WordPress has revolutionized the internet over the past several years. They have grown rapidly since the initial release back in 2003. In fact, over 25 percent of all websites are now running on WordPress. Because of its versatility and incredible ease of use, WordPress is the best content management system out there without any doubt. It works well whether for a personal blog, a business site, or even for an e-commerce website.
Why do I need a hosting provider?
WordPress is only a free open-source CMS (Content Management System) allowing you to create a website easily once installed. You still need a space for your site to live. A web host provides server space, where all of a website's content is stored. Once you have a web host, you can build and publish your site and people will see your content when they visit your URL.
Which host should I use?
One of the best hosting providers is GoDaddy. They have long been a leader in the web space, providing domain registration and web hosting as well as other related products. They are particularly great for hosting WordPress sites for a number of reasons.
They are very affordable
Hosting your website shouldn't break the bank. GoDaddy offers very affordable rates. The cheapest plan is only $7.99/month and should work for most people. Other plans are only a little bit more and offer a few extra features like the ability to host more than one site and have more storage space. Even better, they regularly offer great discounts and coupon codes.
They offer nearly unlimited bandwidth
One of the reasons making GoDaddy stands out is the nearly unlimited bandwidth. Bandwidth is a measure of how many visitors a website can handle at once and how much data can be transferred between your site and site visitors. This is pretty important, especially if your website gets a lot of traffic.
If you've ever heard about a website crashing because it's getting a huge influx of traffic, that's a bandwidth issue. GoDaddy's plans say they give you unlimited bandwidth. Other hosting providers make you pay more for different levels of bandwidth. It is important to point out, though, that technically, there's no such thing as unlimited bandwidth.
Within their terms of services, they do point out that if you need a level of bandwidth that risks stability, performance or uptime, you may be required to upgrade to a different kind of hosting. They don't list at what point this is, but if you do reach this mysterious point and you don't choose to upgrade, they will limit your available bandwidth.
For most users, the "unlimited" bandwidth they offer should be more than sufficient, but if you expect truly massive traffic with better security and control, it is highly recommended to purchase a VPS or dedicated server plan.
They make installing WordPress fast and easy
One of the best things about WordPress is that it makes it easy for non-tech people to create beautiful, effective websites. That is, it's easy once the software is installed. With some web hosts, this process is a little bit too complex. GoDaddy offers an auto-install that is absolutely painless. With just a few clicks, they get it up and running quickly and easily.
They offer WordPress-specific hosting with additional features
While you can host your site on any of their general hosting plans, they also have specific plans just for hosting WordPress sites. In addition to the one-click installation, they also do some of the management work for you. WordPress is constantly going through updates and with this plan, GoDaddy deals with the update process for you. They also offer an extra layer of security with these managed hosting plans.
They have a great support team
Your website is important, and it's nice to know you can rely on good help in the event of any problems. GoDaddy has a very strong customer support team. Support is available 24/7 via phone or web chat. They also have a pretty robust community forum, where other users can offer support and guidance. Knowing there is quality support available can give you peace of mind.
They have a stellar track record in the areas that matter most for a website
They boast of a 99.9% uptime guarantee, meaning there's almost no risk of your website ever being down. This is a big deal since you want your website to reliably be there all the time. They're also great with security. This helps prevent spam and malicious attacks from hackers. Hackers are getting ever craftier, but GoDaddy has a great arsenal of security technology and they're also continually upping their game in this area. You want to trust that your website is safe, and with a trustworthy and secure host, you can rest easy. Additionally, they help ensure that your website is fast and that it ranks well in search engines.
Is GoDaddy the best hosting provider for WordPress sites?
The truth is that most of the major hosting providers will do a good job of hosting WordPress sites. They can definitely get the job done, but so can other providers. They're affordable and trustworthy. They also make the process as easy as possible. Other providers are good choices as well, but GoDaddy is probably the best choice if any of the following are true for you:
- You purchased your domain name through GoDaddy: having domain and hosting through the same provider simplifies things and they integrate their products well
- Low cost is particularly important to you: they offer some of the most affordable plans around and they regularly offer great deals and coupon codes
- You are not very tech-savvy: GoDaddy really simplifies the WordPress installation process, can handle some of the management for you, and has solid support
WordPress is a fantastic CMS that will ensure you have a great-looking and perfectly functional website. With hosting from GoDaddy, your WordPress site will have a solid place to take root and grow.
