In 2023, global retail e-commerce sales reached an estimated $5.8 trillion. By 2027, one-quarter of global retail sales will be online and worth an estimated US $8 trillion annually.

That means there’s a lot to gain by getting into online sales. However, e-commerce sales and marketing can be confusing, especially if you’ve never sold anything online (besides your old sofa).

It doesn’t have to be dangerous to go alone. There are lots of great solutions to help you get an online boutique up and running in no time. To set yourself up for success, spend some time learning about your options and choose an e-commerce tool that’s flexible and feature-rich yet easy to scale with your growing business.

To help you get there, we’ll explore Shopify and WooCommerce, two of the most popular e-commerce solutions. We’ll talk you through the basics of running an e-commerce website, what we like and don’t like about each platform, compare their features, and see how they stack up against each other.

Let’s jump right in!

Why You Should Consider Running An E-Commerce Website

An e-commerce website is any site that sells products and services — in other words, an online store. It could be a retail giant, a self-hosted platform selling handcrafts, or part of a larger website, like the stock photo repositories included in many online photography portfolios.

There are some stand-out benefits to running an e-commerce store:

• Online stores have low overhead costs because you don’t have to pay for a physical location.
• You can reach a wider audience and make more sales because you’re not limited to only serving customers who can visit your store in person.
• Your online store is open for business 24/7, further expanding its reach and potential to attract visitors.
• You can develop a passive income stream by automating sales and fulfillment. Earn money while you sleep!

There’s certainly some upfront work involved in creating an e-commerce store and an ongoing effort to run it. However, the potential returns make the investment worthwhile. If you decide that building an online store is right for you, the first step is to decide how to host your online store and what platform it will run on.

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Why Quality Web Hosting Is Vital To Your E-commerce Website

Unless you have your own personal server, you will need a hosting provider for your e-commerce site. A web host connects your site to the internet, making it available to visitors. Without a hosting service, your site lives only on your computer.

Your choice of hosting provider will affect the performance and functionality of your self-hosted platform and directly impact your customers’ experience.

When looking for a web host for your e-commerce site, look for the following criteria:

• Performance: Your host affects your store’s speed and reliability, which can greatly impact your bottom line.
• Uptime: A broken site can result in lost sales. Choose a hosting provider who ensures your site experiences little or no downtime.
• Security: Ensuring the safety of your customers’ personal data is non-negotiable, so your web host should have an excellent reputation for security.
• Support: When you’re running an online store, you need to know you can get customer service when you need it.

While not impossible, changing hosts after you’ve established your online store can be challenging, so spend a little time understanding which hosting solution is right for you.

For WordPress-based e-commerce sites, DreamHost offers comprehensive solutions focused on performance, uptime, security, and support, tailored for e-commerce needs.

What To Look for In An E-Commerce Platform

Selecting a suitable web host and e-commerce platform shapes your store’s performance and functionality. Migrating an established store to another platform later can present challenges, making it essential to choose the appropriate e-commerce solution from the start.

There’s a wide range of e-commerce platforms at all price points and levels of complexity. As you’re sorting through the options, consider these six criteria:

1. Features: It’s possible to add features to your store, but your job will be easier if your chosen solution has everything you need out of the box.
2. Flexibility: Look for an e-commerce platform that is flexible enough to meet your online store’s evolving needs.
3. Scalability: The solution should be scalable to meet your store’s expanding needs as your business grows.
4. Security: Ensure the platform meets security requirements and standards to protect customer information and privacy.
5. Customer support: Customer support is crucial for your e-commerce business. Does the platform offer 24/7 live support? What do existing customers say about the platform’s ability to resolve issues in a timely manner?
6. Search engine optimization (SEO): An online store that’s well-optimized for search engines will attract more visitors and drive more sales.

Let’s take a closer look at how WooCommerce and Shopify meet these criteria.

Shopify Vs. WooCommerce: An Introduction

WooCommerce and Shopify distinguish themselves in the e-commerce space through their widespread use, adaptability, and comprehensive features. We’ll explore each platform before comparing them across six key criteria to identify their strengths.

WooCommerce

WooCommerce is a plugin for WordPress, one of the world’s largest web content management systems. WordPress is used by almost half of the world’s websites (43.2% in 2023), and 21% of WordPress websites use WooCommerce.

Which is a lot.

WordPress is a great solution for building a website. Its free open-source platform is powerful and flexible and provides access to a plethora of free themes and plugins. So how do you turn WordPress into a store?

That’s where WooCommerce comes in.

Adding WooCommerce to your WordPress website allows you to take advantage of this easy-to-use, customizable e-commerce platform. Setting up a store with WooCommerce is simple, as is dealing with payment, shipping, and other common tasks. There’s a huge library of WooCommerce extensions for users who need more options.

Related: Ready, Set, Sell! A Comprehensive Introduction To WooCommerce

Shopify

Shopify is a comprehensive e-commerce platform that contains most of what you’ll need to set up an online store in one simple package. It’s beginner-friendly and enables you to build and customize your store, list your products, and attract customers quickly. Shopify handles multiple types of payments, fulfills orders, and tracks KPIs and metrics so you can see how well your store is performing.

They also offer monthly subscription plans for different-sized businesses.

WooCommerce Vs. Shopify Comparison: 6 Key Factors

In case it isn’t clear yet, I’ll shout it on the internet — Shopify and WooCommerce both have a lot to offer. They’re beginner-friendly solutions that provide all the basics you need to set up your online store, and they have an awesome range of nifty features.

But the question remains: which one should you use for your website?

To help you make that call, let’s compare these platforms using the six criteria we introduced earlier.

1. Features

Without access to the necessary features, your store may not meet your expectations in functionality, appearance, or performance. We’ll examine the core offerings of both platforms, as well as the advanced features available through premium plans or extensions.

WooCommerce Features:

• The ability to sell services, physical goods, and digital products.
• Customizable storefront with the option to create individual product pages and display variations.
• Inventory tracking and management.
• Customizable shopping cart and checkout process, multiple payment methods, and various third-party payment processors.
• Multiple shipping methods and zones.
• Functionality to handle product reviews, discount codes, and coupons.
• A mobile-friendly and translation-ready platform.
• Analytics features to track your traffic, earnings, and performance metrics.

Since WooCommerce runs on WordPress, you can add just about any feature to your store by using WooCommerce themes and WordPress plugins. There is also a store full of extensions that add payment options, shipping options, social media integration, and more.

Shopify Basic Plan Features:

• Hundreds of themes you can use to customize your store.
• Payment gateway options, a secured shopping cart, and multiple shipping and fulfillment options.
• Support for credit card payments.
• Associated apps that help you run your store from a mobile device.
• A dashboard where you can analyze key data about your sales and customers.
• Social media integration options.
• Space for unlimited products.
• Ways to incorporate product reviews, discount codes, and coupons.

Higher-tier plans offer advanced Shopify features like professional reports and abandoned cart recovery. Shopify also has an app store where you can download add-ons that provide functionality such as third-party payment gateways, social media, shipping, and accounting.

When it comes to robust features, both Shopify and WooCommerce shine. Each e-commerce platform includes everything you’ll need and comes with ways to add additional features easily. However, we have to give the slight edge to WooCommerce simply because, as an open-source platform, it gives you access to thousands of additional plugins to improve the performance and functionality of your store and website.

2. Security

Anyone running an e-commerce site should be concerned with security. After all, you’re handling customer information, including sensitive personal data such as credit card and bank account details. If you want to keep your customers safe and promote trust in your e-commerce site, you’ll need to ensure it’s as secure as possible.

Fortunately, both of these solutions have strong security features. Shopify stores are automatically PCI compliant. This means your customers can trust their credit card information is kept secure. (You can even display a security badge on your store to let customers know their data is safe.) Shopify also lets you control user access to your site and monitor your store for vulnerabilities and potential hacks using your dashboard. Finally, all plans include a free TLS certificate — a crucial way to ensure all data flowing through your site is secure.

WooCommerce incorporates several vital security features developed with industry-standard coding practices and stringent security protocols to enhance protection. It also lives on WordPress, a very secure platform that’s frequently updated to address the latest security threats and vulnerabilities. Plus, you can stay informed on security threats through the WooCommerce blog posts and community forum and use WP plugins to protect your website from threats.

When considered as a part of the larger WordPress platform, WooCommerce has the potential to be the more secure option. Shopify does come with more marketing features out of the box, so it’s a safer bet if you don’t intend to take any extra steps. However, there are dozens of easy ways to tighten up the security of your WooCommerce site.

3. Flexibility

We mentioned a few customization options in the features section, but let’s dive a little deeper into each platform’s flexibility. After all, there are a lot of e-commerce stores, and if you want yours to be successful, it will need to stand out from the crowd.

Shopify’s flexibility is mainly seen through its themes. Some come in multiple styles, so you can pick the best version for your store. Once you choose a theme, you can customize it by changing the colors, fonts, and imagery to match your unique branding and vision. Certain themes come with additional customizable options, though because Shopify is a closed platform, most will not enable you to make radical changes to your store.

On the other hand, as a WordPress plugin, WooCommerce benefits from the flexibility offered by both platforms. With WordPress alone, you can customize just about every aspect of your site using themes, plugins, and coding. The only limit is your imagination. Plus, there’s a dedicated community that creates new WooCommerce plugins and themes for WooCommerce stores every day.

In short, WooCommerce is the clear winner here. Don’t get us wrong — Shopify is a fairly flexible platform. However, with Shopify, you can only do so much to alter the functionality and appearance of your site. With WooCommerce and WordPress, the sky’s the limit!

Related: How To Create A WooCommerce Child Theme

4. Scalability

Although your e-commerce site may start small, it will grow over time, so it’s smart to think ahead. That’s why you’ll want to choose a scalable e-commerce solution. In other words, the e-commerce platform should handle your store’s needs, no matter how small it starts or how big it gets.

Shopify fits the bill in this area. Each pricing plan has room for unlimited products and file storage. Higher-tier (and more expensive) plans offer extra useful features for larger stores with more complex needs. As your store grows over time, you can upgrade to get exactly the features you need.

The core WooCommerce platform is already scalable, enabling you to create just about any size and type of store (and site). However, the real magic is in WooCommerce extensions and plugins and extensions. You can easily add advanced functionality for payments, shipping, analytics, and more by downloading and installing the right extension or plugin.

Both platforms are neatly tied in this area. Shopify is somewhat more scalable, but that benefit comes with the cost of a higher pricing tier. In contrast, WooCommerce is impressively scalable, considering the core solution is free, and many of the plugins and extensions you’ll need are free or affordable.

Related: How To Run A Successful Sale On Your WooCommerce Website

5. Search Engine Optimization (SEO)

SEO is a collection of strategies to help your website rank higher in search engines like Google. Online search is the easiest and most effective way to attract potential customers to your website. However, there’s a lot of competition for their attention, so you’ll want your store to rank as high on a search engine results page (SERP) as possible.

Shopify offers several resources to help your website achieve SEO greatness. It automatically generates a sitemap and lets you customize title tags, meta descriptions, URLs, alt tags, and filenames. It’s all meant to help you get your store to that coveted #1 spot on Google.

WooCommerce is built using code optimized for SEO and also offers SEO resources to help customers optimize their websites. It also lets you use powerful WordPress SEO plugins like Yoast SEO to provide extra SEO mojo to your store.

Which e-commerce platform is best for your store’s SEO depends on how much customization you want to do. If your approach is “Set it and forget it,” Shopify offers a solid SEO feature set. On the other hand, if you want to tweak every aspect of your site for SEO dominance, WooCommerce and WordPress give you the best potential SEO boost.

6. Customer Support

Whether you’ve run an e-commerce store before or not, at some point, you’re going to need a hand. When you’ve got an important question, a problem you aren’t sure how to fix, or your site just crashed and it’s 3:00 a.m. — You need help, and you need it now!

Shopify provides several levels of customer support. There’s a comprehensive help center where you can find everything from tutorials to troubleshooting guides and 24/7 live customer support via online agent, chat, email, or phone. You can also join the Shopify community to get support from other shoppers, join discussion groups, and access additional support and learning options.

WooCommerce offers many self-serve support options, including detailed product documentation, user communities on GitHub, and an online troubleshooting guide. Paid subscribers can also submit trouble tickets to the WooCommerce developers. If you can’t solve the trouble yourself, you can also get (paid) support from third-party WooCommerce experts.

For this criterion, we have to give the edge to Shopify’s comprehensive support network and access to 24/7 live support. WooCommerce has a large user community and public support resources, but you’ll have to incur additional costs for live support.

The Takeaway

Building an e-commerce site is like most things in life — the more effort you put in, the better your results will be. Doing a little upfront research and planning will help you build a thriving online store and attract and retain customers. And if you want to start your store off on the right foot, you need to build it with the best possible tools.

In this post, we’ve covered Shopify and WooCommerce. Both are excellent e-commerce platforms, with plenty to recommend them:

Shopify In A Nutshell

Shopify’s comprehensive solution makes it easy to start an online store. Sure, you’ll have to pay a monthly fee, but that gives access to a well integrated set of useful features and live customer support. Shopify is flexible and scalable, letting you customize your site to meet your needs and add features as your store grows. It also offers industry-standard security features and powerful, built-in SEO functionality.

WooCommerce In A Nutshell

Getting started with WooCommerce is a little more complicated. To begin, you need to create a WordPress site and install and configure the WooCommerce platform. Also, while WooCommerce comes with an impressive suite of features, you’ll need to manually find and install the right plugins or extensions to add extra functionality. However, those plugins and extensions also give you access to all the flexibility, scalability, security, SEO, and support options you could need.

In short, these platforms are designed for different types of users. Shopify lets you quickly build a store and then run it without any extra fuss. You can get a functional and reliable store right away with very little effort.

In contrast, WooCommerce requires a bit more customization and technical knowledge. It’s a powerful platform for users willing to spend some time tweaking and perfecting their online stores since it provides access to many more features and add-ons than Shopify.

The ultimate plus for WooCommerce and WordPress? Because they’re both open-source platforms, you can rest assured that you own your online content. Your store lives on your own personal website, so you don’t have to stress about changes to the e-commerce platform or the solution provider losing your data. As a website owner, you’re in complete control — with the exclusive rights to use your content to grow your audience and make more money online.

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In fact, all you need is a WordPress site equipped with WooCommerce. This powerful plugin turns your site into an e-commerce store faster than you can say “ka-ching.”

Of course, there’s still a small learning curve involved. To help you get started, we’ve compiled a complete introductory guide.

Keep reading to learn why WooCommerce is so easy to use and how to set up your own store, configure products, start taking payments, and customizing your site.

What Is WooCommerce?

WooCommerce is a popular, free plugin that allows you to create an online store on your WordPress site.

First launched in 2011, WooCommerce was later acquired by Automattic in 2015, essentially making it the officially supported WordPress e-commerce plugin. Since then, it has seen pretty rapid growth.

According to statistics collected by Barn2, WooCommerce powers almost 41% of all e-commerce websites. This makes it the most popular e-commerce solution by far, almost double its closest competitor (Shopify).

Why WooCommerce Is The Ideal Choice For Your Online Store

So, what is all the hubbub about? To understand why WooCommerce is so popular, it’s worth taking a closer look at what this plugin offers.

For a start, WooCommerce is easy to install and configure. Using the basic free plugin on default settings, you can set up a store in less than an hour.

At the same time, WooCommerce offers loads of control for more experienced sellers. You can play around with product costs, item details, shipping fees, taxes, stock levels, images, and much more.

