The title of this blog post says it all. But I’ll still take a bit a of deeper dive into why you should contemplate spending a few extra dollars on your WordPress website hosting. Or should I say Managed WordPress hosting?
First and foremost, your website is most likely your primary interface with prospective and existing clients alike. That being said, you need to be 100% sure that you are putting your best online foot forward 24/7 – 365 days a year.
Here are some things I suggest you look for in a “Managed” WordPress hosting environment:
An excellent host
Don’t cheap out by getting $14.95 (or cheaper) per month website hosting. You’ll just end up getting a quality of service commensurate with your grip on the proverbial “purse strings”. Your site will be hosted on what is commonly called shared hosting. It is what its name implies – “shared”. You are hosted with thousands of other websites on the same server. And subject to the associated risks of living in close “online quarters”. When you travel, do feel comfortable in a hotel with unlocked front doors and minimal security at the front desk? Or do you prefer an environment that has multiple security touchpoints? Look for a host that specializes in hosting WordPress sites – and nothing else. They will surely be WordPress experts and will know how to deal with most any scenario that can be thrown at them.
Updates:
There are 3 types of updates:
WordPress Updates:
This is the heart of a WordPress website. The WordPress team is really good at making sure that online security holes are patched quickly, and updates issued just as fast. This along with core improvements mean that you should expect to do multiple updates per year.
Theme Updates:
WordPress is built around the concept of themes. Look at them like you would look at your personal wardrobe. A theme gives your website the look and feel you want. Theme updates are issued by (conscientious) Developers to fix issues that come about due to security concerns, core improvements, or compatibility issues.
Plugin Updates:
These little babies provide additional functionality to a WordPress website (IE a contact form). They are constantly being updated. Especially the ones that have been developed by quality Developers. Expect numerous plugin updates every month.
Backups:
If I had a dollar for every time we get contacted by a (prospective) client with something like “%#$^, my website is down, and I need your help.” Me: “Do you have a backup we can revert to?” (Prospective) Client: ”A what?”… Anyways, you get the gist. Make sure that your backups (website & database) are getting done on a nightly basis. That way, the worse that can happen is that you may have to re-enter some data that may have been lost between backups.
Uptime:
Most people do not look at this. They should. After all, if a client finds your content in a Google search, and clicks through to a dead website…. I doubt you have a new client in the works. Monitor your website for uptime. It will give you peace of mind. And help to keep your webhost honest about the site’s actual uptime..
Security Scans:
Hackers are a fact of life. A well-maintained WordPress website on a host that specializes in WordPress hosting will probably never get hacked (none of the sites we host have ever been hacked.). That being said, monitoring for security threats will not hurt you one little bit.
In conclusion, I believe that I have given the reader adequate food for thought. Do you know what you are getting for your monthly hosting fee? If not, perhaps it’s time you checked. And, after having a looksee at your circumstances, feel free to contact us for any assistance you may require.