliver the desired outcomes.

With numerous web hosting providers available today, finding the perfect fit for your site can feel overwhelming. If you’re about to buy your first web hosting service, this article is for you. Here are some common mistakes WordPress users make when picking a hosting service for their website.

1. Falling for the Free Web Hosting Trap

Think of it like an apartment: can you live in one for free? No, because that’s not realistic. Similarly, it’s unlikely a web hosting provider can offer you excellent services and ample resources without charging anything.

While free hosting might be enough for someone running a small personal blog, businesses and websites with bigger goals will quickly outgrow the limited functionality and resources.

One major drawback is that free hosting providers often have slow and unreliable service. They might also place ads on your website to make up for the free resources, which creates a negative experience for your visitors and hurts your SEO. Additionally, limited features and resources make it difficult to grow your site.

Therefore, it’s best to steer clear of free web hosting. Investing in a reputable paid hosting provider will pay off in the long run.

2. Choosing the Wrong Hosting Plan

Picking a good hosting provider is only half the equation. Beginners often fall into the trap of choosing the cheapest plan without considering their site’s specific needs. This can lead to insufficient resources or, conversely, overpaying for a plan that offers more than you need.

When deciding on your hosting type, consider factors like expected traffic, data storage requirements, your budget, security needs, and your technical expertise.

If you anticipate low traffic, shared hosting could be a good starting point. This type is the most affordable because multiple websites share server resources. However, it comes with higher security risks and limited scalability.

For increased resources and better security, consider VPS hosting. It allocates dedicated resources and includes enhanced security features to accommodate higher traffic and site growth. As a result, VPS hosting typically costs more than shared hosting. So, before committing to a long-term web hosting plan, clearly define your site’s requirements to avoid costly mistakes.

3. Ignoring Customer Support

While we all hope for a smooth hosting experience, issues are bound to arise at some point. When they do, you’ll want prompt assistance from your web host’s support team. Therefore, the quality and availability of customer support should be a key consideration.

The best way to evaluate support is to test it yourself. Contact the web host’s support team and ask questions not readily addressed on their website. Pay attention to their availability. Many hosting providers advertise 24/7 support, but not all deliver on that promise.

When choosing a web hosting provider, ensure their choices of communication channels are convenient for you. If the provider operates in a different country, phone support might be impractical or expensive.

Reading blog reviews and forum discussions can also offer insights into the support team’s response times and knowledge base.

4. Skipping the Money-Back Guarantee

Even with thorough research, there’s always a chance you might end up with the wrong hosting provider. To avoid financial regret, choose a hosting provider that offers a money-back guarantee. This allows you to test-drive the hosting plan and ensure it meets your needs, so you only pay for what works.

Carefully review the terms of the refund policy, as it typically comes with limitations. Some providers might offer only partial refunds or exclude add-on services like domains and security features from the guarantee.

Additional Considerations

• Not Checking User Reviews: User reviews are a goldmine of information. They can give you valuable information about the hosting provider’s performance, reliability, and customer service. Be wary of providers with consistently negative reviews, as these often indicate potential problems.
• Overlooking Backup and Restore Options: Regular backups are essential for website safety. Choose a host that offers automatic backups and easy restoration options. This is crucial in case of data loss due to technical glitches or security breaches.
• Ignoring Uptime Guarantees: Uptime refers to a website’s reliability. A host with a high uptime percentage means your site will be accessible to visitors almost all the time. Avoid hosts with low uptime guarantees, as frequent downtimes can hurt your website’s reputation and search engine rankings.
• Neglecting Security Features: Security is non-negotiable in today’s digital landscape. Your chosen WordPress hosting provider should offer robust security measures such as regular backups, malware scanning, and SSL certificates. Neglecting security makes your site vulnerable to attacks, potentially leading to data breaches and reputational damage.

Making the Right Web Hosting Choice

Given how crucial web hosting is to your WordPress site, your choice matters. By understanding and avoiding these common hosting mistakes, you’ll be better equipped to make a decision that benefits both your website and your brand.

About the Author

“Mary is a passionate blogger and the chief editor at her own content marketing company PRable.com. Since college, she’s been interested in break-through technology and technical writing about innovative products and services that change our everyday lives for the better. She’s also interested in web design and photography.”