You can also tailor the checkout process to suit your needs, thanks to customizable carts, geolocation features, and several different payment gateways.

WooCommerce is also very scalable. As your site grows over time, the plugin makes it easy to add powerful features and expand your store.

WooCommerce Vs. Other E-commerce Solutions

This all looks great on paper, but you might be wondering how WooCommerce stacks up against the competition.

Based on popularity, the two closest competitors are Shopify (a standalone e-commerce platform) and Magento (a Content Management System or CMS).

Let’s compare WooCommerce to these major players on three key factors:

Pricing

WooCommerce is an open-source e-commerce platform that is 100% free. While you can extend the core platform with premium add-ons, the only necessary expense is web hosting, which starts at just $2.95 per month with DreamHost.

In contrast, Shopify and Magento charge monthly fees plus transaction fees. That adds up over time and can really cut into your profits.

Ease Of Use

You only need a basic understanding of WordPress to set up an online store using WooCommerce. The admin area allows drag-and-drop building and editing.

Shopify also offers an intuitive dashboard, but customization can get complicated. Meanwhile, configuring a Magento store requires more technical knowledge.

Features

You name it, WooCommerce has it: secure checkout, shipping calculators, product management, coupon codes, customer reviews, robust reporting, and more.

Shopify and Magento both offer similar functionality, but popular extensions and apps often come at extra cost. Most WooCommerce extensions are free, and even premium extensions tend to be affordable.

The bottom line: WooCommerce beats its closest competitors on pricing, while matching features. Plus, you get all the benefits of WordPress.

How To Set Up A Store With WooCommerce (5-Step Guide)

If you decide to launch your new venture with WooCommerce, the next step is to set up your store.

As we mentioned, WooCommerce is pretty easy to install and configure. But if you would feel more confident with a little guidance, here’s a complete step-by-step tutorial:

Step 1: Install The WooCommerce Plugin

The first step toward building your online business is to install WooCommerce.

Start by logging in to your WordPress site and selecting Plugins > Add New Plugin in the left sidebar.

Use the search bar to find WooCommerce in the official Plugin Directory. The one you want should be the first result.

Click the Install Now button.

Once the installation process is complete, activate the plugin. You will then see a WooCommerce appear in the left sidebar. This is where you’ll manage all your store settings.

Step 2: Follow The Setup Wizard

If you open WooCommerce from the sidebar, the plugin will encourage you to launch the setup wizard.

After the welcome screen, the wizard will ask you whether you’re setting up a store for the first time or already selling online. Choose the relevant option.

Next, add your store details: name, location, industry, and email. Later on, this information will appear on all your invoices, packing slips, and confirmation emails.

Once your business details are entered, you can choose to install the suggested extensions or wait until later.

Finally, click Continue to launch your online storefront.

Step 3: Add Products To Your Store

We’re ready to sell, right? Well, not quite. Your store needs some products if you’re going to make any money.

To begin populating your new store, tap Add Products on the start screen.

Select the relevant product type. Choose “Variable product “if your product comes in different variations (e.g., sizes and/or colors).

Next, fill out the key product details.

• Title and description: Include keywords that customers might search for.
• Pricing: Set regular and sale prices.
• Product images: High-quality photos will help you make sales.
• Product categories: Decide how products are grouped in site navigation.
• Inventory: Track your stock and set up alerts.
• Shipping: Add the product weight and dimensions to calculate shipping rates.

If you’re setting up a “Variable” product, make sure to add the different product variations under the Attributes tab.

Finish by publishing your new product. If you want to add more products, you can use your first product as a template. Duplicate the first product listing and edit the content.

Step 4: Select Your Payment Options

To make money from your products, you need to provide customers with a way to pay for their purchases. Luckily, WooCommerce makes it pretty easy to handle transactions.

The most convenient path here is WooCommerce Payments. Powered by Stripe, this system is completely integrated with the WooCommerce system.

To configure this payment option, navigate to WooCommerce > Home and select Set up payments. Then, click on Get started and follow the setup instructions.

If you want to provide customers with an alternative, Stripe and PayPal are good options. Both allow you to accept all major credit cards, plus Google Pay and Apple Pay. The latter also allows PayPal users to pay directly from their account, which can increase conversion rates significantly.

Other online payment options include:

• AliPay
• Skrill
• Braintree
• Authorize.net
• Amazon Pay
• Square

You can enable several popular payment methods in the Set up payments area. For more granular control, navigate to WooCommerce > Settings and select the Payments tab.

To add a new third-party processor, you will need to install the matching extension and set up a payment account. Be sure to check the fees associated with each gateway, because they vary significantly.

Step 5: Configure Sales Tax And Shipping Options

Both tax and shipping can cause headaches for new business owners. Luckily, WooCommerce makes it fairly easy to collect the right amount and send shipments to the right address.

Once you’ve set up payments, the setup guide will prompt you to “Add tax rates.”

Start by visiting WooCommerce > Home and find the option to Add tax rates. Here, you have two choices:

1. Set up WooCommerce Tax, an extension that automates tax calculations.
2. Set up your tax rates manually (see the small link at the bottom of the page).

WooCommerce Tax is definitely the easier option here. You can set it up in a couple of minutes by following the on-screen instructions.

If you prefer to set tax rates yourself, you can head to WooCommerce > Settings and select the Tax tab.

• While you’re still inside the Tax tab, select Standard Rates from the sub-menu at the top.
• Add tax rates by country, state, or even zip code. Use the Insert Row button to create a new line and then input your data.
• Finally, save your changes.

If you’re only selling digital products or affiliate items, you can skip to the next step. But if your store offers physical items that need to be mailed, you should take a minute to set up your shipping options.

Head to WooCommerce > Settings and choose the Shipping tab. You’ll see the U.S. already added if the address of your business is in the United States.

But you can add more. At the top of the page, select Shipping zones. Click Add zone.

Shipping zones are geographical areas that you define as having the same shipping requirements, including carriers and types of shipping.

To configure your new zone:

• Add a name for the region. Make it descriptive.
• In the Zone regions field, choose the locations you want to be included in the zone.
• Choose which shipping methods should be available in the new zone: free shipping, flat rate, or local pickup.
• Finally, click on each method to adjust the cost and any specific requirements (e.g. minimum order for free shipping).
• Don’t leave your zone hanging. Hit that save button.

And just like that, you’re ready for lift-off! Your store now has the logic to handle taxes like a seasoned accountant and ship packages as if it’s got its own delivery fleet.

Remember to test everything once you’re done. Make a mock purchase to see if taxes and shipping costs are added correctly. It’s a good idea to run a system check before the real deal.

How To Customize Your WooCommerce Store

We could literally spend a couple of days talking about all the ways you can customize your new WooCommerce store.

Exploring the built-in options should keep you busy for a while, but when you’re ready to take your store to the next level, there are two types of upgrades to check out: themes and plugins.

WooCommerce Themes

WooCommerce works well with just about any WordPress theme. However, there are plenty of themes specifically created for sites that use WooCommerce.

These themes help you customize your store’s appearance to match the rest of your online presence. Some even add new functionality related to WooCommerce, such as custom post types.

Most WooCommerce themes are based on the official Storefront theme:

This theme is developed by the team behind WooCommerce, so you can be sure that it’s secure and that the integration is bullet-proof. Storefront is also free, which is always a plus.

While this theme works well on its own, it can be further expanded using one of several child themes.

If you’re not aware, a child theme builds on an existing theme (its “parent”), enabling you to make changes to the parent theme without editing it directly.

In addition to Storefront and its child themes, you can find a wide range of WooCommerce-ready premium themes. Many of these are specialized for different types of stores.

For example, Electro is specifically built for creating electronics shops, while the Motor theme is tailored toward car dealerships. Regardless of your business and tastes, you should be able to find a theme that works perfectly for you.

WooCommerce Extensions

Once you’ve picked out a theme for your store, it’s time to consider whether you need some additional features. 

WooCommerce extensions allow you to introduce new functionality to your WordPress store. While they work very much like WordPress plugins, they are specifically created to integrate with WooCommerce.

Some extensions are free to use, while others require a one-time payment or a regular subscription fee. Either way, you can use them to enhance your store with advanced features.

There are hundreds of extensions today, from sales analysis tools to security plugins. We’re going to take a look at a few of the best options for first-time WooCommerce users.

1. WooCommerce Google Analytics

WooCommerce Google Analytics enables you to use Google Analytics to track your store’s performance. This extension can help you understand your customers’ journey, including how they found your site and which products they’re most interested in. You can then use this data to optimize your sales funnel.

Key Features:

• Tracks session length, users, and referrers.
• Highlights which areas of your store perform well and which need improvement.
• Helps you understand customer behavior and product popularity.

Pricing: WooCommerce Google Analytics is a free extension, but it does offer a premium version as well, starting at $79 per year for a single site. Both extensions also require a free Google Analytics account.

2. WooCommerce Subscriptions

WooCommerce Subscriptions lets you create products that can be unlocked with recurring payments. The extension works both for physical products, such as a monthly subscription box, and virtual products or services.

Key Features:

• Enables you to choose your payment schedule from several options.
• Offers more than 25 popular payment gateways.
• Supports automatic subscription renewal emails for both you and your customers.

Pricing: WooCommerce Subscriptions starts at $239 per year for a single site.

3. WooCommerce Zapier

WooCommerce Zapier is a great solution for integrating your store with third-party services. With this one extension, you can connect WooCommerce with MailChimp, YouTube, Dropbox, Google Drive, and many other platforms.

Key Features:

• Integrates with over 1,000 third-party services.
• Enables you to configure automation to save time.
• Provides performance reports through the “Digest by Zapier” feature.

Pricing: WooCommerce Zapier prices start at $79 per year for a single site.

4. Square For WooCommerce

Square for WooCommerce enhances your store’s payment options, both online and in person. The extension is very easy to install, and you’ll be able to accept payment within minutes. Square is compatible with all credit and debit cards in the US, UK, Australia, Canada, and Japan.

Key Features:

• Makes it easier to accept payments from various sources.
• Deposits your funds quickly, within 1-2 business days.
• Enables you to quickly sync your Square and WooCommerce accounts.

Pricing: Square for WooCommerce is a free extension that requires a Square account.

5 Tips For Growing A Successful WooCommerce Store

Now your store is complete, you can concentrate on growing your new business. Here are some key tips for attracting customers and making sales:

1. Use Coupon Codes And Promotions To Boost Sales

Everyone loves a good deal. As a store owner, you can tap into this universal truth by offering coupon codes and promotions. They’re not just money-savers for your customers — they’re sale-makers for you.

Create time-sensitive discounts, bundle deals, or loyalty rewards. You can also give away free gift cards with purchases over a certain size. These little incentives can be enough to persuade window shoppers to make a purchase.

To create promotional coupon codes, select Marketing > Coupons from the left-hand sidebar.

2. Get More Customers With Search Engine Optimization

Your store is a needle in the Internet haystack. SEO (search engine optimization) can help you emerge from the pile, so that more customers can find your site.

To reap the benefits here, make sure to do your homework with keyword research. Find out which phrases your customers are searching for, and then weave those magic words into your product descriptions, titles, and metadata. Use a plugin like Yoast SEO to guide you.

3. Use Analytics To Understand Your Buyers

You don’t need a crystal ball to figure out which products to stock. Tools like Google Analytics can reveal valuable insights about your buyers.

Find out where they come from, how long they hang around, and what catches their eye. With this intel, you can better understand who your future customers are likely to be — and tailor your storefront to suit.

4. Maintain Proper Security

Your online store is your kingdom, and every castle needs defenses. Way too many small businesses fall victim to cyber attacks, leading to plenty of financial pain.

To avoid this fate, regularly update your WooCommerce and plugins.

Nerd Note: WordPress actually offers automatic updates for most plugins via Plugins > Enable auto-updates.

While you’re at it, enable data backups. This will allow you to restore your site quickly if anyone manages to break in.

5. Create Custom Solutions With Blocks

WooCommerce Blocks allows you to create custom-designed pages without needing a PhD in coding.

Want a checkout that’s smoother than butter? There’s a block for that. Eyeing a product grid that’s cleaner than your Sunday best? Blocks have got you covered. Experiment with them to craft a store that perfectly matches your needs.

WooCommerce FAQs

Still have questions? We have answers:

How much does WooCommerce cost?

For self-hosted e-commerce sites, the WooCommerce plugin is completely free. As such, you only need to cover your hosting requirements and your domain. You can also extend the core platform by paying for premium plugins and themes.

Do I need hosting for WooCommerce?

Yes. Or more accurately, you need a hosted website. Remember that WooCommerce is actually a plugin for WordPress, not a standalone store builder.

Can you dropship with WooCommerce?

Although WooCommerce doesn’t natively support dropshipping, you can introduce this feature via the WooCommerce Dropshipping premium plugin.

Can You Sell On WordPress Without WooCommerce?

Although WooCommerce is probably the best e-commerce plugin, it isn’t the only option. Search in the official Plugin Directory, and you will find plenty of alternative options.

Start An Online Store Today

If you want to use your WordPress site to sell goods and services, WooCommerce is by far your best option.

It’s the most popular e-commerce plugin for a reason, and it makes it incredibly easy for beginners and experienced users alike to open an online store. The basic WooCommerce plugin lets you build a successful business, and you can improve it even further using themes and extensions.

But remember, building your e-commerce website is just the first step. You’ll also need to make sure that your store is always accessible and that you provide a great customer experience. That starts with choosing a reliable hosting provider.

With DreamHost, every plan is backed by a 100% uptime guarantee. And with our dedicated WooCommerce plans, your site runs on optimized servers — meaning lightning-fast loading times.

Check out our hosting plans today to begin your online retail journey!

The post Getting Started with WooCommerce: Build Your Own Store Today appeared first on Website Guides, Tips & Knowledge.

Are you finding your website struggles to keep up with all that new visitor traffic?

It might be time to upgrade to VPS hosting.

VPS, short for virtual private server, gives your site dedicated resources to perform better than shared hosting.

In this guide, we’ll dive into the ins and outs of VPS hosting. What is it? How does it compare to shared or dedicated hosting? We’ll also look at the factors indicating it may be time to upgrade. To sum up, learn how to choose the best VPS hosting plan for your growing business.

Let’s start with the basics.

What Is A Virtual Private Server?

So, what exactly is a virtual private server? Let’s break it down.

• Server: A server is a powerful computer that stores all the data and files for a website. When you type a domain name into your browser, that server delivers the site to your screen.
• Virtual: Virtualization technology splits one full server into multiple virtual machines. It’s still one physical piece of hardware, but it operates like several separate servers.
• Private: The word private is just what it sounds like. Your virtual server and all its virtual resources are reserved just for you, giving you a high-performance hosting environment where the RAM, CPU power, or any data will not be shared with other users.

A VPS offers the advantages of dedicated servers without the high costs associated with dedicated hosting.

How Does A VPS Work?

VPS hosting uses virtualization technology to simulate having your own dedicated server, even though the physical server is shared.

How does it work?

Well, your hosting provider installs a virtual layer on top of the server’s operating system. This virtual layer separates the server into individual compartments for each user, creating individual virtual machines or VMs.

Within each compartment, you can install your preferred operating system, software, and other required tools to host your website. For example, Linux, MySQL, and a control panel like cPanel.

These virtual machines ensure that you get guaranteed resources. And unlike shared hosting, your server’s performance does not depend on how much of the resources other websites on the same server use.

In a nutshell, VPS gives you the experience of having your own dedicated environment through virtualization. Your site lives in a private, isolated container with allocated resources just for you.

