Setting up a web hosting account can be a daunting task if you have no clue on how to go about it. Well, there are two ways to host a website; hosting locally {do it yourself or use a hosting platform {outsourcing to a Webhosting service provider}. So, the choice is yours depending on your experience and web hosting needs.
We do not recommend hosting locally if you are not tech-savvy or a beginner. Secondly, it is both time-consuming and expensive in the long run to manage everything from your end. It is, therefore, advisable to use a hosting platform like Bluehost to do it for you. Because they provide you with ready-to-use servers including all resources and technical staff to manage the site on your behalf. This will allow you to maximally focus on your site and your personal issues as well as relieve the burden of hosting locally.
Today we are going to share with you a stepwise guide to help you set up web hosting on Bluehost.com. But before we start let’s see some of the reasons for setting up hosting on Bluehost.
Why Set Up Hosting on Bluehost
Bluehost is the oldest and largest web hosting provider that started in 1996. It was developed by WordPress developers which is the main reason it is an immensely popular and official ‘WordPress’ recommended hosting provider since 2006. Hence, they are rated #1 in web hosting for small businesses. They also offer WPBeginner users an exclusive 60% off discount including a Free Domain, Free SSL, and a free Site Builder with templates. On top of that, they provide reliable customer support available all around the clock via email, phone, ticket-based support, and live chat.
Bluehost offers a basic plan at $ 2.95/monthly which is cost-friendly for beginners to start with. With the basic plan, you will get the following services: 50GB SSD storage, a single website, free SSL, and a one-year free domain name. However, it is unreliable for the high-end project because of the limited options and doesn’t offer free site migration. For professional use and high-end projects, opting for a premium plan is the best option. That’s because it incorporates more essential features and tools than the basic plan to improve performance and functionalities.
There are also high-end premium plans which include: Plus and the Choice Plus plan comes with added features and plugins at $5.45 per month. Nonetheless, high-end premium plans include the following services: unlimited web storage, spam protection, free CDN, and WP staging. But if you want compelling offers we strongly advise you to optimize WordPress with Bluehost which will cost you around $10.00 per month. Better yet, you will enjoy efficient management and increased performance.
Moreover, all the plans offer a hosting control panel that is both user-friendly and straightforward for beginners. In fact, it offers a customizable control panel to improve ease of use for beginners as well as a customized cPanel hosting dashboard with a more advanced option for professionals/experts.
Stepwise Guide on How to Set Up Hosting on Bluehost
Below is a knowledgeable stepwise guide to help you set up hosting on Bluehost with a detailed explanation to guide you without mistakes. They include:
Step 1: Decide What Type of Website You Want
There are two types of websites;
Static/Basic Websites: This is a simple website you can build on your computer with software and then use any uploading software to upload pages to your host’s server. A static website is ideal for creating a basic hosting that mostly offers one or more web pages called HTML pages. With a Static website, you can freely make changes and edit pages on your computer and then upload them again. The downside is that they cannot be modified dynamically and come with unlimited functionality making them not ideal for a large business like an e-Commerce site or dynamic websites like a blog.
Dynamic Websites: This is a virtual and interactive website that contains information that changes depending on your audience’s view aspects, behavior, depending on the time of day, and other factors. In other words, this type of website is ideal for interaction purposes {social networking}, business, experts, and organizations. Examples of dynamic websites include e-commerce, forums, and so on. A dynamic website provides a client-side script for appearance and interaction purposes so that you can view your audience’s response depending on their point of view. That is to say, a dynamic website offers your audience full freedom to comment and start discussions and you can also create and update content by customizing and editing it according to your vision.
Step 2: Decide What Type of Hosting Server You Want
When it comes to hosting servers, there are also two types of server/platforms;
Linux Hosting Server: Linux hosting platform is ideal if you want to create a website that doesn’t require any scripting support. This is because it allows your website to run scripts written in Python, PHP, Perl, and other Unix-originated languages. In addition, it supports MySQL and PostgreSQL databases making it the most used system in this digital error.
Windows Hosting Server: This type of hosting server utilizes Microsoft technologies, and .NET and supports Microsoft SQL Server and Access database. With this server, you can run ASP scripts.
Generally, it is advisable to select a hosting server that supports your device technology, website scripting, and provides database support.
Step 3: Select Your Web Hosting Plan
Bluehost provides a wide range of hosting plans you can choose from for convenience and versatility depending on your experience, needs, and website’s purpose. They include:
Shared Hosting – This type of hosting shares server resources with other websites and is Ideal for newbies who intend to start a new website with low traffic volume. Because you will be sharing a server, you will have your own separate account for security concerns. Nonetheless, this option is very affordable.
