How to Host a Website | Start Your Online Presence

Web hosting is renting space on a server to store the files and data associated with a website.

Hosting your website is a great way to get started if you're a small business owner, a blogger, or simply someone who wants to share their ideas and experiences online. Now, the question is, "How to host a website?"

To provide you with the answer, this article will walk you through the steps of identifying the web host type and facilities of several servers before making any purchase and registering a domain name. We'll also go over the differences between paid and free hosting alternatives.

Let's get started!  

How to Host Your Website in Just a Few Quick Steps

Here are the basic steps to host any types of websites.

Once you create a website, it's vital to host it on a web server. Whether you are a beginner or an experienced web developer, this guide has everything you need to get your website up and running. 

Without beating around the bush, let's get to the point,

Choose a Web Hosting Type According to Your Website Need

Before investing your green papers in website hosting, determine which hosting plan is a good fit for your site. 

First thing first, you need to determine your website type. It could be a personal blog site or small business, or e-commerce. 

Once set with your website type, you can dive into the listing to find the best web hosting type. 

Cloud Hosting

Cloud hosting is a web host that stores, processes, and manages data through a network of remote servers hosted on the internet. It is appropriate for organizations who wish to scale their hosting resources up or down as needed. This type of hosting is popular among increasingly more companies. Even your phone service might use it if you use a cloud phone system.

However, it is priced on a pay-as-you-go basis. 

Cloud hosting is more challenging to set up and manage than other types of hosting and may necessitate a higher level of technical competence. 

Because of this, It is an excellent choice for enterprises with changing number of web traffic. 

The majority of hosting companies offer cloud hosting services. Amazon Web Services (AWS) is the most well-known and dependable of these services. You can get AWS with Dorik for free or for a premium plan that includes unlimited storage.

Multi-Cloud Hosting

Multi-cloud hosting is a web hosting where a company uses multiple cloud computing services from many cloud providers rather than depending on a single source. This can improve the organization's dependability, adaptability, and cost-effectiveness.

It is appropriate for organizations seeking flexibility and cost-effectiveness and especially beneficial for businesses with complex or varied workloads.

Pricing varies according to the providers and services used. However, multi-cloud hosting might be less expensive than other types of hosting.

Shared Hosting

Shared hosting is a type of web hosting where several websites share a single physical server. It allocates fixed resources for the websites, which are shared among all the websites on the server.

It allows customers to share the cost of the server with others, as shared hosting is frequently the cheapest alternative for individuals. It is also an excellent solution for small websites or blogs with low traffic or resource requirements.

However, there are certain drawbacks to shared hosting. For example, because of heavy usage of the same resource, the performance of a website hosted on a shared server may be slower.

Furthermore, the website may be more vulnerable to security attacks because it is located on a shared server with other websites with less control over the server.

VPS (Virtual Private Server) Hosting

VPS hosting is a virtualization technology that creates a virtual server on a physical server where each user has their own dedicated resource and function, unlike shared hosting.  

It is more scalable, reliable, and robust hosting in which virtual servers control their own resources.

This hosting plan costs a bit higher than shared hosting as it is ideally suited for hosting a large business or an e-commerce site. 

However, if you lack technical understanding in this field, this hosting plan may be more challenging for you, as it takes a higher level of technical knowledge and ability to set up and operate. 

Dedicated Hosting

Dedicated hosting is web hosting that dedicates an entire server to a single website, giving the user complete control over the server.

This hosting plan is needed if you are preparing to establish a large website with extensive data collection and traffic volume, as it is designed for enterprise companies, large popular websites, or an e-commerce store. 

Since it serves all resources, it costs more than usual hosting plans.Furthermore, if you choose a dedicated hosting plan for your website, you will be responsible for the server's upkeep and management.

Managed WordPress Hosting

WordPress hosting is specially organized for WordPress website users. It has a pre-installed plugin that manages all updates, backups, and caching. For example, technical configurations, software updates, and security measures. 

With this WordPress hosting, you only need to focus on your website content and business growth while the server handles other technical personnel. WordPress owners get less control over the server. 

So, unlike shared hosting, technical knowledge is optional here. However, this is more expensive than shared hosting.

Colocation Hosting

Colocation hosting is a hosting service where a company or organization rents space at a colocation facility for its own server. The customer is responsible for providing their server and pays a monthly fee for the colocation facility's space and equipment.

Colocation hosting is appropriate for enterprises that have their own servers and want to keep them in a secure, professional environment but do not want to avoid managing the infrastructure themselves.

Businesses with high-traffic websites or many servers often consider it more cost-effective.