This means your website lives within a secure container with guaranteed server resources: memory, disk space, CPU cores, etc.

You don’t have to share any of it with others.

Pros And Cons Of VPS Hosting

A virtual private server provides dedicated resources and greater control over server configuration compared to shared hosting, at a lower cost than dedicated hosting. VPS strikes an optimal balance of affordability, customization, and guaranteed performance for many growing websites and web applications.

Pros of using a VPS server:

• Cost-effectiveness: VPS costs less than dedicated hosting but delivers better performance than shared hosting. VPS is a budget-friendly option for sites outgrowing shared servers.
• Customization and control: VPS users can fully optimize and customize server settings, and install software. This level of control is ideal for sites with specific configuration needs.
• Scalability: It’s easy to scale VPS resources like CPU cores, RAM, and storage as site traffic increases. Sites can upgrade their VPS plan as needed to accommodate growth.
• Dedicated resources: VPS provides guaranteed CPU, RAM, bandwidth, and disk space. Resources are not shared, ensuring full control and reliable performance.

• Enhanced security: VPS isolates sites from one another for added security compared to shared hosting’s open environment.
• Support and maintenance: Many VPS plans include technical support and management options to maintain the server.

Cons of using a VPS server:

• Technical expertise required: Managing and optimizing a VPS requires strong technical skills. Those without server admin experience may struggle.
• Resource allocation problems: Improper resource allocation by the hosting provider can impact VPS performance.
• Limited hardware control: Users don’t control the physical server since VPS virtualizes hardware.

How VPS Compares With Shared Hosting & Dedicated Hosting

When selecting a web hosting plan, there are three main options: shared hosting, dedicated hosting, and VPS hosting. Let’s examine the key differences between shared, dedicated, and VPS hosting.

Shared Hosting

Shared hosting is the most common and the most cost-effective form of web hosting and works well for most new website owners. When you purchase a shared hosting plan, you’re sharing resources like CPU, RAM, and hard drive space with other website owners on that same server.

Consider shared hosting as multiple websites renting a single apartment in the same building. Each of you gets your own private bed, but you share the apartment with common spaces like the lobby, elevators, and utilities. In the case of websites, it’s CPU, RAM, and storage.

This offers multiple benefits, including lower costs, as the server costs are split among all the website owners. If one of the websites on your shared server has a huge spike in traffic, that could affect your website’s performance as well.

But when you’re just getting started, you are unlikely to notice the impact—and if you need help starting out, you may want to read this web hosting guide.

Dedicated Hosting

Dedicated hosting allocates an entire server to just your site. You have full control over resources and can customize them to meet your needs.

With dedicated hosting, you are no longer pooling resources (and sharing the costs) with other website owners.

Sounds great, right? The catch is that it’s much more expensive — but you get 100% control over your resources and can customize the software to meet your individual needs.

This type of hosting package is best for websites with robust technical demands. Some examples where dedicated hosting could be beneficial:

• Websites with high-traffic volume
• Sites handling large financial transactions
• Custom software requirements
• Need for specific operating system

Dedicated hosting is the optimal solution for sites that demand unparalleled performance and specificity.

VPS Hosting

VPS hosting provides a middle ground between shared and dedicated. When you choose VPS, other websites will be hosted on the same hardware as yours (remember that powerful server we talked about earlier?)

But now, your website is running on a virtual machine with its own dedicated resources. That means you get your own operating system, dedicated storage, powerful CPU, scalable RAM, and unlimited bandwidth.

Thinking of it from the apartment complex analogy, consider all apartment owners now have access to their private lobbies, elevators, and utilities. One person using the resource no longer impacts the rest.

This provides you with the double benefits of dedicated hosting, where you have complete control over the resources and lower costs because of the shared physical servers.

When Should You Switch To VPS?

If your website is growing, you may wonder: should you upgrade to VPS? Here are eight key signs that can indicate you’re now ready to make the switch.

1. You’re Worried About Security

Shared hosting offers basic security, but VPS delivers if you need more advanced features like firewalls, SSL certificates, or daily backups. This is particularly true for sites that process payments or store sensitive data. VPS gives you top-notch security features for the complete safety of your website.

2. You Start To Experience High Traffic Volume

Shared hosting is great when you’re just starting out and have a low visitor count, but it can struggle and slow down when your site has large spikes in traffic. With VPS, you get dedicated resources (CPU, RAM, bandwidth, etc.) that can smoothly handle those traffic swells.

3. Your Website Is Consistently Running Slowly

On shared servers, you’re fighting for resources with other sites. As you add more content over time, you can max out limits for things like RAM. Suddenly, pages take forever to load.

A VPS gives you plenty of room to continue scaling your business without frustratingly slow load times.

4. You Have An Online Store

The moment you plan on running an online store is the moment you should upgrade your hosting plan.

Why?

Because with VPS, you have a secure and dedicated virtual server where you are more likely to pass a PCI compliance test. The Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard was established by major credit card brands to protect against cardholder data theft.

If you are accepting credit cards on your website via a payment gateway, you want to do everything you can to ensure the safety of your consumers’ financial information.

Since VPS is more secure than shared hosting, it’s the better option for e-commerce websites.

5. You Need To Install Custom Software

Shared hosting is great for website owners building their site with WordPress or other Content Management Systems. However, suppose you reach the point where you need to install custom software, engage in any other advanced programming, or use a custom server configuration. In that case, you’ll want a hosting option that affords you more control.

Similarly, several standard tax, billing, bookkeeping, and other integrative programs require around-the-clock server availability as well as high-speed internet. You’ll need a VPS or a dedicated hosting account to run these applications successfully.

If you operate on a shared server, you’ll only be frustrated when you learn advanced actions are forbidden, or that apps don’t have the support to function properly. Instead of dealing with this potential problem, upgrade to VPS hosting and immediately gain more control over your programming actions.

6. You Run Into Server Errors

Do you often see 503 or internal server errors?

It’s highly likely your customers see those, too. These errors generally indicate that your server is experiencing difficulties serving the website.

While you can troubleshoot downtime issues, every minute of downtime costs money for your online business. Instead, upgrading your resources usually offers better time-to-value for your business.

7. You’re On A Budget

While it’s true that a dedicated hosting package can address many of the problems on this list, it’s important to remember that a dedicated plan is a much pricier option. If you need to improve your bandwidth, increase your security, and get more RAM, then the most affordable option is to opt for VPS hosting.

8. You Build Websites For Your Clients

Shared hosting can be great for building personal or portfolio websites. It’s simpler to manage and offers lower costs. But when handling client sites, you do not want a slow server to impact them.

VPS hosting provides you with high-powered servers so you can host unlimited websites without worrying about performance.

How To Choose The Best VPS Hosting Plan For Your Website?

Now, let’s understand how you can find the best web hosting provider and the perfect VPS hosting plan for your needs. Before you begin, you need to pick between self-managed and managed VPS servers.

Self-Managed Vs. Managed VPS Services

When selecting a VPS hosting, you will usually be presented with two options:

1. Self-managed VPS service (sometimes called unmanaged VPS)
2. Managed VPS service

With self-managed VPSs, you need to understand server administration, troubleshooting software, and managing apps and services installed on your VPS.

Managed VPSs, on the other hand, are an excellent choice when you are unfamiliar with these admin skills or you just want your hosting company to handle it for you.

All of DreamHost’s VPS plans are fully managed, meaning you can skip worrying about the intricate technical details and focus on what really matters: creating great content for your website.

If you’re looking for root access, consider opting for DreamHost’s cloud hosting.

Now, let’s understand other options you’ll be faced with when picking a VPS server.

Operating System

Most VPS hosts offer Linux-based operating systems. This could include Ubuntu, Debian, CentOS, or Red Hat Linux.

The reason? Linux is open-source, stable, secure, and flexible.

Windows VPS exists but is less common. You likely only need Windows if you use Windows-specific software. Linux VPS offers the most reliability, which is why most hosting providers only offer Linux VPS.

Reliability and Uptime

Your VPS host should guarantee an uptime of 99.5% or higher in their SLA. Anything less could result in unacceptable downtime and impact your business. Preferably, look for hosting providers that offer 100% uptime guarantees, load balancing, redundancy, and failover to deliver maximum reliability.

Hardware and Resources

Select a VPS host using modern hardware for optimal performance—SSD storage, abundant RAM and bandwidth, multi-core processors, etc. Scalability is also important to allow seamless upgrading of resources as your site grows. Make sure the VPS specs match your site’s resource needs.

24/7 Customer Support

Even with managed services, website issues can occur unexpectedly. Ensure your VPS provider offers 24/7 customer support via phone, chat, and support ticketing in case you need immediate assistance. Prompt support is crucial for minimizing downtime.

Backup Service

Choose a host that includes automated daily or weekly backups to prevent data loss. Managed hosting providers generally handle backups in the background without any effort on your part. However, remember that you still need to check with the support on your backups’ frequency and retention period.

Generally speaking, the more frequently your website changes (like a community website where many people post every day), the more frequent your backups need to be.

Ready for Your Own VPS Hosting?

If you made it this far—congratulations! You now understand VPS hosting and how it can benefit your fast-growing website!

You’re now ready to make the smart choice of upgrading to a VPS hosting—so you have the right resources and control to reach the next level, without breaking the bank.

If you haven’t finalized a VPS hosting provider yet, try DreamHost’s Managed VPS Hosting. It offers all the benefits you’d need from a complete VPS hosting provider, along with a 100% uptime guarantee. Talk to our support team and find out how our professional team can help you with site management, marketing, and more.

We Know You've Got Lots of VPS Options

Here’s how DreamHost’s VPS offering stands apart: 24/7 customer support, an intuitive panel, scalable RAM, unlimited bandwidth, unlimited hosting domains, and SSD storage.

Change Your VPS Plan

The post What Is VPS? A Beginner’s Guide to Virtual Private Servers appeared first on Website Guides, Tips & Knowledge.

But unless your last name is Bezos, the idea of buying a warehouse and shipping endless packages might seem a little off putting.

Luckily, there is a workaround: start a dropshipping business.

You’ve probably heard people talking about dropshipping on social media. Those videos tend to include supercars, sharply rising graphs, and talk of “passive income.” It would be difficult not to be curious.

But, what exactly is dropshipping, and how do you get started? This deep dive has answers, and a step-by-step guide for building your own dropshipping business.

What Is Dropshipping?

Dropshipping is a type of e-commerce where store owners sell products that are made, stored, and shipped by another company. This means sellers can focus on sales and marketing without handling production or logistics.

Dropshipping used to be a niche business. Over time, it has become a lot more accessible. Every major e-commerce platform can now handle dropshipping (incl. Amazon and eBay), and many have dedicated plugins.

In addition, there are now loads of companies that provide dropshipping services. Some are specialized (such as T-shirt print-on-demand services), while others offer a vast range of products.

Today, around 30% of online stores use some kind of dropshipping. As a result, dropshipping is worth $225.99 billion a year worldwide. This figure has grown rapidly over the past decade, and it’s expected to continue rising.

What Is A Dropshipper?

Dropshippers are the people who run online stores using the dropshipping business model. Many of these folks are super passionate about what they do. You can find thriving social media communities dedicated to dropshipping.

Why You Should Try Dropshipping

The great thing about e-commerce is that anyone can build a successful business with very low setup costs. Dropshipping makes the process even easier (and less expensive!)

Whereas a regular e-commerce store would need to buy products and store them, dropshippers don’t need to hold any stock. You simply wait until someone makes a purchase, and your chosen dropshipping supplier does the rest.

This also makes dropshipping good for beginners in the e-commerce game and for anyone who has limited time or wants to run an online store as a side hustle.

From a business perspective, the dropshipping model allows store owners to be very nimble. Rather than always having to sell off your existing stock, you can switch to new products or even a completely new niche without spending a dime.

The Challenges Of Dropshipping

Of course, running a dropshipping store isn’t pure rainbows and unicorns. As with any e-commerce business, you’re likely to face some challenges along the way.

The biggest downside of dropshipping is reduced profit on each sale. This is because the company handling the logistics makes its own profit. So, while the average online store has a 42% profit margin, many dropshippers only keep between 10% and 30% of the sale price.

Along with profit, you have to give away some control when you drop ship. If your supplier runs out of stock or experiences delays in order fulfillment, there’s not much you can do.

But perhaps the greatest challenge of dropshipping today is competition. According to industry experts, only 10–20% of dropshipping businesses will actually make money within 12 months. Many that fail to generate profit will disappear altogether.

How Is Dropshipping Different From Affiliate Marketing?

In some respects, dropshipping is quite like affiliate marketing. Both models are about promoting products that you don’t physically own, particularly within a specific niche.

The key difference is that affiliate marketers get paid a commission to promote online retailers, whereas dropshippers are online retailers. Because they set their own prices, successful dropshippers tend to earn a lot more than affiliate marketers.

Starting Your Dropshipping Business

Starting a dropshipping business from scratch can be both exciting and a little daunting. To help set you up for success, here are seven essential steps to follow:

Step 1: Find Your Niche

As a first-time dropshipper, it might be tempting to go down the Amazon, “we sell everything” route. After all, you can literally sell anything, right?

Well, you could. But it would probably be a mistake.

The most successful dropshipping businesses tend to focus on a specific niche or category. This makes it easier to market your new store, because all your potential customers are interested in roughly the same thing.

When it comes to choosing your niche, it’s worth taking your time. Ideally, you want to choose an area where there is plenty of demand and good profit margins available. If you can find a niche that meets these criteria and has little competition, that is even better.

The following broad product categories tend to perform well for dropshippers:

• Clothing
• Car accessories
• Smartphone accessories
• Baby products
• Health and beauty products
• Office products
• Pet products

Once you have chosen a category, try to pinpoint a niche. For instance, you could specialize in handbags or dresses in the clothing category. You can be even more specific than this (e.g., blue summer dresses), but remember that plumping for a very narrow niche will reduce the overall size of your market.

Ideally, you should base your decision on plenty of market research:

• Use tools like Jungle Scout to see what is currently selling well on Amazon, eBay, and other big platforms.
• Scan Google Trends data to find products that are rising in popularity.
• Validate your ideas by finding high-traffic, low-competition search keywords related to your niche via Google Keyword Planner.

You can choose a niche based entirely on the information you collect. However, combining the data with your knowledge and interests is more likely to lead to long-term success.

Step 2: Pick A Supplier

Your supplier is incredibly important to the potential success of your new dropshipping business. After all, your chosen company will handle the entire order fulfillment process.

You can find dropshipping companies in a number of places:

• Dropshipping directories: Sites like Worldwide Brands, SaleHoo, and Doba provide databases of pre-vetted wholesale suppliers that offer dropshipping for their products.
• Supplier marketplaces: Some supplier marketplaces like Wholesale2B offer a wide range of products you can start selling right away.
• E-commerce platforms: Many platforms now have built-in integrations with dropshipping suppliers such as Spocket, Alibaba, AliExpress, and Modalyst.
• Online communities: On platforms like Reddit and Facebook, you will find communities of sellers who can provide feedback on suppliers based on real-world experience.

As you conduct your search, write down some suppliers that have good reviews, with extra points for reliable service and good customer support.

Once you have your shortlist, closely examine what each supplier provides. Take account of:

• Wholesale prices
• Selection of stock
• Shipping costs
• Shipping times
• Supply chain capabilities
• Integrations with e-commerce platforms
• Contract terms

It’s also worth testing the contact channels for each vendor and asking for product samples. The aim is to find the most professional, reliable supplier that leaves you room for profit.

