If you’ve ever thought about launching a blog, you probably realized that blog hosting was an essential step in the process. But do you know what blog hosting is?
Between choosing a platform to blog on and creating a domain name, setting up a blog can get confusing. Here’s what you need to know about blog hosting and how it helps you achieve a successful blog.
What is blog hosting?
When you purchase a domain, you have to host that domain with a web service. Blog hosting is the same thing. It’s essentially a platform that hosts your blog assets, images, posts, and additional features.
Think of the blog itself as the outside of a house. What’s inside? All the bits and pieces that keep the structure standing and functioning the way it should. That’s what a blog host does. It puts your blog online, allows you storage space to build what you need, and essentially keeps the blog running.
How do you choose a hosting service?
A single Google search will lead you to blog hosting options a hundred times over. There are so many hosting platforms that it can get exhausting looking through them all. First, you need to know exactly what you want to get out of your blog.
Different blog hosting services come with different features.
For instance, BlueHost is a popular hosting provider for people who want to launch WordPress blogs. It’s easy to implement and allows you all sorts of additional features, including extended themes, email addresses, and so much more.
Knowing if your blog is simply a place to air your grievances or a marketing tool for your company is incredibly important.
Free hosting services
WordPress offers free blog hosting. It’s free because you have limited use of their platform, which means a limited choice of plug-ins, themes, and features.
However, if you’re starting a blog to share with your friends, WordPress can be the perfect place to get started. They also make it easy to move to a paid account should you ever decide to get serious and upgrade.
Paid hosting services
No matter your goal, if you have a vision for your blog, you’re likely going to want to pay for hosting. It gives you more flexibility with your vision and eventually allows for additional expansion should you need to add eCommerce or other business-related options.
How do I set-up hosting?
Each hosting service has a different set-up process. Your first step will be deciding which one you want to choose and go from there.
It can be as simple as starting an account, entering a domain, and choosing a theme. In contrast, other platforms will need a whole lot of information plus a transition of your domain or blog to their server.
Don’t get confused! It’s best to reach out to the hosting service and see how complicated and technical the process is. Some people can handle the technical side of setting up a blog, while others can’t. So don’t worry, many platforms offer help to get you set up once you become a paying customer.
If you’re interested in hosting your blog, be sure to do some research to see which options are out there and which will work best for your business goals. Choosing the right service is a great step towards a fantastic blogging experience.