One key drawback is that the customer must maintain and manage their own server, which can be time-consuming and require technical expertise. Optional services such as server monitoring or backup services may also entail additional charges.

Reseller Web Hosting

Reseller web hosting is a business model web hosting where a server distributes most or all of the resources to individuals, allowing them to resell the services to users for commercial purposes.

Here organizations perform as a web hosting server with a white or private labeled control panel. 

Reseller web hosting is more expensive than shared hosting but less expensive than dedicated hosting. Its pricing, however, is determined by the number of resources and bandwidth included in the plan.

This is the best strategy if you intend to use your company as a third-party web hosting server.

Consider the Facilities Before Purchasing a Web Hosting Plan

It is also essential to consider the facilities of the hosting plan you are about to purchase. Determine what facilities are necessary for your website type. Here I am mentioning some. Check them to figure out what facilities you need. 

Performance

Hosting performance means everything that makes a website successful. Almost everyone will consider this facility while hosting a website. 

Why wouldn't anyone be fond of it when it is partially affecting the website's conversion rate? The more a website takes time to load, the more the conversion rate falls. According to a 2021 survey, it is necessary to load a page within 0-2 seconds.

Source: Portent

Otherwise, google may penalize your website, which will impact your website's SEO strategy and so conversion rate. 

You can check the performance and other criteria by GTmetrics.

Storage 

The amount of space granted for a website on a server is called web hosting storage. When selecting a web hosting package, evaluating the quantity of storage required for the website is critical.

The quantity of storage depends on the website's size and complexity. 

For example, a small static website may only require a few hundred megabytes of storage, whereas a complicated e-commerce website with many product photos and customer data may require several gigabytes.

Most web hosting plans include various storage options. Some web hosting companies additionally charge a fee for additional storage space.

Dorik website builder lets the users use unlimited storage while building a website with high performance and no extra charge for storage.

Bandwidth

The bandwidth in web hosting is the amount of data that can be transferred to and from a website over a given period. 

When selecting a web hosting package, it is critical to consider the amount of bandwidth required, as insufficient bandwidth might lead to performance concerns. The website's size, complexity, and traffic volume determine the bandwidth quantity. 

Most web hosting plans have various bandwidth options, and more bandwidth is usually available for a price.

Security 

Web hosting security measures are taken to protect a web hosting service and its associated servers, networks, and data from various cyber threats and vulnerabilities. The following are some standard measures that need to keep in mind to secure a web hosting service:

Firewalls

A Firewall is a device that controls access to a network by analyzing and blocking incoming and outgoing traffic according to set security rules. It performs as a barricade between the internal network and the outside Internet. In that case, it prevents unauthorized access to web hosting servers and networks.

Encryption

Data transported to and from web hosting servers is frequently encrypted to prevent unauthorized parties from intercepting and reading it. 

SSL & TLS Certificate

(Secure Sockets Layer) and (Transport Layer Security); these protocols protect data transmission between web hosting servers and clients.

Your website will be encrypted by default with SSL/TLS Certificate while building a website on Dorik builder.

Regular Security Updates:

Web hosting should include frequent updates to address emerging vulnerabilities and repair existing security flaws.

Backups:

Keeping regular backups of website data and server configurations might assist in preventing data loss due to cyber-attacks or hardware failures.

Control panel

The control panel is a web-based interface that enables you to manage your web hosting account's different elements, such as files, domains, email, databases, and applications.

It is often accessed through a web browser and provides an easy way to manage your hosting account.

Support

Web hosting support is the assistance a hosting firm provides to consumers while using its hosting services. 

This assistance can be found in various formats, including online documentation and tutorials, email, and phone support. The quality of service provided by hosting businesses can vary substantially. 

Therefore when selecting a hosting company, it's critical to evaluate the type of help offered.

Some hosting businesses provide 24/7 service, which implies that their support staff may help customers at any time of day or night. Other hosting businesses' support hours may be more limited, such as simply giving support during business hours.

Price

The price of web hosting can vary, with shared hosting plans starting at around $2-5 per month, VPS plans to start at around $20-40 per month, and dedicated hosting plans starting at about $100-200 per month. 

Additional services such as a domain name and SSL certificate may also be required and can add to the overall cost. When selecting a hosting plan, you must carefully examine your hosting requirements and budget.

Dorik white label website builder provides unlimited hosting storage for free with a high-security system. 

Uptime Guarantee

A hosting provider's uptime guarantee promises that a website hosted on its servers will be available a specific percentage of the time. A hosting provider, for example, may give a 99.9% uptime guarantee, implying that the website should be available 99.9% of the time.