Step 3: Set Up Your Store

Having secured your supply chain, the next step is to set up your store. If you haven’t already built your site, you have a few platforms to choose from:

Self-Hosted Site

Setting up a website on your own hosting is probably the most affordable and flexible option. A popular choice here is WordPress, with the WooCommerce plugin installed. This allows you to add on a vast number of additional integrations, including links to popular dropshipping suppliers.

Want to learn more about this option? Take a look at our WooCommerce quickstart tutorial.

General Website Builders

Many website builder platforms have some e-commerce element. It’s definitely possible to set up a store this way, particularly when you’re just starting out. However, such platforms are often limited in terms of e-commerce features, and you may struggle to hook up your chosen supplier.

E-commerce Website Builders

Some DIY website builders focus on e-commerce. These provide better features for dropshippers than the more generalist platforms, and platforms like Shopify offer integrations for popular suppliers. That said, the convenience often comes with a higher monthly price and less overall control.

Building Your Site

No matter which tool you select, it’s worth putting some thought into the overall design of your new online store.

If you’re not sure where to start, consider using a pre-made template, or theme. There are literally thousands of these to choose from, and well-designed templates provide the ideal starting point for your site design.

With your theme installed, it’s all about optimizing your site to provide a great customer experience. Here is a quick checklist:

• Use responsive design: Make sure your site looks good on both desktop and mobile.
• Make it easy to read: Choose highly legible fonts, and don’t be afraid to use large text sizes.
• Think about navigation: Help your customers find what they want by providing menus, sorting options, and a search bar.
• Use high-quality images: When creating product pages, make sure to include high-quality product photos.

In the long run, strong branding will help to drive sales. For this, you will need a professional logo and a memorable domain name.

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Payments And Fulfillment

Setting up your store isn’t just about creating a nice design. It also needs to work behind the scenes.

That starts with payments. When customers want to make a purchase, how will you accept their money? Several big payment processing providers are available; it’s worth learning about each of them before committing to one. It’s a good idea to offer more than one payment method, too (e.g., credit card, PayPal, etc.).

Just as importantly, you need to make sure that your dropshipping supplier has all the information they need to fulfill customer orders.

The process here varies depending on your choice of fulfillment method and supplier, but look out for the following details:

• Business name: Your registered business name
• Contact information: Your name, email, phone number, and mailing address
• Resale Certificate: Proof you are a business reselling products (if required in your state)
• Order processing preferences: How to submit orders (EDI, CSV file, API) and desired lead times
• Shipping preferences: Decide whether you will use your own rates or their integrated rates, any account numbers needed
• Branding: If you want the supplier branding removed and products shipped in plain boxes
• Return address: The return address to put on shipping labels for customer returns
• Product catalog: Details on which of their products you want to resell in your store
• Inventory needs: How much inventory you require, any low stock notifications desired
• Contract terms: Your requested policies for minimum orders and pricing

Legal Requirements

Before you make your store live, be aware that there are legal requirements around selling online in some parts of the world. Check your local laws to see if you need a valid business license and a sales tax permit in order to operate within the law.

Step 4: Pricing Strategy

Learning about costs and pricing might not seem that exciting, but it’s a critical step towards becoming a dropshipping superstar.

As with any retail business, dropshipping is only profitable if you sell products for significantly more than you pay for them. In this case, your costs include the wholesale price of the drop-shipped product, order fulfillment, and shipping costs. As you start to list products, make sure to add up the total costs associated with each item.

Once you have this figure, you can set your pricing. The aim here is to maximize your profit, while remaining competitive in the wider marketplace. Competitor research is vital — check out what others are charging for the same product.

One way to stay ahead of the competition is by using dynamic pricing. This is where you change the price you charge for each product depending on factors like demand, and the pricing of your competitors.

If other stores start charging more, you can raise your prices as well. Similarly, if stocks of a particular product run low at big retailers like Amazon, you might be able to raise your prices. On the flip side, you may need to lower your prices if other stores are dropping theirs.

If this sounds complex, don’t worry. Most e-commerce platforms have this feature built in or available as an add-on (e.g., WooCommerce Dynamic Pricing).

(Top tip: Remember that you might need to add on sales tax.)

Step 5: Develop A Strategy For Marketing And Sales

There are many different ways to promote your new online business. The key is to find the best channels for your particular skills, and the type of people who are likely to buy your products.

Figuring out the identity of those people is actually a really good starting point. Try to make a buyer persona, a complete profile of the average person who is likely to shop at your online store. Search online for statistics to make your profile more accurate, and use online communities to get feedback from more experienced sellers.

Once you know who you’re selling to, it’s time to build a digital marketing strategy. Here are some ideas of what to include:

• SEO: Search Engine Optimization makes your site easy to find when people look for specific phrases on search engines.
• Social media: Most successful dropshippers use social platforms to reach potential customers.
• Email marketing: Once you have the attention of possible buyers, you can keep them engaged and drive more sales by sending regular updates via email.
• Deals and promotions: Limited-time price drops, coupon codes, and referral offers can all help to keep sales flowing, even during quiet periods.
• Advertising: Whether it’s search ads, social media ads, or some other form of paid promotion, advertising can supplement the other parts of your marketing strategy.

Another key part of promoting your store is retargeting. This is where you deliver promotions and ads to people who previously visited your store, but didn’t make a purchase. The idea here is to persuade them to follow through.

Retargeting is usually pretty effective. Many people who don’t make a purchase simply get distracted or pause during the shopping process, and fail to follow through. By giving them a reminder, you can easily reignite the original interest.

Optimizing For Conversions

An effective marketing strategy should bring people to your online store. Once they arrive, you still need to convince them to make a purchase.

The quality of your product pages is key here. Each page should include the following elements:

• A descriptive title: Help customers instantly understand what they’re looking at.
• Multiple images: People want to see what they are buying, down to the last detail.
• A thorough product description: Don’t ramble on about features; explain how the product can help your target audience.
• Other details: You can also include FAQs about the product, specifications, and customer reviews.

The other main area of your site to optimize for conversions is checkout. This is where people actually have to pay for something in their cart. If they encounter much friction, it gives them a reason to withdraw from the purchase.

As such, try to make your checkout process streamlined. Only collect the information you need, and allow people to set up an account where their personal details are stored for the next purchase.

Step 6: Think About Customer Service

As a dropshipper, the point of purchase can seem like the end destination. Everything that happens next is handled by a third-party supplier, after all.

But it’s worth remembering that the people who buy from your store are your customers. If anything goes wrong, it’s your responsibility to make it right.

For this reason, it’s wise to consider customer service while you’re still setting up your store. What if a customer wants to return an item or make a complaint? How will they get in touch? How will you handle each case?

As a starting point, make it really easy for customers and potential buyers to get in touch. Create a dedicated contact page, and monitor at least two channels. Under all circumstances, consumers value swift communication.

Next, make sure to list a refund policy on your site. This should cover:

• Which products can be returned or exchanged
• Who pays shipping costs on refunds
• The timeframe for refunds and returns

A clearly stated policy can help if a customer really kicks off. Just be aware that your terms do not override local consumer laws.

When you start processing such requests, it’s important to keep records of each case. If a customer later goes down the legal route, this will ensure you have evidence to back up your story.

As your store grows, you might find that the volume of support requests becomes difficult to manage. At this point, many dropshippers start outsourcing to specialist firms that provide customer support as a service.

Remember that customer service can also apply before someone makes a purchase. Sometimes, potential customers have questions they want to be answered before they part with their hard-earned money. If you can provide that reassurance in a timely fashion, you’re likely to unlock more sales.

Step 7: Analyze And Optimize

Having set up and promoted your store, you should hopefully start to see the first few sales coming in. This feels really good at first, but every online entrepreneur is chasing the big bucks.

To turn your small business into a dropshipping empire, it’s essential to follow the numbers. Every visitor, every click, and every sale is a chance to learn something about your customers and what they respond to.

To access this information, you will need to set up some analytics. Google is the best free option here, but other tools like Crazy Egg can provide a more detailed analysis of customer behavior on your site.

Data can reveal which products are selling well, and which are not seeing much interest. You can also try different store designs to see which performs the best, and measure the improvement when you add new features to your site.

What is just as important is to monitor the market. Successful dropshippers shift with demand, stocking their store with trending products and removing the products that have gone out of fashion. Once you get ahead of the game, you need to work to stay there!

5 Secrets To Successful Dropshipping

The steps mentioned above provide the perfect blueprint for any dropshipping startup. However, there’s more to this business than meets the eye. Here are some key tips that will help to elevate your store above the competition:

1) Build A Relationship With Your Supplier

It’s easy to think of dropshipping as a plug-in-and-play solution. The reality can be quite different. Shipping products across the world on demand is no easy task, and even the best company will sometimes mess up or suffer from their own problems.

This is why it’s really important to treat your dropshipping provider as a partner. Establishing lines of communication allows you to ask questions and solve problems when things go awry. In addition, you may gain access to information about stock levels and upcoming products.

2) Don’t Be Afraid To Invest In Ads

As a dropshipper, you sell products that are not unique. As such, the success of your new store will largely depend on the effectiveness of your digital marketing strategy.

While it’s important to put plenty of effort into promoting your offers, hard work will only take you so far. That’s why most successful dropshippers put money into ads.

As we discussed earlier, dropshipping (and e-commerce in general) is super competitive. Even if you operate within a small niche, there will be dozens of other online stores competing for the attention of your target customers. Ads can help you reach those individuals first, giving you a major advantage.

There are several places you can spend your money:

• Google search ads
• Facebook ads
• Pinterest ads
• Instagram ads
• Sponsorships
• Influencer partnerships

While you don’t want to splash the cash too early, many new business owners make the mistake of underinvesting when it comes to ads. As a result, they see slow growth — and some give up as a result.

3) Utilize Social Proof

If someone you know recommends a store, you’re more likely to shop there than with a competitor. This is the power of social proof.

Social proof can be defined as any content from an outside source that backs up your claims. That includes referrals, customer reviews, expert analysis, statistics, and even press appearances.

Including social proof on your website can help to build trust in your brand. Likewise, you can include social proof on individual product pages to prove the quality of your goods. It’s a highly effective tactic that is used by every major online retailer.

4) Embrace Social Media

There is no incorrect way to promote your dropshipping store. But if you look at the top earners in this game, they have one major thing in common: they all utilize social media.

Apps like TikTok, Pinterest, and Instagram are great for reaching millions of people, and the focus on visual content means you can show off your products. When a video goes viral, it’s common to see thousands of sales in a short period of time.

Of course, going viral is never assured. Instead, try to post consistently and aim for consistent growth. The return on your time investment should grow over time.

5) Use A Reliable Platform

If you’re new to dropshipping, it might be tempting to use a really cheap site builder to create your store and “test the water.”

A word of advice: don’t waste your time.

Dropshipping works when you have a site that looks the part and performs well. The only way to access that kind of technology is by choosing a dedicated e-commerce solution.

Start Your E-commerce Empire With DreamHost

If you’re looking for a fast, reliable, and affordable way to launch your dropshipping business, DreamHost can help.

We offer managed WooCommerce hosting with 99.9% uptime guaranteed. Every plan offers impressive speed, unmetered bandwidth, and automatic backups. You also get a free domain name, and a free SSL certificate. What’s more, plans start at just $16.95 per month.

Sign up today to get started on your dropshipping journey. We can’t wait to see your store!

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The post How To Start A Dropshipping Business appeared first on Website Guides, Tips & Knowledge.

For many site owners, hosting is a bit of a mystery. With so many different plans and providers to choose from, knowing where to start is half the battle.

To help you figure out what hosting is all about and find the right option for your next project, we decided to build the ultimate guide. Spend the next few minutes with us, and you’re guaranteed to come away with a wealth of knowledge!

What Is Web Hosting?

Every website is stored on a server. That server makes the website available to users on the web. Web hosting is the service of storing (aka hosting) a website on a server.

Your “web host” or “hosting provider” is the company that owns and maintains the web server that hosts your site. In addition, these companies often provide helpful resources, support, and services like domain registration and custom email addresses.

Selecting the right web hosting services for your site is an important process. Your choice can impact your website’s security, availability, and performance. Picking the wrong plan or web host could affect the growth of your website and your ability to attract repeat visitors.

Ideally, you’ll want to use a hosting plan that fits your needs and budget.

The Most Popular Types Of Web Hosting

If you’ve never had to sign up for hosting before, the sheer range of available services can seem a little intimidating.

To help you make an informed choice, let’s take a closer look at the most common types of hosting:

Shared Hosting

Shared hosting plans are the most popular choice among website owners. On this type of plan, a single server is shared between multiple users. That means a single computer will host a whole heap of websites.

Although you share resources with other users, they don’t have access to your files, information, or other data. The major upside to shared plans is that they tend to be very affordable since web hosting companies can divide server upkeep costs among multiple users.

Think of it like having a timeshare on an exotic island. You get the benefit of a beautiful place to relax and some general upkeep, but you don’t have exclusive ownership.

• Performance And Security: Good loading times for smaller sites, up to 1,000 visitors per day. Shared hosting is generally secure, but issues can be shared between sites on the same server.
• Service And Features: All basic services are included, but you will need to install your own software and take some responsibility for performance and security optimization.
• Pricing: The industry standard for shared hosting is around $5 per month. That said, you can find good plans for less.

At DreamHost, we offer high-value shared hosting plans starting at just $2.59 per month, including free domain registration.

Pros Of Shared Hosting:

• It’s easy to find plans for less than $5 per month.
• Depending on your service provider, you can get excellent performance on medium or small business websites.

Cons Of Shared Hosting:

• Shared plans often don’t perform well for websites with heavy traffic.
• For the best rates, you may have to sign up for a multi-year contract.

Who Is Shared Hosting Best For:

For a beginner, shared hosting should be the go-to option. With the right provider, you’ll have all the tools you need for getting your project going and plenty of room to scale up over time.

Virtual Private Server (VPS) Hosting

Virtual Private Servers (VPS) offer enhanced performance and greater customization compared to shared hosting plans. In a VPS environment, a single physical server hosts multiple isolated units, each dedicated to individual websites.

So, if shared hosting is a timeshare property, VPS hosting is like having your own apartment in a large complex.  In practical terms, VPSs provide a higher degree of isolation between users, although you still share the same physical server.

Nevertheless, this setup can enhance performance and security. Plus, depending on your hosting provider, you might be able to configure your VPS from scratch and get precisely the resources you need.

To give you an idea of what you’re looking for, a single-core VPS with 1 GB of RAM is enough to run a simple WordPress website. However, figuring out the precise amount of resources you need for each new project can be tricky. This might make a VPS a less attractive option if you are new to website hosting.

• Performance And Security:  VPS hosting guarantees better page-loading speeds and less downtime. Since each site is kept separate, security threats are rarely shared.
• Service And Features: Unmanaged VPS hosting is a lot like shared hosting. Managed VPS hosting takes care of all technical tasks.
• Pricing: Highly variable, but the monthly industry standard is right around $30 per month. Managed plans cost a bit more than unmanaged plans, although they make up for it with additional features and services.

At DreamHost, we offer four tiers of VPS hosting, each with a monthly, one-year, and three-year option.

Pros Of VPS Hosting:

• You get fully dedicated resources for your website.
• Depending on your host, you might be able to configure your VPS to your specific needs.

Cons Of VPS Hosting:

• Calculating the amount of resources you need can be challenging.
• Configuring a VPS often requires some technical know-how.

Who VPS Hosting Is Best For:

If you want full control over your server without spending hundreds of dollars on a dedicated plan, consider using a VPS. The high level of customizability also makes it an attractive option.

