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Every modern business needs a website and an online presence, even the mom-and-pop shops and small local companies that rely on in-store traffic. Suppose you consider that almost every potential customer will first research you online and visit your website before placing an order or visiting your physical store. In that case, 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 choosing the right domain name and host for your current and long-term needs.
This will allow you to use WordPress more effectively 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, 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 following a few basic guidelines is enough to get you a domain name that is authoritative, relevant to your target demographic, reputable, memorable, and trustworthy. This will be very important when you start climbing the organic search results and 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, integrate a relevant keyword into your domain name without making it too long or confusing to improve your SEO ranking. Moreover, be sure to choose a top-level domain, like .com or .me, to gain the trust of the online audience and the search engines.
Choosing the right hosting plan
Now that you have devised your perfect domain name 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 of choosing 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 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 infrastructure, much like cloud hosting, which offers more resources than shared hosting. On the other hand, dedicated hosting 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, you must focus on the online safety and security the provider offers its clients. Now that the digital realm is becoming more dangerous each 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.
Choosing reputable providers offering high-security domains, such as .me. These registrars prioritize domain name security through spam, phishing, malware monitoring, registry locks, etc. Coupled with timely and professional customer support, these measures will ensure top-level security for your domain and allow you to grow your brand safely 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? While you should emphasize all the security aspects mentioned before and install the right security plugins yourself, your provider must tick numerous other boxes. Firstly, your provider needs to offer stellar customer service.
You will need continuous guidance and support from your provider on your journey to success so that you will communicate with them regularly. Next, 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 disgruntled customers and their opinions. Go on relevant forums to check for honest consumer feedback, and don’t be afraid to contact companies and users who left a specific host—they might reveal valuable information. That said, note the positive testimonials to find the best host for your needs.
Wrapping up
Building a website might be accessible when using a user-focused platform like WordPress, but you also need to consider the hosting options and choose the best domain name to build a solid online presence. Use these tips to find the right host and create a domain name to ensure your long-term success online.
Author Bio:
Jolene Rutherford is a marketing specialist and turned blogger currently writing for technivorz.com. Interested in digital marketing and new technology trends. I love sharing content that can help and inform people.