When it comes to running a WordPress site, we all want the best experience for our visitors we can possibly provide. But should you do it yourself or bring in the pros? What are your options and what’s the difference, anyway?
Let’s break it down.
What is Managed WordPress Hosting?
Managed WordPress hosting is a paid service offered by companies, known as “hosting providers”, in which they provide server space and a range of other services in order to make running your WordPress site simpler and easier. With managed hosting, you don’t have to know it all when it comes to server management – a team of professionals has got you covered by taking over the day-to-day running of your site, as well as educating you on the process of integrating your website onto their server farm.
Benefits of Choosing Managed WordPress Hosting
Focus on what matters to you. When you choose to go with a hosting provider, all the technical stuff that comes with running a WordPress site, like updates, backups, etc. are handled by a team of WordPress pros, so you can spend your time focusing on creating awesome content instead.
Safe and sound. Most hosting providers have features that ensure bulletproof security for your site, like installing an SSL certificate, adding security plug-ins, and keeping your software up to date. These protect your site against hackers and other threats, so you can breathe a little easier.
Prepared for everything. Facing unexpected surges in visitor numbers? Seeing an overall increase in traffic? Your hosting provider has seen this all before, and already has the infrastructure in place to handle unexpected events, so your site stays up and running even when it’s at its most busy.
You should choose Managed WordPress Hosting if…
- You want to focus on your business. Especially if yours is a business site, outsourcing your server management could help you focus on all the other functions of your business, instead of spending your resources on keeping your website up.
- You could use a little IT help. Not everyone is an IT professional, and that’s okay! If you’re less familiar with the technical aspects of administering your server space but still want a fantastic visitor experience on your site, it could be helpful to let the professionals handle it.
- You have limited time. Even if you know what you’re doing, server maintenance is an ongoing, time-consuming task, and it’s always nice to have the assurance that it is being securely handled by your hosting provider while you spend your time on other tasks.
Providers of Managed WordPress Hosting
If you’re choosing a hosting provider for your WordPress site, here are some of the companies that do it best.
- GoDaddy Managed WordPress – Backed by hosting giant GoDaddy, this provider has got you covered with simple setup, pre-installed SSL, and automatic software updates, all starting at $6.99/mo.
- DreamPress by DreamHost – Another award-winning hosting company and WordPress partner, DreamHost hooks it up with built-in caching, extra protection with staging and backups, and even complimentary site migration.
- Media Temple – This provider focuses on web designers, developers, and creative agencies, and provides incredible scalability, flexibility, ease, and power with their hosting solutions.
- WordPress Engine – Focused solely on WordPress sites and trusted by over 90,000 customers, this provider boasts the fastest site speeds, scalable architecture, and over 200 million attacks blocked daily.
What is VPS?
VPS, or Virtual Private Server, is a method of hosting your website in which you have a unique portion of a server all to yourself, giving you the power when it comes ensuring your website’s needs are met. Even though you are still technically sharing the physical server, the resources that come with it are dedicated exclusively to your site, and your files are kept completely separated from other sites’ files, unlike when you use shared hosting. If you have the budget and the technical experience to take the reins of your site’s server management, using a VPS can be an excellent option!
Benefits of Choosing VPS
No sharing! With some forms of managed shared hosting, there is the potential for delays and bottlenecks if sites you’re sharing resources with see an increase in their traffic. Since your VPS is all yours, you can ensure a reliable and stable experience for visitors on your site.
Perfectionist-friendly. Using a VPS gives you full control of your server, which means more flexibility and control on your part. You decide what software to download, control customization, and enable any changes you want to see, without having to wait on an external hosting provider to implement these for you.
Room to grow. In general, a VPS is highly scalable and allows you to upgrade your resources, such as RAM or CPU power, according to your needs. If you know what you’re doing, the sky is the limit.
You should choose VPS if…
- You’re experienced with Linux. Maintaining a VPS is entirely in your hands, and experience with the Linux operating system will allow you to create all the customizations you wouldn’t be able to otherwise.
- Your site’s needs are growing rapidly. If you’re seeing a higher number of monthly visitors than ever before, or receiving around 100-200 page visits per day, you might need to upgrade from shared hosting to your own server.
- Your site’s bounce rates are steadily increasing. This is often coupled with an increase in loading times, downtime, and a series of other issues that may stem if a site’s needs begin to exceed what shared hosting is able to provide.
Whether you’re a server management pro or just starting out creating your WordPress site, it’s important to choose the solution that can deliver the most based on your needs. Both managed hosting solutions and VPS are excellent options, and choosing the best one for you can help deliver an optimal visitor experience.
