What To Look For in A Web Host?
When you are about to start an affiliate marketing website or any new website for that matter, you need to find a good web hosting service, especially if you do not have previous experience in building and managing a website. A good web host ensures that you are not concerned with any aspect of running your site.
As a beginner, you may wish to go for a cheaper hosting service to reduce overhead costs. Most people prefer a web host that does not require the users to have extensive knowledge about web development and a friendly interface that anyone can use. You will also want to look for a web host that assists with SEO, as it is necessary for your affiliate marketing site’s success.
When you opt for the right hosting service, the work seems more accessible to you, and you realize that installing WordPress and creating a professional-looking site is a simple process. One thing to be considered is the WordPress-specific hosting plans offered. Also, make sure that they provide ample customer support so that you do not get stuck during your web hosting experience.
Top 4 Web Hosting Services Recommended for Affiliate Marketers
With the numerous options of web hosts available, it may be difficult for you to choose one, especially for a beginner who does not have a clear idea of what to look for. Here, we have the top four recommended web hosts for affiliate marketers. All of these are fit for beginners and medium-sized businesses looking for an affordable web hosting solution. They provide all-inclusive services so that you do not have to worry about handling your site’s technical aspects.
The Top Recommendation – BlueHost
BlueHost is a renowned web hosting platform that offers affordable services that are easy to use. Their targeted market is new and inexperienced users and small and medium-sized businesses. They have developed their user interface to match this target with a straightforward platform. With the BlueHost platform, you can WordPress with a single click, and design and launch your website within a few minutes.
When you sign-up with BlueHost, you receive free domain name registration, 24/7 customer support, a simple yet efficient website builder, and unlimited storage space, bandwidth, and email accounts. They also provide resources for helping you with the operation along with their reliable service.
What makes BlueHost the perfect choice and top pick for affiliate marketers is its simple user interface and reliability.
Signing Up With BlueHost and Installing WordPress – In 10 Easy Steps
As BlueHost is the top recommendation for web hosting, we shall see a detailed look into signing up with BlueHost and installing WordPress.
- Step 1 – Sign Up With BlueHost
Visit the BlueHost website and click the Get Started Now button to begin the sign-up process. When signing up with BlueHost, you do not have to worry as they provide services for new websites and well-established websites with equal efficiency.
- Step 2 – Select Your Plan
The next step is to choose your preferred plan. If you are starting a new website, then the Basic Plan would cater to your needs as a beginner. Once your website expands and you start getting more traffic, you can upgrade to their advanced plans.
- Step 3 – Select a Domain name for Your Website.
When you host with BlueHost, they provide you a free domain name. If you are starting a new website, you can type your preferred domain name under the option New Domain. In case you haven’t decided on a domain name yet, you can skip the step. You can also change your domain name after you complete the sign-up process. If you already have a domain name, you can enter that under I have a domain name.
- Step 4 – Enter Account Information
In this step, you will have to enter your information and payment details. Payment details include your credit card number, expiration date, and CVV code. Once you have reached this step, your hosting account has been created. To proceed to the next part of signing up with BlueHost, check your email inbox and confirm.
- Step 5 – Set Your Password
Set a strong password for your account. Make sure you are using this password only for your hosting account. This is an added safety measure.
- Step 6 – Sign In To Your Account
Once you have set your password, you can sign in to your BlueHost account and start setting up your website.
- Step 7 – Install WordPress With a Single Click
BlueHost makes WordPress installation extremely easy. With BlueHost, your WordPress installation package is just a click away. The next step is selecting a theme you prefer for your website from the pre-designed set of free themes. If you’re unsure about your choice of the theme, you can change it later. If you have made up your mind regarding the theme, click Start Building to continue your website building journey.
- Step 8 – Choose the Type Of Website
Here, you need to select what type of website you want to host. You have two options, a business website, and a personal website. This is not a very important step, and you can change it later.