Dedicated Hosting

So far, we’ve only discussed hosting plans where you share servers with other users. Servers are expensive, so if you want a private one all to yourself, you’ll pay more of a premium.

With a dedicated server, you get exclusive access to a single server (or sometimes more than one). That means you’ll have complete control over its configuration, and the web hosting provider simply houses it for you.

Carrying on the analogy — instead of a timeshare, you get the whole place to yourself.

• Performance And Security: Optimum speed, stability, and security for high-traffic websites. The best performance comes from plans that use SSD (solid state drive) storage.
• Service And Features: Unmanaged dedicated hosting means it’s up to you to add features. Managed dedicated hosting provides the same kind of service we talked about when discussing VPS hosting plans, plus features like a unique IP address, dedicated server backups, and extra support.
• Pricing: The average dedicated server starts at around $100 per month, although plans at that price aren’t likely to include a fully managed hosting package.

Our own dedicated hosting is managed and still comes in at a competitive price. The month-to-month price range for DreamHost’s dedicated hosting starts at $169.

If you’re not afraid of commitment, you can bag a standard plan starting at $149/month or pay $279/month for enhanced features such as additional memory and faster processing.

Pros Of Dedicated Hosting:

• You get a whole server to yourself.
• In most situations, you can configure your server to your liking.
• DreamHost users get uncapped bandwidth.

Cons Of Dedicated Hosting:

• It’s a relatively expensive option.

Who Dedicated Hosting Is Best For:

Dedicated hosting is the go-to choice for websites that require the very best when it comes to performance and have the budget for it.

Alternative Hosting Types

The three web hosting options above cover the majority of websites. However, there are more types of hosting available. Here are some of the alternative options to look out for:

Cloud Hosting

Cloud hosting is where things begin to look a little trickier. When people talk about the “cloud,” they’re usually referring to a distributed VPS.

The advantage of this setup is that you can easily scale your server’s resources as needed. Plus, thanks to the system’s built-in redundancy, you won’t have to worry about downtime and data loss.

Cloud hosting can be either very cheap or incredibly expensive, depending on your server configuration. It’s the type of setup that some massive internet-based companies use to power their operations. But unless your website is called Netflix, you probably won’t need this option.

Pros Of Cloud Hosting:

• It offers a high degree of scalability.
• You can customize your server as you see fit.

Cons Of Cloud Hosting:

• The payment structures for cloud hosting can be complicated.
• It’s not well suited to users who don’t have experience with configuring a server.

Who Cloud Hosting Is Best For:

If you like tinkering with your server’s configuration and want a high degree of scalability, cloud hosting is worth looking into.

Managed WordPress Hosting

Managed WordPress hosting is a little different from the other options here. It’s not a type of plan but rather a kind of service.

With managed WordPress hosting, your provider takes care of a lot of the day-to-day maintenance tasks that would otherwise fall on your shoulders. Those tasks include backups, security monitoring, software updates, and more.

Managed hosting plans can come in every flavor; there are managed shared plans, managed VPSs, and even managed dedicated servers. In all of these cases, you pay a little extra, so you don’t need to worry about the nuts and bolts of hosting.

You don’t need a WordPress-specific plan to set up a website with the platform. However, these plans tend to be optimized to provide better performance and make your life much simpler.

On top of WordPress-specific plans, there are also entire hosting platforms that only work with this Content Management System (CMS).

Pros Of Managed WordPress Hosting:

• It comes with some level of managed service.
• You get access to WordPress-specific perks, such as free plugin licenses and one-click installations.

Cons Of Managed WordPress Hosting:

• It’s only valuable for WordPress users and limits your ability to use other platforms.

Who Managed WordPress Hosting Is Best For:

You can set up WordPress on any type of web hosting plan. However, if you want a plan tailored to the CMS from the ground up, WordPress hosting can be an excellent investment.

Reseller Hosting

If you run a business that revolves around building websites, such as a development or design agency, you’ll probably have to deal with hosting.

A lot of clients don’t quite understand how hosting works and could use help getting everything set up and working. Reseller hosting offers a solution for these situations.

In a nutshell, you get access to an account that lets you provide hosting to your clients. Those clients pay you directly, and you’re responsible for managing their accounts.

Most web hosts that offer reseller accounts enable you to charge whatever you wish for hosting. This means that if you run a web development agency, you can transform hosting into a source of recurring revenue.

Pros Of Reseller Hosting:

• You can set up hosting accounts for third-party users and charge them directly.
• You’re in complete control of the hosting experience.

Cons Of Reseller Hosting:

• You’re usually responsible for billing clients.
• In most cases, you’ll have to take care of maintenance and support tasks independently.

Who Reseller Hosting Is Best For:

If you run a business that helps with web hosting for clients, it can make sense to offer that service in-house. With reseller hosting, you can bill clients directly for hosting and take care of maintenance for them while having another company provide the infrastructure.

How To Choose A Web Hosting Provider

Your choice of web hosting plan will inevitably impact your website, but remember, these are just services; your choice of provider is every bit as important.

Here are some key questions to answer when choosing a host:

Performance

Performance and uptime can make or break your website. Your website’s performance influences Search Engine Optimization (SEO), bounce and conversion rates, and how trustworthy your site appears to visitors. We’re not exaggerating when we say that your server’s reliability directly impacts your website’s bottom line.

Any provider you consider should have an uptime guarantee of at least 99%. Evaluate the host’s performance-related features, such as caching, SSD storage, and Content Delivery Service (CDN) access.

Don’t just rely on claims and reviews. Test the host’s performance using tools like Google’s PageSpeed Insights. If possible, you may even want to get access to a test account or sign up for a free trial, and use that to conduct further testing.

Software

Whether you’re building a personal blog or the next big tech startup, every website relies on certain technology. When you select a web hosting provider, check their technical documentation to ensure that the service supports the software, services, and languages that you plan to use.

For example, you will need a hosting solution that supports PHP and

MySQL or MariaDB if you want to run WordPress.

Top hosts offer easy installation for popular apps and user-friendly control panels for account management. DreamHost provides a one-click WordPress installer, WooCommerce pre-configured plans, and a built-in Website Builder for hassle-free website creation and management.

Security

According to Norton, over 800,000 sites are hacked every year. So, even for smaller websites, cybersecurity should be a top priority.

To give yourself the best possible protection from threats like malware and DDoS (distributed denial-of-service), choose a host that follows up-to-date security protocols and provides features for protecting your site.

Secure Socket Layer (SSL) certificates are particularly vital for keeping your site and users safe. Adding an SSL certificate to your site can be an additional expense, but some hosting providers (like DreamHost) will include one in your plan at no extra cost.

Another feature to look for is automatic daily backups. These ensure that you can always bring your site back if it becomes corrupted with malicious code, or you lose your content.

Scalability

Most new sites start on a shared, low-cost plan. However, as your online presence expands, you’ll need more resources, bandwidth, and disk space in order to maintain your site for all its users. A host that offers easy upgrades to a Virtual Private Server (VPS), Managed WordPress, or Dedicated Hosting plan can make this process smoother.

If you choose a host that makes it challenging to change your plan, you could find yourself migrating to a new provider just a few months after launching your site. This can ultimately be a waste of time and money.

Technical Support

Your relationship with your web host will hopefully be a long one. Reliable customer support is vital to a mutually beneficial relationship. Ensuring that your host has multiple contact methods and a 24/7 support team should guarantee that someone will be available whenever you need help.

Additionally, specific support for WordPress, e-commerce, or other niches can come in handy. Choosing a host with a knowledgeable team will ensure that your site has the best possible support.

For example, if you opt for DreamPress, our WordPress-specific managed hosting, you’ll get priority access to our elite squad of in-house WordPress experts.

Pricing

Obviously, your budget is a key consideration when selecting a web host. Shared hosting can cost as little as $3-10 per month to start. VPS plans are $20-50 per month, while dedicated servers range from $100 to over $500 per month.

Just remember that you might not be on the same plan forever. If you want to pick a host for the long term, consider what kind of resources you might need in future and check the pricing for plans that can cover your requirements.

On a similar note, make sure to look into your potential host’s renewal fees, as well as the initial sign-up costs.

If you need to cancel your hosting for any reason, you’ll also want to avoid excessive fees. It’s wise to choose a host that offers a free trial period and one that has a generous refund policy or money-back guarantee.

Other Features

Along with all the points mentioned above, it’s worth considering what other features each host offers.

For instance, do you get email accounts with your hosting plan? Can you dive into the file system of your website via Secure File Transfer Protocol (SFTP)? If you need to fix errors or optimize your site, does your host provide access to your .htaccess file?

All of these questions are worth considering as you make the final choice on your web hosting provider.

How To Set Up Your Website With Shared Hosting

So, you’ve weighed up the pros and cons, and decided on your web host. The next step is to set up your hosting plan.

The most common choice, particularly for new website owners, is shared hosting. To show you how it works, let’s walk through the process of setting up your site — from creating an account and choosing a plan to building and securing your website.

Step 1: Sign Up For Your Hosting Plan

The first step in bringing your website to the world is to sign up for a hosting plan. This task varies between hosts.

If you decide to host with us, simply head to the Shared Hosting page and click on the blue Sign Up Now button underneath the feature list of your preferred plan. You’ll be taken to a wizard that will walk you through purchasing your plan and creating a DreamHost account.

Simply follow the steps to get everything set up. You can opt to register a domain right away during the process or save that task for later. Which you choose is totally up to you. There’s no right or wrong way to do it.

The DreamHost account creation is on the third page (Secure Checkout). Below that, you’ll find additional options you can configure for your new site.

If you’re planning on using WordPress to build your site, we highly recommend checking the boxes to pre-install the platform and use the WP Site Builder. This can greatly streamline the process of getting your site up and running.

Step 2: Explore The Control Panel

Once you’ve created your account and purchased a hosting plan, you can log into your control panel using the email and password you provided during signup.

On DreamHost Shared Hosting plans, we make it pretty easy to control your site. Through the user panel, you can see everything related to your websites, domains, and hosting account in one dashboard.

Along the left side, you can find all the available features and functions:

• Domains: This menu is where you’ll access your existing domains or register new ones.
• WordPress: Here you can access any WordPress services you’ve added to your account, such as our DreamPress managed hosting. You can also add new installations of WordPress from this menu.
• Mail: This menu provides you with everything you need to manage your email services.
• Users: This is where you’ll find options for adding and managing additional users you’ve added to your account.
• MySQL Databases: If you ever need to access your MySQL databases, you can use this option, found under the More menu.

There’s plenty more to explore in the panel, so we recommend taking a few minutes to click on the various links and get acquainted with where things are located.

Step 3: Register Your Domain

If you didn’t register your domain during the initial signup process, you should do so now. Your domain name gives your site its primary URL and carves out its unique place on the web. No one else can use your domain once you’ve registered it.

Our Shared Unlimited hosting plan includes a free domain registration credit. You have one month from signup to use the credit, so if you’re unsure what domain you want, you can take a little time to think about it. However, you can’t start building your website until your domain is registered.

To register a domain, head to your DreamHost panel and navigate to Domains > Manage Registrations.

From there, you can search for the domain you want. If it’s available, you can add it to your cart.

Keep in mind that it can take up to 72 hours for your domain to become accessible once you purchase it. So if you’re in a hurry to get your site online, it’s best to take care of this task as soon as possible.

Step 4: Customize Your WordPress Site

With your domain registered, you can start building and customizing your WordPress site.

There are many ways to approach website design, of course. We highly recommend using our WP Site Builder tool, as it makes the process much more straightforward. If you didn’t enable this option when signing up, you can contact support any time to have it turned on.

The easiest way to access your WordPress dashboard and admin page is simply to navigate to yourwebsitename.com/wp-admin in your browser, where “yourwebsitename.com” is your site’s domain name. You can also access the dashboard by clicking the link in the email you received when setting up your account.

If you enabled the WP Site Builder, you’ll be greeted by a “getting started” wizard the first time you log into your dashboard. This wizard will walk you through three quick steps to begin building your site.

When you’re finished, you’ll land back in your dashboard, with a new item available in the menu: Inspirations. From there, you can edit your WP Site Builder theme and make other changes.

Step 5: Increase Security With An SSL/TLS Certificate

SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) and its successor, TLS (Transport Layer Security), are protocols that help enable secure data transmission online.

Sites using SSL/TLS have “https” in the URL, and most browsers display a padlock icon in the address bar to indicate that a site is using this security feature.

We offer a free SSL/TLS certificate for personal websites. E-commerce sites can take advantage of our partnered offer with Sectigo Verified SSL. No matter which offer you’re using, you’ll follow the same steps to add the certificate.

Open your DreamHost panel and navigate to Websites > Secure Certificates.

From this screen, you can manage any existing certificates on your sites or add a new one by clicking the Add button. After that, simply follow the instructions provided.

Step 6: Set Up Your Email

Finally, we recommend setting up email on your domain. This gives you a simple and reliable way to communicate with website visitors and customers. Depending on your plan, email hosting might be included or available as a paid extra.

To access your email settings on your DreamHost plan, visit your user panel and click on Mail.

There you’ll find options for accessing your email, adding new email addresses, managing spam settings, and more. To set up email on your new domain, navigate to Manage Email > Create New Email Address and follow the instructions within.

Setting Up Managed Shared Hosting

Whereas shared hosting is very much a DIY option, managed hosting provides a hassle-free way to get your website online. With these plans, you don’t have to worry about site management and maintenance.

When you sign up for a managed hosting plan, your account should come with your chosen CMS or software pre-installed. For example, we offer managed plans for WordPress.

This means you only have to walk through the basic setup process for your software, and then you’re ready to go.

Once your site is online, your provider should take care of security updates and server optimization. Some hosts offer extra features, such as one-click staging. This allows you to test new plugins, add-ons, templates, and themes to make sure they work properly before deploying them on your live site.

Setting Up VPS Hosting 

The process of setting up a VPS varies, depending on the type of hosting you have chosen.

Some providers offer self-managed VPS hosting, which is much like owning your own server. This means you have plenty of control over the configuration of your VPS, but you will also be responsible for the technical side — such as deciding how much RAM and what CPUs you need.

In contrast, managed VPS plans work much like managed shared hosting. The primary difference is that you have dedicated space in your chosen data centers.

With DreamHost, managed VPS hosting is available as an add-on to a regular shared hosting account.

To set up your first VPS:

1. In your User Panel, go to VPS under Add Product in the left-hand column
2. Click the Add a VPS Server button
3. On the Add VPS page, choose your preferred VPS package
4. Use the on-screen options to decide whether to migrate data from your shared server to your VPS, and whether to cancel your current shared hosting
5. Click the Get This VPS button to purchase your chosen plan

To set up additional virtual private servers, repeat the steps above, skipping number four.

Get Started Today With DreamHost

Solid web hosting is the foundation of any successful site. It allows you to deliver content and reach the maximum number of potential customers, without the constant fear of technical failure.

If you’re looking for a reliable hosting solution, DreamHost has you covered. Our hosting comes with a 100% uptime guarantee, market-leading performance, and excellent technical support.

We also offer a range of hosting plans at affordable prices: shared, managed, VPS, cloud hosting, and more. Sign up today to see how easy it can be to host a website online.

Web Hosting That Powers Your Purpose

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The post The Ultimate Guide To Web Hosting (What You Need To Know) appeared first on Website Guides, Tips & Knowledge.

But databases need storage and connectivity, which is where app hosting comes in.

