Which web host should I choose?

What web host should I choose to host my new WordPress site

[jd2211]

Hi guys, this is my first forum post so please excuse me if I do something wrong. Anyway, I have built websites before with PHP/HTML/CSS/JS and all that. However, I haven't actually released any of them. I am 14 and I don't have a lot of money to spend on web hosting and domains. I want to release a WordPress blog and I want to choose the cheapest and most effective host.

I will be making the blog SEO as I know a lot about that too. I need you to assure me and recommend a host.

So far, I have found [maiahost.com...] and HostGator. As I said, I don't have a lot of money but I want the cheapest and effective host. Hope you can help :D

[edited by: jd2211 at 3:01 pm (utc) on Apr 17, 2011]

[wyweb]

so please excuse me if I do something wrong

You're not doing anything extremely wrong but you should remove that link.

Remove it and I'll be happy to talk to you.

[wyweb]

Hit "owner edit" in left hand nav.

It's easy. I do it all the time.

[jd2211]

Ok I removed it?

[wyweb]

Cheap bandwidth and massive amounts of disk space have basically leveled the playing field with respect to hosting these days.

I can't recommend one or the other. I can tell you how to find them though.

Do NOT rely on webhosting reviews. Some hosting companies pay upwards up 100 bucks for sending them a signup. That's 100 bucks in your pocket just because you sent your visitor in their direction. You can see how this might cloud objectivity, no?

An entire industry has sprung up around fake hosting reviews because of the commissions involved. Don't ask me how I know but I do. Trust me on it.

I need you to assure me and recommend a host.

I'll assure you but I can't plug a host. It's not allowed here and with good reason.

You need to search, and you need to stay away from "reviews." Find somebody who'll let you sign up for a month and has a money back guarantee. If, at the end of the month, you're still happy, commit for a year. The price will be cheaper too. Or should be. If you're not happy, get your money back and then do it all again.

Are you just trying to get out as cheap as you can? If you're wanting to spend some money, go with one of the big boys.

If you're just starting up a blog, and it doesn't even sound like you've started it yet, go small. You don't need big boys in your life right now. This thing may bomb on you completely and you won't even need a host at all.

I've been with Hostgator before.. oooops... their ping times suck and they LIE about 99.9% uptime. Lie through their teeth. Sorry.

Mods will edit this and I have no problem with that.

^{fixed typo}

[edited by: wyweb at 3:21 pm (utc) on Apr 17, 2011]

[wyweb]

Ok I removed it?

No, you didn't.

It's okay. A mod will be around shortly and do it for you. They'll probably even edit my post. That's okay too.

^{Clean up in aisle "New To Web Development"}

[jd2211]

OK cheers. I will try my best to find what I want.

[wyweb]

If you're really intent on this you can join the supporters [webmasterworld.com ]

There you can get actual advice on hosting. You can get first hand reviews, honest reviews.

It's more relaxed there and the rules aren't quite as stiff. You'll get good advice with regard to hosting there.

Rah, rah, rah.. sis boom bah...

[lucy24]

Cheap bandwidth and massive amounts of disk space have basically leveled the playing field with respect to hosting these days.

But those aren't the only variables. Somewhere along the line when I wasn't paying attention, my host simply stopped measuring disk space and bandwidth. (As you can probably guess, I was using less than 1% of the allotted amounts of each.) What you can choose to pay for is dedicated RAM, which can be an issue if everything on your site is built dynamically, or if the site involves a lot of user interaction. A user who has to sit twiddling their thumbs for several minutes while a page loads up or a blog post gets updated is a disgruntled user. And a disgruntled user is one who doesn't recommend your site to other people, who in turn will bump up your visitor count to the point where you can make money off advertising.

This is not likely to be an issue for a just-getting-started 14-year-old, but eventually it will be something to look at.

[wyweb]

for a just-getting-started 14-year-old

Being 14 years old and being ahead of the curve in this fashion, you're already on top of things Lucy. And I'm clapping my hands for you.

I have a feeling you'll get this worked out.

Keep on keeping on girl....

[lucy24]

I'm not the 14-year-old. The thread originator is :-)

[Hoople]

+1 to the RAM comment above by Lucy

If you spends some time with the hosting review sites you'll see a pattern emerge as wyweb suggested (exact same reviews and comment on multiple domains). You'll also see comments about *other* hosting firms NOT on that sites review list. They are worth checking out. Do searches on the webhost name to find comments on non-review sites to narrow your list.

Too often webhost resellers oversell bandwidth. Look for hosts that state they DO NOT do this. Another criteria I look for is how long they've been around. One I use began hosting in 1997.

Another option is jd2211.wordpress.com that's free.

[mromero]

I would suggest a "boutique" webhost that offers dedicated IP address as a standard feature of their hosting - not an add one or enhanced extra cost feature.

Not cheap. But always an upfront net cost displayed.

We have done like a dozen wehbosts over 15 years....

[rag_gupta]

Awardspace will be cheap & good. I've one site with them on a shared account $6/month and my site is getting 2000 visitors/7000 page views daily & 1 GB downloads daily. Still they haven't blocked my account!
Also Awardspace isn't giving everything "unlimited".

[wyweb]

I'm not the 14-year-old. The thread originator is :-)

No, you're not. And I should pay more attention.

[jd2211]

jd2211.wordpress.com

You're right if I was wanting to host a blog. But my blogs are all powered by WordPress.org as I like open source CMS and blogging platforms (I haven't actually released any blogs apart from the one's on my free hosting account that I use for testing).

I have also built a social bookmarking site on a free account that I have so I will have to upload that to a different host if I wanted to release it as WordPress.com will not be suitable.