- Step 9 – Get Used to the WordPress Dashboard
What makes BlueHost the top recommendation when compared to other hosting platforms is its ease of use. BlueHost offers specific tools that make it easier to navigate WordPress, which is more straightforward than navigating WordPress itself. This step is aimed at getting familiar with the dashboard and the various features.
There is a section to set up your website’s official title and give it an apt description. Make sure it is something that catches the eye and prompts people to visit your page, as this is the text that will be visible in the search results.
You can proceed to get yourself familiarized with the control panel of BlueHost. It is easy to navigate through while also providing many useful features.
- Step 10 – Start Working On Your Content!
Your content is what inspires people to visit your website. Now that you are done designing your website and setting it up, you can start publishing content to attract visitors. Ensure your content is relevant to the audience’s interests so that you get more organic traffic into your site.
HostGator
HostGator is popular among affiliate marketers for their affordable price, and it is the best hosting platform in that price range. They offer free domain name, website transfer, unlimited storage space and bandwidth, and a free website builder. The site builder comes with more than 4000 free templates. What makes HostGator more preferred is their money back policy and uptime guarantee. If you are dissatisfied with the services, you can avail of the 45-day money-back full refund. HostGator also assures 99.99% uptime, which is excellent for affiliate marketing sites and blogs. ‘
In terms of experience, it would help if you were more experienced in web development as their cPanel is not very user friendly, especially for beginners. There are also more tools and flexibility options that you can utilize to your benefit if you are an experienced user. HostGator also offers tools to market your website, and these can be launched quickly with the Quick App Installer.
Like BlueHost, HostGator also has an affiliate referral program that earns you $50 for each referral, which grows exponentially as you refer to more users. Upon signing up, you will receive $100 Yahoo credit and $100 worth of credit with Google Adwords, both for free. Thus, HostGator provides its customers with bonuses.
DreamHost
DreamHost is a web hosting platform designed with the needs of entrepreneurs in mind. Their cPanel is unlike the standard cPanel offered by other companies; it has a design that caters to entrepreneurs’ needs, with marketing tools that can be installed with a single click, and analytic tools that can help your website grow. Although priced higher than other web hosting services, DreamHost offers more free features and plug-ins, which will be useful, especially if you are an entrepreneur.
Upon signing up with DreamHost, you get a domain name, site builder, and privacy protection with SSL or TLS certificates, all of which are free. You also get $100 worth credit in Google Adwords. Apart from that, they have no restrictions on bandwidth and storage. They guarantee 100% uptime, with free credits in case your site goes down. If you are dissatisfied with the services, you can avail of their 97-day money-back guarantee.
SiteGround
If you are looking to run a WordPress site or transfer an existing site from another hosting provider, SiteGround is an excellent option for you. They offer free domain transfer that can be done with a single click, and features that cater specifically to WordPress. SiteGround provides an excellent assured uptime of 99.99%, and it is one of the fastest and most reliable web hosting services. If you are looking for a reliable, affordable hosting service that provides the necessary features, SiteGround is a perfect choice. Their pricing plans start at $3.95 per month, and it comes with a free domain name, free SSL certification, and free site builder. Included in the package are 10GB of disk space and complimentary email accounts.
What makes SiteGround more preferred is the friendly user interface of their control panel and a quick and easy app installation process. The site builder is an easy drag and drop builder, making your job easier. Although they do not offer credits like DreamHost and HostGator, they provide excellent customer and technical support. One feature that makes SiteGround stand out is its analytics tools and features for search engine optimization that can increase your site’s visibility to gain more traffic.
Choosing the perfect web hosting may be challenging, but we have four great options rounded up here – BlueHost, HostGator, DreamHost, and SiteGround. All of these are excellent options for entrepreneurs, especially with precisely optimized features. They come with friendly user interfaces, reliable service, affordable rates, and money-back guarantees if you are dissatisfied. If you are looking to start an affiliate marketing website, consider these web hosting platforms that offer trustworthy services.