Every modern business needs a website and an online presence, yes, even the mom and pop shops and small local companies that rely on in-store traffic. If you consider the fact that almost every potential customer will first research you online and visit your website before deciding to place an order or visit your physical store, then you can imagine just how important it is to have a well-optimized, SEO-driven WordPress website that will put your brand’s name on the online map. With that in mind, the first thing you need to do when building a website is to choose the right domain name and the right host for your current and long-term needs.

This will allow you to use WordPress more effectively as a whole by leveraging your trustworthy and recognizable domain name along with the numerous handy features and security measures that your host provides. Let’s put all of this into perspective and give you the best tips to help you choose a domain name and a host that are just right for you.

The anatomy of a great domain name

First things first, how do you choose the right domain name for you? While it might seem like a complicated process at first, you will be glad to hear that simply following a few basic guidelines is enough to get you a domain name that is authoritative, relevant to your target demographic, reputable and memorable, and trustworthy. All of this will be very important later on when you start climbing the organic search results and when you start building your brand’s reputation in the competitive market.

Start by using your brand’s name. Branded domains are highly memorable and recognizable, and they will help with branded searches. Next, try to integrate a relevant keyword into your domain name without making it too long or confusing in order to improve your SEO ranking. What’s more, be sure to choose a top-level domain the likes of .com or .me in order to gain the trust of the online audience as well as the search engines.

Choosing the right hosting plan

Now that you have devised your perfect domain name, one that is easy to remember and closely depicts your brand identity and what you do, it’s time to find the right host and the ideal hosting plan for your needs. We will get into the details on how to choose the right host, but for now, let’s talk about the several main hosting options you have at your disposal: shared, VPS, cloud, and dedicated.

As the name implies, shared hosting means that you are sharing a server with numerous other websites, which is not the best option if you’re looking for stellar performance. A better option would be to install your WordPress site on a VPS, which provides you with your own infrastructure, much like cloud hosting which offers more resources than shared hosting. Dedicated hosting, on the other hand, is an enterprise-level solution that you should opt for only if you’re building a large-scale operation that requires a lot of bandwidth, RAM, and other crucial resources.

The importance of domain name safety

When choosing your domain name and the registrar itself, it’s imperative that you focus on the level of online safety and security that the provider offers to its clients. Now that the digital realm is becoming a more dangerous place with each passing year, there is a higher chance that your domain might come under attack and that hackers or scammers will gain access to your domain information and sensitive business data.

This is why you need to choose reputable providers that offer high-security domains such as .me, as these are the registrars that prioritize domain name security through spam monitoring, phishing and malware monitoring, registry locks, and more. Coupled with timely and professional customer support, these measures will ensure top-level security for your domain, and allow you to safely grow your brand in the competitive online realm.

Finding the best host for your needs

There are many hosting providers out there, too many to count, so how do you choose the right one for your needs. Well, while you should emphasize all the security aspects that we have mentioned before, and while you should install the right security plugins yourself, there are numerous other boxes that your provider needs to tick. Firstly, your provider needs to offer stellar customer service.

You will need continuous guidance and support from your provider on your journey to success, which means that you will be communicating with them on a regular basis. Next, make sure to compare the prices of the same types of hosting and the same domain names with different hosts – you should invest in quality and security, but that doesn’t mean that your hosting plan should cost you an arm and a leg.

Checking the host’s track record

Of course, you shouldn’t sign on the dotted line until you have verified the host’s social proof. In other words, you need to research every host and check their track record, paying close attention to the disgruntled customers and their opinions. Go on relevant forums to check for honest consumer feedback, and don’t be afraid to get in touch with companies and users that left a certain host – they might reveal valuable information. That said, be sure to note the positive testimonials as well in order to find the best host for your needs.

Wrapping up

Building a website might be easy when you’re using a user-focused platform like WordPress, but you also need to consider the hosting options and choose the best domain name in order to build a strong online presence. Use these tips to find the right host and create a domain name that will ensure your long-term success in the online world.

Author Bio:

Jolene Rutherford is a marketing specialist – turned blogger, currently writing for technivorz.com. Interested in digital marketing and new technology trends. Love sharing content that can help and inform people.