Website hosting service

[cstech]

Now before everybody starts in I did some searches and found a few places that might meet what I am looking for but just wanted some advice from here first. I am looking for a place to host a simple CMS site either wordpress or PHPWebsite (appalachian state grad) I like the simplicity of each and have used PHPWebsite before rather effectively but really want to look at wordpress as a backbone to my main site.

I am just starting up so cost is a big thing. What I need from this hosting is:

5 email addresses
Small amount of storage
PHP and MySQL
Wordpress
ability to grow with me would be nice

Any suggestions as to where to look? It has been years since I have had the need to host anything more than a free google site so I am not really sure what places are good and what are fly by night hosting. Thanks in advance for any thoughts.

EDIT: I forgot to mention that I do have my own domain setup already that will need to be set with the hosting service.

 

[seedubya]

The answer to this is simply ANYBODY! What you're looking for is bog standard on every hosting package I've ever seen. I'm on the wrong side of the big water to offer recommendations for anyone in the US.

As for your domain - it's only a matter of changing changing nameservers to your new host. This is normally done in your registrars control panel.

 

[ajm]

Hi. If you are happy to host with servers in the UK let me know and I can assist. Have also sent you a PM

 

[seedubya]

Hi. If you are happy to host with servers in the UK let me know and I can assist. Have also sent you a PM

CMIIR but I don't think this is the best approach. You should host on US based servers because Google takes IP location into account for ranking. Its impact, admittedly, appears minimal but why would you do anything that might impinge negatively on your ranking when so many alternatives exist locally?

Sorry AbbasMuraj, I'm sure your hosting is excellent - I just don't think it's right in this case.

 

[ComputerRepairTech]

The answer to this is simply ANYBODY! What you're looking for is bog standard on every hosting package I've ever seen. I'm on the wrong side of the big water to offer recommendations for anyone in the US.

As for your domain - it's only a matter of changing changing nameservers to your new host. This is normally done in your registrars control panel.

The answer is definitely not anybody. Its really hard to find a reliable host and when you finally find one you got to worry about how long its going to be reliable for. They all do the same thing jam the server till it cant possibly take any more and then move on to the next.

I tried several but now im paying for a decent size vps on knownhost.

 

[DocGreen]

I'm really happy with iPage... their rates are really low and they give you unlimited storage & emails. Wordpress integration is built right in, but it will support any kind of site you want. They also give you a bunch of freebies like advertising credit, etc., and their support is easy to get a hold of and deal with. Definitely worth checking out! If you do sign up, don't forget to tell them I referred you! (www.pcpitcrewsb.com) They give referral bonuses too

 

[repairtechinc]

Check out bluehost.com . Haven't failed me yet, and great customer service.

 

[NYJimbo]

...a simple CMS site either wordpress or PHPWebsite..

Use Wordpress but do not install it yourself unless you will be prepared to be upgrading it every time a new version comes out.

For best happy results get a host that uses Cpanel and make sure you can use either Fantastico or the Cpanel install to install WP AND that the installed version is the latest that WP offers.

After installing WP try to get to a point where you are testing the UPLOAD functions of your blog. This will determine if you host has everything set correctly OR can help you fix things that are broken.

 

[carrcomp]

Now before everybody starts in I did some searches and found a few places that might meet what I am looking for but just wanted some advice from here first. I am looking for a place to host a simple CMS site either wordpress or PHPWebsite (appalachian state grad) I like the simplicity of each and have used PHPWebsite before rather effectively but really want to look at wordpress as a backbone to my main site.

I am just starting up so cost is a big thing. What I need from this hosting is:

5 email addresses
Small amount of storage
PHP and MySQL
Wordpress
ability to grow with me would be nice

Any suggestions as to where to look? It has been years since I have had the need to host anything more than a free google site so I am not really sure what places are good and what are fly by night hosting. Thanks in advance for any thoughts.

EDIT: I forgot to mention that I do have my own domain setup already that will need to be set with the hosting service.

I provide hosting and have cpanel.

If you haven't found a host yet let me know and I can hook you up.

Special pricing for nibblers.

 

[seedubya]

The answer is definitely not anybody. Its really hard to find a reliable host and when you finally find one you got to worry about how long its going to be reliable for. They all do the same thing jam the server till it cant possibly take any more and then move on to the next.

I tried several but now im paying for a decent size vps on knownhost.

Not every webhost stuffs their shared hosting to that degree. Hostgator, Bluehost and Dreamhost all have good reputations for shared hosting. Paying for a VPS to host a single instance of WP is wasteful and unnecessary.

Use Wordpress but do not install it yourself unless you will be prepared to be upgrading it every time a new version comes out.