An uptime guarantee is vital because it ensures that people can access your website when they try to do so. A website with a low uptime might cost the website owner traffic and revenue. A hosting provider that guarantees a high uptime can provide you peace of mind that your website will be accessible to your visitors.

Choose a Web Hosting Server

The consideration facilities allow you to choose the best web hosting server that suits your needs. Here, I am mentioning some web hosting servers suited for small businesses to large enterprises. 

Amazon Web Services (AWS)

Amazon Web Services, Inc. is an Amazon subsidiary that offers metered, pay-as-you-go cloud computing platforms and APIs to consumers, businesses, and governments. Clients frequently use this in conjunction with autoscaling.

Let's examine some aspects of AWS, 

Uptime:

At least 99.95% for a single Availability Zone (AZ) and 99.99% for multiple AZs. 

Price:

AWS provides a pay-as-you-go payment system. 

Bluehost

Bluehost is one of the world's largest web hosting companies and is a popular choice for individuals and small businesses that want to create a website.

Let's have a look at some factors of Bluehost:

Rating:

4.8 out of 5 (Website builder expert)

Price

Starting from $2.95 per month.

Uptime

99.98%

Money-back Guarantee

Bluehost allows their customers to apply for the money-back guarantee within 30 days. (website builder expert)

HostGator

HostGator offers various hosting services, including shared hosting, VPS hosting, and dedicated servers. They also provide domain registration services and a website builder tool.

Rating

The overall rating is 4.7 out of 5. 

Price

Start from $2.75 per month.

Uptime

99.99%

Hostinger

Hostinger International Ltd is a web hosting and domain registration company owned by its employees. They are officially recognized by ICANN, the organization responsible for managing internet domain names. Hostinger is the parent company of several other web hosting brands, including 000webhost, Hosting24, Zyro, and Niagahoster. 

Rating

Overall rating 4.5 out of 5. (website builder expert)

Price

Start from $2.79 per month.

Uptime

99.9%

A2 Hosting

A2 Hosting, a website hosting company, provides various website hosting services. Let's take a closer look at some elements that make up A2 Hosting.

Rating

The overall rating is 4.8 out of 5. 

Price

Start from $2.99 per month.

Uptime

99.95%

Register a Domain Name

You must choose a domain name at the very end of hosting a website. It also requires some steps. They are:

Free Web Hosting vs. Paid Web Hosting

There are various free hosting providers available that will host your pages for no cost. Free web hosting and paid web hosting both have their own advantages and disadvantages. Let's explore them! 

Free Web Hosting

Free web hosting is generally best for individuals or small personal projects, as it is available at no cost. However, many free hosting providers have service limitations, such as limited storage and bandwidth, website ads, and features. Some free web hosting providers are Dorik, Wix, Webflow, etc. 

However, Dorik website builder provides unlimited storage with web hosting, which requires not a single dime. Along with unlimited storage, Dorik will give you bandwidth and SSL certificates.

Paid Web Hosting

On the other hand, paid web hosting is a better option for businesses and individuals who want more control and customization over their websites. With paid hosting, you can access more resources, better uptime, more storage and bandwidth, and advanced features such as email hosting, an SSL certificate, and a control panel.

However, it costs more than usual sometimes and requires technical knowledge. 

How Can I Host a Website for Free?

Yes, you can.

There are many ways to host a website for free, however, I am sharing the 3 best options for you. For any type of website, you can try them on. They are,

Dorik: 

Dorik is one of the best no-code website builder platform where you do not need to pay for the hosting at all but you will get a bulk of hosting facilities. Such as, unlimited storage, SSL/TLS certificate, global CDN. 

Go to dorik.com and build your website with free hosting. 

GitHub:

GitHub provides Internet hosting services for software development and version control using Git. You can also host your website on GitHub with just a few easy steps. 

The steps are: Create a github account and a code repository, and then Upload your website files to the code repository, and view your website online. 

Source: GitHub

Google Cloud:

Google Cloud Storage is a single object storage solution for developers and companies. It provides services from real-time data serving to data analytics/ML and data preservation.

You can use their free tier to host your website with advanced technology for free. 

Source: Google Cloud

Can I host multiple websites on the same hosting account?

Yes, hosting multiple websites on the same hosting account is possible. 

Many web hosting providers plan to host various websites for a single charge. This is known as "multi-domain hosting" or "add-on domains." The features and options vary between hosting providers.

Wrapping up

Hoping that you have developed a deeper understanding of how to host a website. 

Since several options are available, including advantages and disadvantages, it's essential to consider your specific needs, budget, and level of technical expertise when choosing a hosting plan. 

Remember, your hosting provider is the foundation of your website, and it is essential to select a reliable one that can support your website's growth.