App hosting is the secret sauce that powers your app from behind the scenes, allowing you to store important data and functionality in the form of versatile databases that can be called upon by a user’s device, be it Android or iOS.

If this is your first time deploying an app for web or mobile, this might seem a tad complicated. But fret not!

This guide will tell you everything you need to know about app hosting so you can prepare for your startup’s big launch without server downtime or security incidents weighing you down.

Sound good? Let’s get started!

What Is App Hosting?

Mobile apps generally consist of two parts: The client-side (frontend) and the server-side (backend). The client-side is the user interface that runs on the user’s device, while the server-side manages the data, logic, and communication between the app and various services.

App hosting refers to the process of providing the necessary infrastructure and services to deploy, run, and manage an application’s server-side components. These components typically handle tasks such as data storage, user authentication, server-side processing, and more.

5 App Hosting Options to Consider

The server-side components of an app require a reliable environment to operate — mobile application hosting services provide this environment. Depending on the needs of the application and the needs of the developers, application hosting can involve various types of infrastructure, such as:

1. Traditional Hosting

With “traditional” hosting or dedicated server hosting, your application’s server-side components are hosted on physical servers, often managed by a hosting provider. The provider is responsible for maintaining the hardware, providing network connectivity, and ensuring uptime.

You could also host your app with a server you own and maintain. (If you don’t mind a hot server running in your bedroom 24/7.)

Advantages of Traditional Hosting

Consider traditional hosting like buying a gigantic pickup truck. It’s a high-performance machine. You’ll get full control over the server setup and configuration. You’ll generally get more CPU power and memory.

It’s certainly the best option if you need high scalability, high performance, and total control over the system and security.

But, if you’re looking for a daily driver, it may be a bit overkill.

Disadvantages of Traditional Hosting

If we could all spring for our own dedicated server, we’d probably do it.

The obvious limitation is pricing. Although prices vary by provider, renting (or buying) a dedicated server is pretty much always the most expensive option.

You’ll also need to know and understand a bit more about hosting and server configuration to get the most out of a traditional hosting setup.

2. Virtual Private Servers (VPS)

VPS hosting involves dividing a physical server into multiple virtual servers, each with its own operating system and resources.

This allows multiple applications to be hosted on a single physical server while maintaining isolation between them. VPS hosting provides more control and customization options than traditional hosting but still requires server management and maintenance.

To take our analogy from above, this is more like sharing a pickup truck.

Advantages of VPS

VPS is often considered a middle ground; You get a high level of customization and a decent level of performance.

This also makes it much more affordable than buying or renting an entire server, but for good reason.

Disadvantages of VPS

VPS hosting will always be limited by your share of the resources on the server. The way VPS hosting works is that the CPU power and memory is split across multiple sites or web applications.

You’re generally guaranteed a certain amount of resources, but you could experience real-time performance issues if, let’s say, your site goes viral or there’s a significant spike in traffic or users.

3. Cloud Hosting

Cloud hosting services, such as DreamHost’s DreamObjects, Amazon Web Services (AWS), Google Cloud Platform, and Microsoft Azure, provide virtualized infrastructure and managed services to host and run applications.

Cloud hosting offers flexibility, scalability, and reliability, allowing developers to easily deploy and manage their applications without worrying about underlying hardware and networking.

Resources can be provisioned or released as needed, and costs are typically based on usage.

Cloud hosting (or cloud computing) is sort of the inverse of VPS. Rather than a single server being divided up into multiple instances, a cloud hosting setup will pull resources from multiple servers to provide the computing power you need to handle your current traffic or users.

Advantages of Cloud Hosting

Cloud hosting is, essentially, infinitely scalable.

In theory, there are no limitations to the resources you can pull for a specific project. This makes it ideal for site or mobile app hosting which might see big swings in traffic and users.

Pricing is also pay-as-you-go based on resources, meaning you only pay for what you use.

Disadvantages of Cloud Hosting

The downside of hosting a mobile app with a pay-for-what-you-use model is that if you get way more traffic or users than expected, your bill could also be higher than you expect.

4. Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS)

PaaS providers, such as Heroku or Google App Engine, offer a complete development and hosting environment, including the infrastructure, runtime, and necessary tools.

It’s sort of like leasing a pickup truck, but you can only drive it on certain roads. You don’t have to worry about maintenance or upkeep, but you’re also relying on the company to provide you with everything you need to get up and running with your app. Plus, you’re locked into using the tools and systems offered by the provider.

Advantages of PaaS

PaaS makes it super simple to start, build, and deploy a mobile app. With the right provider, you can be up and running in a matter of hours. You won’t need to tinker with servers or install a bunch of applications.

Most PaaS offerings are also pay-as-you-go.

Disadvantages of PaaS

Since you’re leasing the pickup truck and can only drive it on certain roads, PaaS has some limitations depending on your chosen provider.

For instance, they may or may not offer support for popular services like Docker or Kubernetes.

Certain software development kits (SDKs) may or may not be available.

Now, if you can find the right provider that aligns with your preferred tool stack, you can use PaaS as a SaaS solution for mobile app development, deployment, and hosting.

5. Mobile Backend-as-a-Service (MBaaS)

MBaaS platforms, like Firebase or Parse (now open-source), are specialized app hosting services specifically designed for mobile applications. They provide pre-built backend components, APIs, and tools to streamline mobile app development and hosting.

Think of services like user authentication or push notifications. MBaaS offers these out of the box.

It’s like a dongle for your laptop connected to a bunch of microservices you can tap into with a few clicks.

This means you have complete control over the front-end, and then you plug in the dongle to connect to back-end services. Bringing it back to the pickup truck metaphor, this would be like leasing a truck, but you can only drive it to certain destinations.

Advantages of MBaaS

Like PaaS, MBaaS is popular as a quick and simple solution that gets you up and running without much (or any) fuss.

It’s ideal for folks who aren’t super deep into backend coding and setup, and who don’t want to deal with managing relational databases and wiring up microservices.

It’s kind of like a template for app development.

That doesn’t make it a bad choice for more advanced users, but it can be limiting.

Disadvantages of MBaaS

While many of the larger MBaaS providers have a lot of flexibility and tons of extensions or services, you’re still limited to what they offer.

That limits the amount of customization you can do and the amount of control you have over the environment and app performance, and generally relies heavily on the provider to ensure everything goes smoothly.

Choosing the Right Hosting Infrastructure

So before we look at specific providers, it’s important to identify the infrastructure that’s right for you. Looking at the options above, there are some key considerations.

Scalability

Is your mobile app going to be as big as Flappy Bird? (Flappy Bird? Anyone?)

Then you’ll need an option that allows for scalable performance.

If you know, for sure, that you’ll be getting a lot of traffic and need a lot of resources, then dedicated or VPS hosting is probably best for you.

If you’re not 100% sure how much traffic you’re going to receive or you know it will fluctuate, then you’ll probably want a pay-for-what-you-use option: Cloud hosting, PaaS, or MBaaS.

Performance

Are you running state-of-the-art, resource-intensive tech that’s going to eat up tons of computing power? Better go with a dedicated server for your quantum computing mobile app. (Okay, I know. Quantum-computer-powered mobile app hosting isn’t a thing. Yet.)

If you’re running an average application, then any of the other hosting options will probably suffice.

DevOps & Frameworks

Here’s the big question: How did/will you build the world’s hottest new mobile app?

Chances are, you have specific ideas about the languages, frameworks, microservices, and overall architecture you will use.

Consider finding a PaaS or MBaaS that aligns with that stack.

If you can’t find the right provider, you’ll need to get a bit more custom and look at cloud, VPS, or getting a “dedi” (that’s slang for dedicated server).

If you don’t have any allegiance to particular tool stacks and you’re willing to learn whatever it takes to get your app up and running, then PaaS or MBaaS are probably the best options.

Choosing an App Hosting Provider

Every app has its own requirements in terms of performance, scalability, security, and functionality. While there’s no shortage of options to meet these requirements, the abundance of hosting providers does not make it easy to pick the right one from the bunch.

The section above may have helped you narrow down which hosting option is right for you, but now there are a bunch of different providers offering that specific solution.

Let’s say you’ve landed on cloud hosting, but there are 20 different vendors that offer some flavor of cloud computing products.

How do you choose?

Unless you want to sign up for a trial with every single one of them to see which one works out best (hey, we’ve all been there), you’ll want to research a few key factors to help you narrow it down.

Here’s a primer on the factors you need to consider to choose the right hosting solution for your app:

Performance and Reliability

Perhaps the most crucial feature of any hosting product is its performance (in reality and not just on paper) and its reliability when users are trying to access your app.

Do some digging. Look for information on the location and number of data centers that the provider has, see which CDNs they connect with, and read real user reviews to get a sense of how often there are issues with uptime or latency.

Look for providers that offer service level agreements (SLAs) with uptime guarantees and clear procedures for handling outages and downtime.

Security

Assess the provider’s security measures, such as data encryption, user authentication, access controls, and regular security updates. Ensure the provider complies with relevant data protection regulations and industry standards for your specific use case.

Look for certifications like ISO27001, SOC1/2/3, or other seals of approval.

You may also want to do a bit of digging to see if this particular host has experienced past security issues and how they handle legal or government requests.

Cost

Understand their pricing model (e.g., pay-as-you-go, fixed monthly fees, or tiered plans) and evaluate whether it aligns with your budget and expected usage patterns.

But take that one level deeper and make sure that you calculate how your costs might tally up based on your real-world requirements. Since hosting pricing can sometimes be complex, you’ll want to carefully consider how the fees might add up before deciding which is most affordable.

Support

Consider the level of support and maintenance offered by the provider. Look for providers with comprehensive documentation, responsive customer support, and proactive monitoring to address potential issues before they impact your app.

Ease-of-Use

Evaluate the provider’s user interface, management tools, and automation options to ensure they are easy to use. This can streamline your app deployment and maintenance processes.

Reviews

Messaging on the website is one thing, but hearing from real customers will tell you what to expect.

Check reviews, case studies, and testimonials from other developers and businesses using the provider. This can give you insights into the provider’s strengths and weaknesses and help you make a more informed decision.

How to Implement App Hosting

Due to the inherently technical nature of app development, it can be a bit more complex to configure a hosting environment so that it’s able to support the server-side components of a mobile or web app. So here’s a quick overview of the process to help you get started:

1. Choose a hosting provider: Based on your application’s requirements, scalability needs, cost, and other factors, select the appropriate app hosting provider and type (e.g., traditional hosting, VPS, cloud hosting, PaaS, or MBaaS).
2. Sign up for an account: Register for an account with your chosen hosting provider, and select the appropriate plan or resource allocation based on your needs.
3. Set up the hosting environment: Depending on the provider and hosting type, you may need to configure the server environment, install an operating system, set up a web server (e.g., Apache, Nginx), and install necessary runtime environments and frameworks (e.g., Node.js, Python, Ruby on Rails).
4. Deploy your application’s server-side components: Upload your application’s backend code and files to the hosting environment using the provider’s recommended deployment method (e.g., Git, FTP, or provider-specific tools). This includes server-side scripts, database files, and any required dependencies.
5. Configure the database: If your application uses a database, create and configure the database instance (e.g., MySQL, PostgreSQL, MongoDB) according to your application’s requirements. You may also need to import your database schema and initial data.
6. Set up domain and security certificate: If you have a custom domain for your application, configure the DNS settings to point to your hosting provider’s servers. Additionally, install and configure an SSL certificate to enable secure HTTPS connections.
7. Configure security features and access controls: Implement and configure security measures such as user authentication, data encryption, and access controls to protect your application and its data.
8. Test your deployment: Ensure that your application is running correctly on the hosting environment by testing its functionality and performance. Address any issues or bugs that arise during testing.
9. Monitor and optimize: Once your application is live, continuously monitor its performance and resource usage. Identify bottlenecks and optimize your hosting environment as needed (e.g., by adding resources, implementing caching, or using a content delivery network).
10. Plan for scaling and disaster recovery: Develop strategies for handling increased demand and ensuring application availability, including redundancy, failover mechanisms, regular backups, and disaster recovery plans.

Evaluate Before You Invest

If you invest in a solid hosting environment from the start, you can enhance your app’s performance, reliability, scalability, and security, leading to happier and more satisfied users. However, with the amount of options out there in the wild, it’s important to carefully consider your app’s requirements and establish evaluation criteria that help you choose the right platform for your hosting.

At Dreamhost, we’re all about web hosting with purpose. We believe that with the right tools and support system, every developer can bring their dreams to life.

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The post Here’s Everything You Need to Know About Hosting an App for the First Time appeared first on Website Guides, Tips & Knowledge.

Every website is stored on a server. Your site’s server makes it available to users on the web. In turn, web hosting is the service of storing a website — or ‘hosting’ it — on a server.

Your ‘web host’ or ‘hosting provider’ is the company that owns and maintains the server that hosts your site. In addition, these companies often provide helpful resources, support, and services like domain registration and custom email addresses.

Selecting the right web hosting services for your site is an important process. The server impacts your site’s security, availability, and performance. Choosing the wrong plan or web host could affect your site’s ability to expand and attract repeat visitors.

Similarly, your hosting company plays a crucial role in keeping your site safe and making sure it stays up and running. If your host offers poor customer support or doesn’t maintain its servers well, your website will likely suffer for it.

Ideally, you’ll want to use a hosting plan that fits your specific needs and your budget. Of course, you can opt for the most expensive plan you can find, but it’s usually a waste of money unless you have a website that gets massive amounts of traffic.

If you’ve never had to sign up for hosting before, the sheer range of services available can be intimidating. That’s why we’re going to introduce you to each type of hosting plan. We’ll talk about which might be the best fit for your site and how much you can expect to spend on it.

7 Different Types of Web Hosting

The differences between hosting plans go well beyond costs and hardware. With that in mind, let’s look at the seven most common types of web hosting you’ll run across so that you’re well-equipped to make an informed decision.

1. Shared Hosting

Shared hosting plans are the most common for website owners. On this type of plan, a single server is shared among multiple users. That means a single computer (a shared server) will host several (or even hundreds of) websites.

Although you’ll share resources with other users, you don’t have access to their files, private information, or any other data. The upside to shared plans is that they tend to be cheap since hosting providers can divide server upkeep costs among multiple users.

Shared hosting doesn’t always have the best reputation, but the quality of the service you get will depend largely on your hosting provider. While some shared hosting plans are very limiting, others can handle websites that get decent amounts of traffic.

Shared plans are probably your best options if you’re in the market for starter web hosting. The world of web hosting is so competitive nowadays that it’s not uncommon to find shared plans for below $5 per month.

Remember that many web hosts want to lock you into multi-year contracts to get the best rates. That’s not necessarily a bad thing if you’re sure about the web host you’re using, but it can be intimidating if this is your first time signing up for a plan.

Pros of shared hosting:

• It’s easy to find plans for less than $5 per month.
• Depending on your service provider, you can get excellent performance on medium or small business websites.

Cons of shared hosting:

• Shared plans often don’t perform well for websites with heavy traffic.
• For the best rates, you’ll often have to sign up for a multi-year contract.

Who is shared hosting best for:

As a beginner, shared hosting should be your go-to option. With the right provider, you’ll have all the tools you need to get your project going and plenty of room to scale up over time.

2. Virtual Private Server (VPS) Hosting

Virtual Private Servers (VPSs) are a step above shared plans when it comes to performance and customizability. On a VPS plan, a single physical server will contain multiple virtually-partitioned sections. Each container, or VPS, acts as a complete system devoted just to your site.

