Website Hosting Introduction
At a basic level website hosting includes:
- a domain name e.g. www.yourcompany.com (worth ~$10-$20/year each)
- server storage space for web pages
- server database space for content management systems
SSL stands for Secure Socket Layer. This allows the use of https web page prefixes that allows secure communications. This is useful for logins and payments.
WordPress (free) is a website content management system used in approximately 30% of websites globally.
WooCommerce (free) is WordPress plugin software that allows product listings, product groups, shopping carts and payment gateways.
Static IP provides a unique Internet Protocol address for your website. This can enhance your website security slightly.
SSD stands for Solid State Drive. This hard drive storage is approximately 5 times faster than mechanical hard drives.
Multiple Website hosting is available. Each domain name can point to a subdirectory. E.g. Multiple languages, departments, startups, offers, product groups.
Not sure of a Domain Name? A reputable name generator can make it easier to name your business or website.
Australian Website Hosting
Notes: There is a lot of hosting that is cheap for the first year and then raises prices x2 on the following years.
| Hosting Company | $/month | $/year | SSL $ | WordPress | WooCommerce | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| https://www.bigcommerce.com.au | 29.95 | 330 | Yes | No | No | Bigcommerce. + Google Shopping + eBay. For <$50k revenue sites. |
| https://www.ozhosting.com.au/ | 13 | 49 | Yes | Self install | Unlimited domain, databases.Static IP $4/mth. | |
| https://www.ans.com.au | 9.95 | 49 | Yes | Self Install | Includes SSL + hosting + static IP | |
| https://www.hostpapa.com.au | 12.95 | Includes domain + wildcard SSL | ||||
| https://au.godaddy.com | 21.99 | Unlimited websites + SSL | ||||
| https://www.crazydomains.com.au | 12 | 59 | Yes | Self install | WordPress auto updates | |
| https://www.netregistry.com.au | 9.95 | 109.95 | 199 | Self install | Self install | Only premium SSL available. Managed WordPress available $$$. |
International Website Hosting
Some plan levels are based on unique visitors per month. E.g. 10,000 , 25,000 , 100,000.
Try to pick a website hosting with a data centre facility close to where most of your customers are located.
There are very advanced options where multiple data centres are used to provide website pages from the closest source.
| Hosting Company | $/month | $/year | SSL $ | WordPress | WooCommerce | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| https://www.a2hosting.com | 5.20 | Free | Yes | Yes | Free SSL (Let’s Encrypt) | |
| https://www.bluehost.com | 26.24 | Free | Yes | Yes | 100M visitors/month, static IP, Domain included | |
| https://www.fastcomet.com | 5.20 | Free | Yes | Yes | SSD drive, Free SSL (Let’s Encrypt). Domain included. Auto-update WordPress and Plugins possible. | |
| https://www.fastcomet.com Multisite | 9.09 | Free | Yes | Yes | Unlimied websites, 1 free domain name/addon domains for extra websites, 25 GB SSD storage. There is multiple global data centres. | |
| https://www.inmotionhosting.com Multisite | 13.02 | Free | Yes | Yes | Up to 6 websites, 1 free domain, SSD storage, free SSL, many 1 click applications available. | |
| https://www.hostgator.com/ | 9.06 | Free | Yes | Yes | Free SSL, unlimited paid domain names. | |
| https://www.siteground.com | 9.79 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Wordpress backups included.SSD drive. |