For best happy results get a host that uses Cpanel and make sure you can use either Fantastico or the Cpanel install to install WP AND that the installed version is the latest that WP offers.

After installing WP try to get to a point where you are testing the UPLOAD functions of your blog. This will determine if you host has everything set correctly OR can help you fix things that are broken.

Installing WP manually is to be preferred. Fantastico, Softalicous etc. come with serious caveats http://www.superb.net/blog/2013/04/12/the-case-against-wordpresscms-auto-installation/

Installing manually is very easy, especially for a tech. http://codex.wordpress.org/Installing_WordPress

 

[NYJimbo]

Installing WP manually is to be preferred. Fantastico, Softalicous etc. come with serious caveats http://www.superb.net/blog/2013/04/12/the-case-against-wordpresscms-auto-installation/

Installing manually is very easy, especially for a tech. http://codex.wordpress.org/Installing_WordPress

It's only preferred if you are going to update it when needed, as I noted, if you are a tech or not.

If you do not know how to do this or do not want to keep up with it then don't lie to yourself and do a manual install because you think you can deal with it later. I have to deal with dozens of customers every year with manual installs who did it once and thought that was all they had to do.

 

[SprinterTech-WI]

we run arvixe.... they do great, and even now with static IP's and full e-commerce, plus we host a few dozen customer sites it only runs me a few bucks a month... and unlimited emails

 

[seedubya]

It's only preferred if you are going to update it when needed, as I noted, if you are a tech or not.

If you do not know how to do this or do not want to keep up with it then don't lie to yourself and do a manual install because you think you can deal with it later. I have to deal with dozens of customers every year with manual installs who did it once and thought that was all they had to do.

When was the last time you updated WP? It's a one click operation OR, at worst a re-install which takes 10 minutes.

 

[NYJimbo]

When was the last time you updated WP? It's a one click operation OR, at worst a re-install which takes 10 minutes.

I am a web host with around a thousand customers and all of my customers use the WP install from either Cpanel or Fantastico. If they use it from outside of that I will not support them because they do not know what they are doing and will not put in any effort to figure it out on there own.

So my point is that if you do use WP, don't do a custom install if you don't want to keep it up and deal with all the problems yourself. Your web host will most likely not hold your hand on your custom install.

 

[ComputerRepairTech]

Not every webhost stuffs their shared hosting to that degree. Hostgator, Bluehost and Dreamhost all have good reputations for shared hosting. Paying for a VPS to host a single instance of WP is wasteful and unnecessary.

I have my VPS for my site but i resell to friends and what not. Hostgator bluehost dreamhost reputation means jack. Fact is unless a host is down right god awful they don't get bad reputations because the average user doesnt keep track. Even the ones that keep track and post usually they post some silly stats like their first 30 days with the company. If someone posts something like 6 months to a year of pingdom stats including uptime and response time then ok I can see joining THAT exact same server with that host and giving it a try but without that I wouldn't host a business with them.

Im not sure I can think of a benefit to manual install with wordpress unless you were really going out of your way modifying the files and what not.

 

[seedubya]

Im not sure I can think of a benefit to manual install with wordpress unless you were really going out of your way modifying the files and what not.

A VPS is definitely not wasteful if you're reselling off it but the OP just wants recommendations for fairly basic hosting.

As for benefits of installing WP manually

1. You learn more about the structure and operation of the software
2. You have control over the updates
3. You have control over security

Does no remember the thousands of Wordpress hacks because of the TimThumb vulnerability? Dreamhost customers were hit by the thousands because it was installed by default!

I really can't believe that techs are arguing in favour of auto-installers and all the risks that come with them. Jimbo, your perspective as a host I can understand.

 

[ComputerRepairTech]

A VPS is definitely not wasteful if you're reselling off it but the OP just wants recommendations for fairly basic hosting.

As for benefits of installing WP manually

1. You learn more about the structure and operation of the software
2. You have control over the updates
3. You have control over security

Does no remember the thousands of Wordpress hacks because of the TimThumb vulnerability? Dreamhost customers were hit by the thousands because it was installed by default!

I really can't believe that techs are arguing in favour of auto-installers and all the risks that come with them. Jimbo, your perspective as a host I can understand.

You dont have anymore control over the updates...unless you are actually updating it through the auto installer which I would never recommend for an app that has a built in updater.

I don't believe there is anything different about the security between using an auto installer and using the instructions you provided for wordpress. You still specify database info, location, etc and everything in the autoinstaller.

The dreamhost situation is dreamhosts fault. They chose to use their own control panel and own auto installer and then include some ridiculous amount of themes and several plugins.