In practical terms, VPSs provide a higher degree of isolation between users, although you still share the same physical server. Nevertheless, this setup can enhance performance and security. Plus, depending on your hosting provider, you might be able to configure your VPS from scratch and get precisely the resources you need.

To give you an idea of what you’re looking for, a single-core VPS with 1 GB of RAM is enough to run a simple WordPress website. However, figuring out the precise amount of resources you need for each new project can be tricky. This might make a VPS a less attractive option if you’re new to web hosting.

With VPS hosting, you may not get access to a control panel out of the box, which means you might have to use the command line to configure your server and set up a website. If you don’t have experience, it can be a complicated process.

Since VPSs are all across the board when it comes to resources, prices can vary. Just as with shared hosting, it’s not uncommon to find VPSs starting at around $5 per month. However, if you plan on using a VPS, we recommend budgeting at least $10-20 per month for hosting.

Pros of VPS hosting:

• You get fully dedicated resources for your website.
• Depending on your host, you might be able to configure your VPS to your specific needs.

Cons of VPS hosting:

• Calculating the amount of resources you need can be challenging.
• Configuring a VPS often requires some technical know-how.

Who VPS hosting is best for:

If you want full control over your server without spending hundreds of dollars on a dedicated plan, consider using a VPS. The high level of customizability also makes it an attractive option.

3. Cloud Hosting

Cloud hosting is where things begin to get a little trickier. When people talk about the “cloud,” they’re usually referring to distributed VPSs. Instead of having a virtual server stored on one computer, it’s hosted on a whole network of them.

That network of computers is what we call the “cloud.” The advantage of this setup is that, with a network, you can easily scale your server’s resources as needed. Plus, thanks to the system’s built-in redundancy, you won’t have to worry about downtime and data loss.

This all sounds excellent on paper, but cloud hosting is not always newbie-friendly. For example, many cloud hosting providers charge by the hour. You “spin up” an instance (essentially a VPS), configure it to your needs, and start accumulating charges.

Cloud hosting can be either very cheap or incredibly expensive, depending on your server configuration. It’s the type of setup that some massive internet-based companies, such as Netflix, use to power their operations. However, you probably don’t need anything like Netflix’s hosting configuration for a regular website.

Pros of cloud hosting:

• It offers a high degree of scalability.
• You can customize your server as you see fit.

Cons of cloud hosting:

• The payment structures for cloud hosting can be complicated.
• It’s not well suited for users who don’t have experience with configuring a server.

Who cloud hosting is best for:

If you like tinkering with your server’s configuration and want a high degree of scalability, cloud hosting is worth looking into.

4. Dedicated Hosting

So far, we’ve only discussed hosting plans where you share servers with other users. Servers are expensive, so if you desire a private one all to yourself, you’ll pay a premium for it.

With a dedicated server, you’ll get exclusive access to a single server (or sometimes more than one). That means you’ll have complete control over its configuration, and the web hosting provider simply houses it for you.

Dedicated servers are basically the top-of-the-line options for web hosting. At this level, you can expect to pay at least $100 per month, and prices only go up from there.

If you’re launching a new website as a hobby, a dedicated server would be overkill. This hosting solution only makes sense for businesses and established websites that need access to powerful hardware.

Pros of dedicated hosting:

• You get a whole server to yourself.
• In most situations, you can configure your server to your liking.
• DreamHost users get uncapped bandwidth.

Cons of dedicated hosting:

• It’s an expensive option.

Who dedicated hosting is best for:

Dedicated hosting is the go-to choice for websites that require the very best when it comes to performance and have the budget for it.

5. Managed WordPress Hosting

Managed WordPress hosting is a little different from the other options here. It’s not a type of plan, but rather a kind of service. With managed WordPress hosting, your provider takes care of a lot of the day-to-day maintenance tasks that would otherwise fall on your shoulders. Those tasks include backups, security monitoring, software updates, and more.

It’s important to understand that managed hosting plans can come in every flavor; There are managed shared plans, managed VPSs, and even managed dedicated servers. In all of these cases, you pay a little extra so you don’t need to worry about the nuts and bolts of hosting.

You don’t need a WordPress-specific plan to set up a website with the platform. However, these plans tend to be optimized to provide better performance and make your life much simpler. So if you plan on using WordPress, this hosting can be a smart pick.

On top of WordPress-specific plans, there are also entire hosting platforms that only work with this CMS. Often, that means they have WordPress experts on staff as a part of their support teams, which can be a nice perk. Best of all, WordPress hosting plans are typically priced about the same as their more generic counterparts.

Pros of managed WordPress hosting:

• It often comes with some level of managed service.
• You get access to WordPress-specific perks, such as free plugin licenses and one-click installations.

Cons of managed WordPress hosting:

• It’s only valuable for WordPress users and limits your ability to use other platforms.

Who managed WordPress hosting is best for:

You can set up WordPress on any type of web hosting plan. However, if you want a plan tailored to the CMS from the ground up, WordPress hosting can be an excellent investment.

6. Reseller Hosting

If you run a business that revolves around building websites, such as a development or design agency, you’ll probably have to deal with hosting. A lot of clients don’t quite understand how hosting works and could use help getting everything set up and working.

Reseller hosting offers a solution for those situations. In a nutshell, you get access to an account that lets you provide hosting to your clients. Those clients pay you directly, and you’re responsible for managing their accounts.

Most web hosts that offer reseller accounts enable you to charge whatever you wish for hosting. This means that if you run a web development agency, you can transform hosting into a source of recurring revenue.

However, reselling hosting is not for individual projects or regular users. If all you’re looking for is a plan enabling you to set up a website of your own, then you’ll want to consider another option on this list.

Pros of reseller hosting:

• You can set up hosting accounts for third-party users and charge them directly.
• You’re in complete control of the hosting experience.

Cons of reseller hosting:

• You’re usually responsible for billing clients, which comes with a lot of responsibility.
• In most cases, you’ll have to take care of maintenance and support tasks independently.

Who reseller hosting is best for:

If you run a business that needs to help web hosting for clients, it can make sense to offer that service in-house. With reseller hosting, you can bill clients directly for hosting and take care of maintenance for them while having another company provide the infrastructure.

How to Choose a Web Host (15-Point Checklist)

There are many aspects to consider when choosing a hosting provider, and the process can seem overwhelming at first. That’s why we’ve listed the 15 most important questions to ask when making your choice!

1. How Reliable Are the Host’s Servers?

Performance and uptime can make or break your website. Your website’s performance influences Search Engine Optimization (SEO), bounce and conversion rates, and how trustworthy your site appears to visitors. We’re not exaggerating when we say that your server’s reliability directly impacts your website’s bottom line.

Any provider you consider should have an uptime guarantee of at least 99%. This ensures that your website is rarely unavailable for your visitors. At DreamHost, our uptime guarantee is 100%, per our Terms of Service.

It’s also wise to see what performance-related features a host offers. These can include built-in caching, access to a Content Delivery Service (CDN), and more.

Rather than taking claims and reviews at face value, you can test the host’s responsiveness for yourself. For example, if you know a website that’s hosted by the company you’re interested in using, just enter that URL into Google’s PageSpeed Insights. If possible, you may even want to get access to a test account or sign up for a free trial and use it to conduct further testing.

2. Is It Easy to Upgrade Your Plan?

If you’ve created a website with all the elements it needs to succeed, chances are it’s going to grow. With any luck, you’ll see an increase in traffic and conversion rates. This will likely mean you’ll have to upgrade your web hosting plan.

Most new sites start on a shared, low-cost plan. However, as your online presence expands, you’ll need more resources, bandwidth, and disk space to maintain your site for all its users. A host that offers easy upgrades to a Virtual Private Server (VPS), Managed WordPress, or Dedicated Hosting plan can make this process smoother.

If you choose a host that makes it challenging to change your plan, you could find yourself migrating to a new provider just a few months after launching your site. This can ultimately be a waste of time and money.

3. Can You Easily Add a Domain?

As your digital brand grows, you may want to expand your current site or start a new one altogether. Alternatively, perhaps you simply like collecting domain names and getting into website flipping.

Whatever the reason, if you’re going to purchase additional domains, you’ll need a host that makes it simple to acquire and manage them. Choosing a provider that offers unlimited domains ensures that you won’t ever run out of space.

For instance, with DreamHost, you can add as many domains and subdomains to your shared, VPS, or dedicated hosting plan.

4. Are There Significant Differences in the Sign-Up and Renewal Costs?

It’s important to choose an affordable host. When you sign up, you don’t want to be roped into a plan that’s more expensive than you can afford. With this in mind, it’s important to note that most hosting companies offer sign-up deals for new customers, but renewals may cost more.

Make sure to look into your potential host’s renewal fees as well as the initial sign-up costs. Some difference between these two is an industry norm, but you’ll want to keep the difference as low as possible and avoid a higher renewal rate.

5. Does the Host Have a Generous Refund Policy?

In an ideal world, you’ll choose the perfect host the first time around, your website will flourish, and you’ll never need to cancel your service. Unfortunately, things don’t always go according to plan.

If you need to cancel your hosting for any reason, you’ll want to avoid excessive fees. It’s also wise to choose a host that offers a free trial period, so if things don’t work out in the first few weeks of service, you can cancel without penalty.

6. Is There a One-Click Installer?

As the most popular CMS on the web, WordPress often receives additional support from hosting companies. Managed WordPress plans and WordPress-related features can be especially helpful if this is the platform you’ll use.

A particularly useful feature that some hosts offer is a one-click WordPress installer. It allows you to sit back, relax, and let your host install WordPress for you.

7. Will Your Host Provide Email Addresses for Your Domain?

You might be used to having your personal email handled through Google or another service — That’s one reason why email is often an afterthought for your business and website.

If you want your email to match your website’s name, you will need a host for that service too. Sometimes an email address will be included in your hosting plan, with limited usage. However, if you plan on using email marketing to reach your audience, exploring your email hosting options is highly recommended:

There are pros and cons to combining your email host and your web host. Unless your host has provisions for protecting one or the other, you could face an “if one goes out, they all go out” scenario. This means that if your web host crashes, it will take your email with it as well.

On the other hand, keeping both services in the same place can simplify your life, and a reliable host should be able to avoid those kinds of problems. Fortunately, DreamHost offers several options for email hosting. Whether you are looking for a standalone email host, or a web hosting plan that includes secure email, we have you covered.

8. Will You Have Easy SFTP Access?

Secure File Transfer Protocol (SFTP) is a vital tool for website maintenance. At some point, you’ll likely have to use it to resolve an error, customize your site files, and carry out different tasks.

Your host should provide credentials so that you can use an SFTP client, such as FileZilla. This information should be easy to locate so that you can access it anytime:

Additionally, some hosts will provide their own FTP clients for your use as well. This is a nice perk, and can be an easier and more secure option than third-party clients.

9. How Difficult Is It to Find and Edit .htaccess?

For WordPress users, the .htaccess file is a crucial part of your site. It contains a wealth of configuration information that influences permalink structure, caching, 301 redirects, file accessibility, and more.

You may need to edit .htaccess at some point to resolve an error, tighten security, or carry out other tasks to improve your site. This is not the easiest task, since .htaccess is a hidden file.

Even if you can find the file, editing it via SFTP can be risky — It’s helpful if your web host provides a file manager for editing .htaccess since this can minimize the risks to the rest of your site.

10. What E-Commerce Features Are Included?

All websites have the same basic needs. However, if you’re running an e-commerce site, you’ll need some unique features.

For instance, you’ll probably want more frequent backups and a CDN to reach customers around the world.

A specialized e-commerce website hosting plan can provide the support your online store needs at an affordable rate. For example, you might want a plan designed specifically for WooCommerce:

Some plans — including our e-commerce plans — will even pre-install WooCommerce and the Storefront theme for WordPress retailers. With these configurations taken care of, you can focus on growing your business.

11. Can You Easily Navigate and Use the Control Panel?

You’ll be spending a lot of time in your hosting control panel. Being able to navigate around your account easily can make website management much less challenging. Plus, you won’t have to rely on support as much while figuring out tasks such as billing and upgrading.

Choosing a host that offers a custom control panel can save you a lot of headaches in the long run. The DreamHost panel is designed to be user-friendly so you can easily find information on your site, contact support, or edit your account information:

Since you’ll likely be the primary administrator on your website, you’ll want to find the best option for you. To do this, consider checking out demos or tours of the control panel before you contract a host.

12. Are SSL Certificates Included?

Secure Socket Layer (SSL) certificates are vital for keeping your site and users safe. This is particularly true if you deal with sensitive information such as credit card details.

Adding an SSL certificate to your site is usually an additional expense. However, some hosting providers will include one in your plan at no extra cost. Choosing one of these hosts saves you extra money while helping to keep your site secure.

13. How Often Will You Have to Renew Your Subscription?

Many hosts require a monthly subscription from their customers. If the fees are low enough, you might not mind having to pay monthly. However, this option isn’t always the most cost-effective.

Other hosts will offer one or even three-year plans. By paying for a longer term upfront, you can often save some money down the line. When comparing prices between hosts, make sure to consider this:

Don’t forget that you’ll have to renew your domain name as well. This is usually an annual occurrence, although you can find options for two- and three-year registrations here at DreamHost. You might also sign up for an auto-renewal program so you won’t forget to renew your domain.

14. Does the Web Host Offer Easy Site Backups?

We all like to think the worst will never happen to us, but it’s best to be prepared. Accidents and attacks happen, and if your site has been compromised, you’ll want a way to restore it.

Backups ensure that you have a way to bring your site back if it’s lost. While many methods are available for backing up a website, one of the easiest is to do it through your web host. It’s even more convenient if your host offers automated daily backups for your site and one-click on-demand backups.

15. Can You Quickly Access Support 24/7?

Your relationship with your web host will hopefully be a long one. Reliable customer support is vital to a mutually beneficial relationship. Ensure your host has multiple contact methods and a 24/7 support team can guarantee that someone will be available whenever you need help.

Additionally, specific support for WordPress, e-commerce, or other niches can come in handy. Choosing a host with a knowledgeable team will ensure that your site has the best support possible.

For example, if you opt for DreamPress, our WordPress-specific managed hosting, you’ll get priority access to our elite squad of in-house WordPress experts.

When Should You Upgrade Your Hosting Plan?

If you already have hosting, you may wonder if it’s time to upgrade your plan. Based on the pros and cons we explained in the previous section, you may already be leaning one way or the other.

However, here are some of the signs you might need to think about evaluating new web hosting providers:

Your site’s performance is suffering.

Speed and performance play a huge role in search result rankings and user experience. Most people expect any site they visit to load in two seconds or less — If yours is slower than that, you may need a hosting plan with more resources.

You can test your site’s performance easily with Pingdom, GTmetrix, or WebPagetest. You’ll also want to make sure your website is optimized for speed.

Your site is experiencing too much downtime.

The importance of uptime is clear — if people can’t visit your site, there’s a good chance they won’t try again. Believe it or not, expecting about 99 percent uptime on your site is completely reasonable. If that’s not what you’re seeing, you may be getting more traffic or using more resources than your current hosting plan can handle.

You’re concerned about security.

Shared hosting is fairly secure as long as you’re using a quality hosting company. Regardless of the plan, you should always take steps to secure your site. That being said, as your site grows, you may find the advanced security features offered by non-shared hosting plans can help you sleep a little bit easier at night.

Your current plan doesn’t provide enough space or resources.

As you add more content, attract more traffic, and generate more user activity, your site will take up additional space and require more server resources.

If even one of the above scenarios applies to you, it’s worth looking into other hosting options. A simple upgrade to a larger, more comprehensive plan might be all you need to eliminate these problems and ensure the best possible experience for your users.