Cloud Hosting – This is an upgrade option for a shared hosting plan because it offers you the option to switch to a different server if you experience hardware failure or want high traffic volume. With cloud hosting, you will utilize multiple cloud servers. On top of that, is not limited to a single server while it shrinks or expands the resources allocated dynamically depending on how much traffic you get. This makes it ideal for blogs, newsletters, and eCommerce websites.
WordPress Hosting – Bluehost is automatically integrated with WordPress and powered by WordPress. This gives you an advantage against common threats most sites face.
Dedicated Hosting Server – A dedicated hosting server offers you all the dedicated resources for local hosting so that you can manage your website on your own. The downside is that it is time-consuming and adds up a lot of cost in the long run. However, is the most secure, ideal for high-traffic websites, and offers much more flexibility in terms of customization, configuration, and installation.
Virtual Private Server (VPS) – With this hosting plan it offers you virtual dedicated resources that are divided into several virtual compartments s that each unit is configured separately to work independently. In other words, VPS is an upgrade to shared WordPress hosting. If you worry a lot about security concerns, VPS would be the best option if you are on a tight budget to purchase a Dedicated Hosting plan.
WooCommerce Hosting – With this plan you can start an online store{e-Commerce website} because it comes with the most popular eCommerce plugin for WordPress and offers essential features and tools to get started.
We strongly advise you to select the best plan that is suitable depending on your field of expertise and budget.
Step 4: Register a Domain Name Server for Your Website
After you have decided on the hosting plan, the next step is to get a domain name server for your website. First, what is a Domain Name?
A domain name is an address of your hosting account which translates into an IP address to help the browser identify it when it is entered in the search browser. In other words, a domain name is like your hosting identity. With a domain name, onboard your clients/audience will have an easy time accessing your files/content/services on the search engine bar. Therefore before starting a website, you must acknowledge the role and significance of a domain name and you cannot build a website without a domain name.
Here you can check whether your desired domain name is still available:
Fortunately, Bluehost offers a free domain name registration, so you can go ahead and register your website’s domain name. Most Web-hosting service providers like Bluehost use DNS servers or nameservers to connect your website to the worldwide system. And, it is worth noting that the name you choose plays a vital role when it comes to SEO ranking. Therefore, make sure you use a strong domain name that is simple, intuitive, brandable, and easy for your audience to spell and remember. That means the name should act like a keyword related to the purpose of your website.
To register your domain name follow the steps below:
- Open/Go to Bluehost and navigate to the Domain Control Panel.
- Enter your valid email address and password.
- Click on the “Domain Name Registration” section.
- Then, click on the “Name Servers” option.
Choose from either of the following available TLDs { .com, .org, .biz, info or .net}, but ensure you enter your name first before the TLD like this = {myname.com} or {myname.org} or {myname.net}. Make sure you follow the advice we have shared above when selecting the right name for your website.
Step 5: Fill in Your Details and Confirm your Package Plan Information.
When you are done registering your domain name, you will need to provide your details including name, country, street address, city, zip code, business name {optional}, contacts as well as your email address. Next scroll down to confirm your package plan information and review the add-ons included by default. Then select a plan and decide which add-ons will fit your needs and confirm if the amount indicated in each plan is billed either quarterly, monthly, or annually.
Remember Bluehost offers a 30-day money-back guarantee, but it doesn’t apply to the domain name. Most importantly, remember to create a new password for your Bluehost account and check if there is a site created for you by Bluehost after registration, kindly delete it. To delete the created site, navigate to “Manage Site” then click “Settings,” scroll down to the bottom of the page, then Delete the site.
Step 6: Choose a Tool to Build your Website {WordPress}
After confirming your package plan and credentials, it is time to choose a tool to build your website. We recommend installing WordPress because is a native Bluehost plugin you can easily install in no time within a single click. It is worth noting that you cannot create content and design webpages with a content management system {WordPress}. That’s because it provides essential features and tools to help you design and customize each webpage. In other words, the CMS tool is like an interior decorator or landscaping crew on your website to make it look attractive and professional before uploading web pages. To utilize the WordPress in your Bluehost account, please follow the steps we have provided below:
- Download or install WordPress. Or you can install WordPress directly from Bluehost because it is available as a plugin.
- Then, log in to your Bluehost account.
- Navigate and click “My Sites” then click “Create Site”.
- You can create a new name for your WordPress site name as well as a tagline.
- Then select the domain name you would wish to use for your WordPress site, but take note of your WordPress website password, username, and URL.
- After that, pick a theme from the WordPress theme that they offer for free. Or you may use your installed themes.
You can easily create a WordPress account using your Email, Facebook, Google, or Google hub because they provide an automatic log-in that will link you directly to registration. After installing a CMS tool you can go ahead and upload your site and start publishing your content. You are done!
Conclusion
Setting up hosting on Bluehost is a seamless process if you follow the stepwise guide we have shared above. However, it would be wise to take your time and decide on the domain name because it plays a vital role when it comes to SEO ranking and accessibility.