WordPress website hosting: how to choose it wellWordPress website hosting: how to choose it well

WordPress is free, but it needs a home: hosting. It's the computer, on day and night, that stores your site and sends it to every visitor. Good hosting makes the site fast and reliable; bad hosting makes it slow, fragile, and hurts your SEO. Here's how to choose without getting lost in comparisons.WordPress isis free, but it needsneeds a home: hosting. It'sIt's the computer, on dayday and night, that storesstores your site and sendssends it to every visitor.visitor. Good hosting makes thethe site fast and reliable;reliable; bad hosting makes itit slow, fragile, and hurtshurts your SEO. Here's howhow to choose without gettinggetting lost in comparisons.

There's no single best host for everyone, but three main families. The right choice depends on the size of the site and how hands-on you want to be.There's nono single best host forfor everyone, but three mainmain families. The right choicechoice depends on the sizesize of the site andand how hands-on you wantwant to be.

Your site shares a server with others. It's the cheapest and simplest option: WordPress installs in a few clicks. For a showcase site, a tradesperson or a small blog, it's enough if the host is serious.Your sitesite shares a server withwith others. It's the cheapestcheapest and simplest option: WordPressWordPress installs in a fewfew clicks. For a showcaseshowcase site, a tradesperson oror a small blog, it'sit's enough if the hosthost is serious.

The host handles part of the tech for you: updates, backups, caching, security. It costs more, but it's comfortable if you don't want to manage anything or if the site earns a lot, like a store.The hosthost handles part of thethe tech for you: updates,updates, backups, caching, security. ItIt costs more, but it'sit's comfortable if you don'tdon't want to manage anythinganything or if the sitesite earns a lot, likelike a store.

A server, or a slice of one, just for you. More power and freedom, but you need to know how to run it. Best kept for high-traffic sites or specific technical needs.A server,server, or a slice ofof one, just for you.you. More power and freedom,freedom, but you need toto know how to runrun it. Best kept forfor high-traffic sites or specificspecific technical needs.

1. Speed: SSD or NVMe drives and a recent PHP version. A slow site drives visitors away and counts for Google, as I explain in the technical SEO checklist.Speed: SSDSSD or NVMe drives andand a recent PHP version.version. A slow site drivesdrives visitors away and countscounts for Google, as II explain in the technical SEO checklist.
2. Server location: close to your customers. Closer means faster, and simpler for GDPR in Europe.Server location:location: close to your customers.customers. Closer means faster, andand simpler for GDPR inin Europe.
3. Automatic backups: daily, kept for several days, and easy to restore.Automatic backups:backups: daily, kept for severalseveral days, and easy toto restore.
4. A free SSL certificate: the little padlock, essential today.A freefree SSL certificate: the littlelittle padlock, essential today.
5. Support: reachable, in your language, and familiar with WordPress.Support: reachable,reachable, in your language, andand familiar with WordPress.
6. Email addresses on your domain (contact@yourdomain.com), often included.Email addressesaddresses on your domain (contact@yourdomain.com),(contact@yourdomain.com), often included.

When looking for WordPress hosting in France, the same names come up: o2switch, OVHcloud, LWS, IONOS or Hostinger. All offer WordPress-ready plans. Rather than trusting a ranking, compare them on the criteria above and on their renewal price.When lookinglooking for WordPress hosting inin France, the same namesnames come up: o2switch, OVHcloud,OVHcloud, LWS, IONOS or Hostinger.Hostinger. All offer WordPress-ready-ready plans. Rather than trustingtrusting a ranking, compare themthem on the criteria aboveabove and on their renewalrenewal price.

• The teaser price: many offers are very low the first year, then rise at renewal. Look at the price from year two.The teaserteaser price: many offers areare very low the firstfirst year, then rise atat renewal. Look at thethe price from year two.two.
• Free hosting: ads, slowness, no domain of your own. For a professional site, avoid it, just like free stores.Free hosting:hosting: ads, slowness, no domaindomain of your own. ForFor a professional site, avoidavoid it, just like free stores.
• A domain name in the provider's name: it must be in yours, or you depend on them to leave.A domaindomain name in the provider'sprovider's name: it must bebe in yours, or youyou depend on them toto leave.
• Thinking the host does everything: even managed, your theme and plugins need follow-up, hence the value of WordPress maintenance.Thinking thethe host does everything: eveneven managed, your theme andand plugins need follow-up, hencehence the value of WordPress maintenance.

WordPress itself is free. The cost comes from hosting and the domain name (yearly fees), possibly a paid theme or plugins, and above all building the site if you outsource it. To read a priced proposal, the article on the website quote will help.WordPress itselfitself is free. The costcost comes from hosting andand the domain name (yearly(yearly fees), possibly a paidpaid theme or plugins, andand above all building thethe site if you outsourceoutsource it. To read aa priced proposal, the articlearticle on the website quote willwill help.

Good hosting goes unnoticed. Visitors notice bad hosting right away.Good hostinghosting goes unnoticed. Visitors noticenotice bad hosting right away.away.

Start with serious shared hosting, servers close to your customers, automatic backups and responsive support. Keep the domain in your name. And if you're starting from scratch, I go through the whole method in creating a WordPress website. When I build a site, I handle hosting and launch: it's all on the WordPress website page.Start withwith serious shared hosting, serversservers close to your customers,customers, automatic backups and responsiveresponsive support. Keep the domaindomain in your name. AndAnd if you're starting fromfrom scratch, I go throughthrough the whole method inin creating a WordPress website. When II build a site, II handle hosting and launch:launch: it's all on thethe WordPress website page.