Find the Right Web Hosting Service

When it comes to choosing a web host, it can be easy to get overwhelmed. There are many factors to consider, and your decision could ultimately determine your website’s success or failure.

However, if you go into your web hosting search with your needs clearly outlined, you’ll eventually find the best provider for you. Asking careful questions about the quality of the host’s services and equipment, the additional features it offers, and its pricing will steer you in the right direction.

Are you interested in reliable hosting for your website? DreamHost plans are affordable solutions that include performance and security management features. Check out our hosting packages today!

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We make sure your website is fast, secure & always up - so your visitors & search engines trust you. Guaranteed.

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Neither one is inherently better than the other — it all depends on your website’s unique requirements. You may need super-tight security, lightning-fast speed, a low price point, or scalable resources. By carefully considering the pros and cons of each option, however, you can have your cake and eat it too.

In this post, we’ll explain what VPS and shared hosting are and the main differences between them. Then, we’ll show you how to make the right choice for your website. Let’s get started!

What Is Shared Hosting?

With shared hosting, your site shares the same physical server with many other sites. It’s kind of like an apartment building: you get one unit in a larger structure. While you each have individual living spaces, you may share communal resources like a courtyard, garden, or pool with your neighbors.

There is no reason to be concerned, though. No one using the server can see what others have on it. With a shared hosting plan, you simply share some of the physical resources with other users.

This option tends to be the cheapest because providers can serve many customers from one machine. Shared servers offer customers less bandwidth, management flexibility, and performance, but the hosts take care of all technical configurations, maintenance, and security.

What Is VPS Hosting?

A step up from shared servers is Virtual Private Server (VPS) hosting, which offers more room to grow and fewer restrictions. This version of online real estate is similar to living in a condo. You’ll still share the physical server with a few others, but resources are partitioned off and dedicated to each user.

When you own a condo, you can make changes to your living area such as knocking down a wall. Similarly, virtual private servers allow you to modify the server to your liking. The level of customization lies somewhere between a shared plan and a dedicated server.

As we mentioned earlier, you’ll share server space but have your own resources. Since you don’t have to compete for computing power, there is less worry about other websites using up too much bandwidth or storage and slowing down your site.

If your website deals with secured data or resource-heavy applications, VPS hosting may be the way to go. These plans are typically more costly than shared hosting but still quite reasonable.

7 Key Differences Between VPS and Shared Hosting

If you’re creating a website for the first time, it can be difficult to choose the right hosting option. To help you decide between VPS and shared hosting, let’s discuss some of the key differences. Both options have their advantages and disadvantages, so let’s take a closer look at exactly what that entails.

1. Performance

As a website owner, it’s important to create a site that is both functional and aesthetically pleasing. However, if your web pages aren’t optimized for fast loading, these factors may not matter.

47% of online visitors expect web pages to load in under two seconds. That means if your website buffers for a longer amount of time, these users will likely be unsatisfied and quickly leave the page.

If you run an e-commerce website, you probably already know how important it is to retain customers. When your visitors experience an unsatisfactory loading performance, 79% of them are unlikely to return to your website.

Ultimately, this is not a lot of time to waste. Choosing the right hosting package is a serious business decision when you consider that mere milliseconds can determine whether people will do business with you.

A VPS hosting plan is almost always going to be faster than a shared hosting plan simply because your users don’t have to queue up with other sites’ visitors to access yours.

To illustrate the difference, imagine a carnival with different food vendors. If everyone had to stand in the same line to get to the vendors, the wait would be longer than if each food stand had its own line.

To put it simply, if your site is relatively small, a shared hosting plan will likely do perfectly fine. However, if your site is larger or is relied on for business and revenue growth, you’ll probably notice the difference.

VPS hosting offers more computing resources and processing power, which can boost the speed of most sites and, thus, increase conversions. Several VPS reviews emphasize performance and reliability when comparing DreamHost with our competitors.

2. Reliability and Stability

When we talk about the availability of a web host, we’re not checking its calendar or relationship status. Rather, we’re examining how often you can expect your website to be working properly. This includes any loading issues because of server or networking problems.

This directly correlates to the uptime of a server, or how often the server is up and running. Uptime is listed as a percentage, and, generally, anything 99.9% and above is considered excellent.

Uptime is important for any website because it determines whether your online presence will be available and open to visitors whenever they appear. This can be especially crucial for professional portfolios, business sites, and e-commerce stores.

Keep in mind that problems can arise with servers in both shared and VPS hosting plans. Much of this depends on the quality of the server hardware and software, as well as the provider’s expertise, support, and management practices.

However, with a VPS hosting plan, fewer customers exist on each server. Each partition can be configured and customized for a particular website or application’s requirements. This extra attention means each VPS is typically more secure and stable.

In a shared hosting environment, there are many websites that could potentially overload the server. A VPS resides in an independent hosting environment and, thus, there is no worry about whether other accounts can affect access to your site.

DreamHost is one of a select few providers that delivers a 100% uptime guarantee, meaning our data centers have a reliable, modern, and redundant infrastructure. In the rare case that your website experiences unexpected downtime, DreamHost will reimburse you the cost of a full day’s worth of hosting expenses.

3. Security

In a shared hosting environment, there is typically more risk for security breaches. Simply because there are more sites on a server, there are more opportunities for attackers to gain entry. Additionally, shared hosting customers are usually the least experienced with web hosting precautions, meaning that server vulnerabilities could be caused by your hosting neighbors.

When one customer sharing the server forgets to update WordPress or has a page that becomes compromised, it can impact other sites on the same machine. Just like performance and reliability, however, the risks can vary wildly depending on how much the hosting company has invested in the security of its servers.

DreamHost, for example, offers Let’s Encrypt SSL/TLS certificates on all domains it hosts. This means that data passed through each site is always safely encrypted.

Websites that deal with a lot of user data or payment information may benefit from choosing VPS hosting. This option offers robust security features that are usually managed by seasoned professionals, so you have less to worry about when it comes to securing sensitive information.

To understand this, consider what it would be like to purchase home security. Basic options come with a few sensors and signs that deter people from breaking in. More sophisticated options, however, include cameras and other monitoring devices that provide additional protection — this is more like a VPS hosting environment.

The world-class security engineering team at DreamHost, lovingly known internally as Nightmare Labs, helps keep websites running smoothly without breaches. By ensuring that your site has the latest patches and security upgrades, you can rest assured that your site is protected.

4. Price

In shared hosting, the cost is split among the many users of the shared server. For this reason, you can generally expect these plans to be more affordable. A VPS plan provides more resources and tends to be more reliable, so it often costs more.

Therefore, from the standpoint of pricing, shared hosting is usually going to be the most economical option overall. At DreamHost, shared hosting plans start at $2.59 per month and increase depending on the features and billing cycle you choose.

VPS hosting plans come with more premium features like increased performance and customizations for online businesses. The VPS hosting plans at DreamHost start at $10 per month, offering a range of varying storage and RAM allocations.

5. Managed Services

So far, we’ve talked about what constitutes shared servers and virtual private servers, but we’ve yet to talk about who manages them. It’s important to know that most of the time, shared servers are managed, which means that expert employees of the hosting provider will ensure the servers are updated and secured. Shared hosting technicians can also assist with tasks such as migrations, backups, monitoring, updates, and maintenance.

A VPS can be either managed or unmanaged, with the latter referring to a service where the company only assists with problems with its server or network. For example, the customer would be responsible for installing and maintaining software and configurations.

When selecting a VPS host, you can expect more features and support with a managed plan. To decide between a managed and unmanaged VPS, you’ll need to evaluate how much time you want to invest in maintaining the reliability and performance of your site, along with your technical ability to do so.

At DreamHost, we offer managed VPS, so you can be assured that you will get high-quality assistance from the 24/7 technical support team. This can help you easily diagnose and resolve unexpected performance and security issues on your website.

6. Scalability

Scalability is how well your hosting plan will accommodate the growth of your website. This is often the make-or-break feature when deciding between shared or VPS hosting. There are several aspects to scalability, including storage and server capabilities.

A shared hosting plan is well suited for low-to-medium traffic websites, particularly if the visits are spread out over the course of the month. As your site grows, or if its traffic tends to arrive in large bursts, a shared server may not be able to keep up with the increased workload. A VPS hosting plan will provide more guaranteed headroom with resources dedicated to your site, and your site alone.

Resources can often be adjusted to adapt to various traffic trends. For instance, e-commerce stores will likely need more bandwidth to handle the rush of shoppers on Black Friday. Therefore, if you expect to add a lot more content and traffic, a VPS hosting plan is typically a good investment.

Some website owners opt to go with an affordable shared hosting plan initially. This way, they can test an idea and then switch to a VPS plan later. If you anticipate rapid growth, however, you may want to consider starting out with a VPS host right away. When user demand starts to exceed server resources, there is no other option but to upgrade your plan.

7. Customizations

On a shared hosting plan, your server will be pre-configured and optimized for most users. If you’re a beginner, you may not want to modify your server environment at all. In this case, shared hosting may be right for you.

To optimize your website’s performance, you may want to have more control over your installed software. With a virtual private server, you generally have fewer restrictions as far as customizing and installing applications on the server. Unlike shared hosting, you’ll be able to set up new software and customize it to your needs.

Remember, with great power comes great responsibility. With access to the server’s software and settings, you don’t want to inadvertently delete the wrong file or misconfigure a critical component. If you’re new to web development, you may want to start with a shared hosting plan until you learn the ins and outs of these skills.

How to Decide Between VPS and Shared Hosting

With shared hosting, you won’t have to worry about upgrades because most of them are done automatically. Since you won’t need to maintain your own server, no technical expertise is required.

Moreover, shared hosting can be a great choice if you have minimal traffic or are just looking for hosting that’s easy to maintain. This type of plan can be well-suited for:

• Blogs and personal websites
• Small to midsize companies
• E-commerce sites expecting up to 500 visitors per day
• People who are planning start-ups

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Like shared hosting, VPS hosting offers a number of its own advantages. Since you’re in full control of your server, you can configure it in any way you please. This can be extremely useful for seasoned WordPress developers.

You’ll also enjoy a tremendous amount of bandwidth and storage that is entirely yours. VPS hosting provides easy backups and scalability, and you can run numerous batch files with your shell access.

Here are some common cases in which a virtual private server is probably appropriate:

• Businesses that are expanding rapidly beyond shared hosting
• Companies that expect a substantial increase in traffic in a short few months
• Businesses that plan to host numerous websites in the near future
• High-traffic websites in need of extraordinary bandwidth and security

In short, VPS hosting is great when your site is going through rapid growth and expansion as it can keep up with your success. Meanwhile, shared hosting is a terrific entry point into web hosting, allowing you to enjoy affordable hosting as your business develops.

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When to Upgrade from Shared Hosting to VPS Hosting

If you’re already using a shared hosting plan, you might wonder if it’s time to move on to VPS hosting. Fortunately, there are a few warning signs that can indicate your site is ready for this change.

It’s probably time to get serious about switching when:

• Your website receives a large number of daily visits
• You need additional resource allocation like RAM, CPU, disk space, or bandwidth
• Your website takes longer than 3 seconds to load
• You receive a lot of unexpected downtime

Whenever you notice any of these factors, it could be time to switch to a VPS. Shared hosting is ideal for smaller websites that need fewer resources, so you should upgrade if your site needs more.

Additionally, you’d be wise to consider scalability. If you plan to host multiple websites for your businesses, you can upgrade to a VPS to accommodate this development. In general, think about what your website currently needs, as well as what it will require for future growth.

Choose the Right Hosting Plan

Ultimately, choosing the wrong type of server can result in a lack of resources. This could be in the form of storage space, scalability, or affordability. However, you can easily avoid this by selecting the best hosting plan for your website.

You’ll want to make sure you evaluate your site’s current needs, as well as your plans for the future. Shared hosting can be a beginner-friendly and cost-effective option for smaller sites. Meanwhile, virtual private servers can provide better security, reliability, and customization options, which is ideal for larger sites with higher traffic.

Want to try VPS or shared hosting? At DreamHost, we offer a variety of both options. That means no matter your budget, required resources, or growth potential, you’ll be able to find a suitable plan for your site!

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Let’s start with the basics: shared hosting and dedicated hosting. Neither system is going to be right for everyone, so you’ll need to identify your needs and do your homework. Fortunately, we’re here to explore the different options and help you make an informed choice.

In this guide, we’ll go through a full rundown of shared hosting vs. dedicated hosting. Let’s get started!

Shared Web Hosting

With shared web hosting, one physical server is shared by several users who tap into the same resources. Everyone shares the cost of storage, bandwidth, and other features. Web neighbors can’t access other accounts or websites, so the system is safe and secure:

Credit: Seobility – License: CC BY-SA 4.0

Its cost-effectiveness and ease of use make shared web hosting a popular choice. Your web host will set up your server and install the necessary software.

All you have to do is upload your website or application. Using the simple control panel, you can create and manage your database, email account, and other tools for doing business.

Shared hosting may be an ideal solution if:

• Your business is small to mid-sized.
• Your traffic is limited to a few hundred monthly visitors.
• The content on your website is frequently updated.
• You have no earthly idea how to configure a server, install and upgrade its software or perform technical maintenance.

At DreamHost, we offer affordable shared hosting plans for WordPress sites. Plus, our plans come with a free domain name!

Why Choose Shared Hosting?

If you’re new to web hosting, a shared platform is great for learning the ropes. It’s perfectly adequate for businesses and websites with light to moderate web traffic which don’t require complex customized server configurations.

You could think of it like a large house shared by several roommates. Expenses for things like food, cleaning supplies, and electricity are divided. If the fridge stops working, the kind landlord lives right next door. The arrangement saves everyone money, and things work out nicely, provided no one drinks directly from the milk carton.

Dedicated Web Hosting

With dedicated hosting, you’re the sole user on the server. Its capacity and resources are all yours. This gives you much more control over its configuration and overall operating environment. There’s also a wider variety of services and software to choose from.

Not every business needs all the bells and whistles that dedicated hosting provides. Still, it might make sense under the following circumstances:

• Your business is continually growing and adding products or services, so you need the control and flexibility to customize the server, choose your software and adapt the system to changing needs.
• Your website features a significant amount of video streaming and high-resolution photos.
• You want a unique IP address that you don’t have to share with other websites.
• Your business handles extremely sensitive transactions, requiring enhanced security features.

If you’re looking for a dedicated server, we offer fully-managed dedicated hosting. You’ll have root access to your server, along with 24/7 monitoring and support to keep things running smoothly.

Why Choose Dedicated Hosting?

Understandably, having a dedicated server all to yourself costs more than shared hosting. After all, there are more features and resources to choose from. Unless you have excellent technical skills or strong tech support in your company, you’ll probably need a package that includes building and maintaining the equipment.

These additional features come at a price, but they’re worth it for clients who need complete control of the operating environment and a little extra security. Furthermore, dedicated hosting can be a better option if you have a high-traffic site that’s continually growing.

Choose the Best Hosting Plan for Your Website

Shared hosting and dedicated hosting come with their own pros and cons. On the one hand, shared hosting is an affordable option that’s perfectly suitable for small to medium businesses. You also won’t need to worry about configuring your server.

By contrast, a dedicated server offers superior performance and gives you complete control over your server’s configuration. It’s an excellent option for larger businesses, high-traffic sites, and tech-savvy users.

At DreamHost, we offer both shared hosting and dedicated hosting plans. Contact us today to find out which service is right for your website!

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