There is a lot to consider when choosing a host for your WordPress site. Of course, you don’t have to self-host your site as outlined in this post on How to Install WordPress. If you do choose to self-host WordPress, you’ll need a hosting provider. However, not all hosts are created equal and there are a number of parameters that need to be considered. WordPress.org has a hosting suggestion page which currently includes:
If you choose to look further than the WordPress sponsored hosting partners, use the following criteria to make your selection.
Meet the basic server requirements
Many hosts meet the minimum requirements for hosting WordPress, but not all. They include:
- PHP version 4.3 or greater although version 5.2 is recommended
- MySQL version 4.1.2 or greater although version 5.2 is recommended
- Mod_rewrite Apache module
- A Linux based platform with either Apache or NGINX
The official WordPress requirements page suggests sending an email to hosts you are considering working with to make sure they meet the requirements.
That’s all WordPress.org has to say. We have more suggestions when searching for a host.
Excellent Support
- Peruse the forums and see what kind of support is given. Dead threads and complaining customers is a big red flag.
- Look for 24/7 support, an indication the host is dedicated to the business they’re in.
- Live chat support is a big help and suggests the host is there to help and backs up their service
- Give them a test. Send a pre-sales support question – maybe asking how their servers meet the WordPress hosting requirements and note the response time and tone of their response.
Site design
We don’t mean to be design snobs, but if a web host can’t even manage their own website, how can they be expected to support you in managing your own?
Look closely
Does the web host have advertisements, unrelated text links or skeezy operations meant to build links but not necessarily customers? These are all signs of a host that is not operating ethically.
Hosting other WordPress sites
Look at your favorite WordPress powered blogs and use this tool to find out who’s hosting them.
Look for these key features
- They offer one-click WordPress installation like Fantastico
- They offer unlimited MySQL databases (for running lots of WordPress sites)
- They support WordPressMu (just ask them)
- They support AJAX
Based on everything, we recommend these hosts in addition to the ones listed above:
WebDesign Orange County
Great styles. Thanks for sharing!
WebDesign Orange County´s last blog ..Get Paid NOW Taking Free Surveys – A New Program That Works
This comment was originally posted on 1stwebdesigner – Love In Design
Matthew Heidenreich
I see the glossy/shiny graphics element of 2.0 starting to fade away. Now when i come across a site with big glossy icons, i find it tacky. Thought this is strange, since just a couple years ago it seemed that it was a necessary element of your design. While i still feel glossy is good in some cases, it’s getting a lot more subtle than it used to be back when the 2.0 craze started.
Matthew Heidenreich´s last blog ..Showcase of 50 Outstanding Abstract Vector Designs
This comment was originally posted on 1stwebdesigner – Love In Design
Mark
I love the depth and perception example; I’ve never seen that done before. It would look amazing in a nice deep colored blue IMHO.
Mark´s last blog ..Video from the Fresh Prince.
This comment was originally posted on 1stwebdesigner – Love In Design
Kevin
While I agree with most of your points (especially typography, large images, and depth/perspective), the web 2.0 arena has warn it’s welcome. If anything, simplistic designs with the trends you described are replacing it.
This comment was originally posted on 1stwebdesigner – Love In Design
akam
wow really so nice…………bravo
This comment was originally posted on 1stwebdesigner – Love In Design
Nijiko Yonskai
I like the simple :<
This comment was originally posted on 1stwebdesigner – Love In Design
Vladimir Remenar
I would make a prominent place for white space usage. Designer are exploring and using white space more effectively than ever. Just take a look at Drawar, Andy Ruthledge’s Design View, Astheria and 52 Weeks of UX.
Vladimir Remenar´s last blog ..Hacking websites: The Series
This comment was originally posted on 1stwebdesigner – Love In Design
BigM75
mir is nicht ganz der sinn des artikels klar
This comment was originally posted on 1stwebdesigner – Love In Design
Theo
Very interesting.
Thank you for this article!
Theo´s last blog ..Suchmaschinen-Optimierung, der Weg nach vorn
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ferizaenal
thanks…
This comment was originally posted on 1stwebdesigner – Love In Design
Webstandard-Blog
Nice overview, but all of them were already trends in 2009. So we have to see, if something “new” is coming into 2010?
Webstandard-Blog´s last blog ..Navigation Menu made by jQuery – Best of Tutorials
This comment was originally posted on 1stwebdesigner – Love In Design
sarbartha
I thought that I will experience something interesting over the list of design trend 2010.
sarbartha´s last blog ..iPad CONTEST: 3 Chance to win a FREE Apple Tablet
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Serge
Nice showcase!
a lot of inspiration
This comment was originally posted on 1stwebdesigner – Love In Design
insic
Interesting post about web design trend.
insic´s last blog ..Stunning & Inspiring HD Wallpapers for your Desktop
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Cher Cabula
Great Read! Thanks for sharing!
Cher Cabula´s last blog ..Project 365 January Roundup
This comment was originally posted on 1stwebdesigner – Love In Design
Erotik Sohbet, Webcam Şov
2010 blogları çok güzelmiş. tşk.
This comment was originally posted on 1stwebdesigner – Love In Design
Ian Devlin
Interesting list, thanks for that.
Ian Devlin´s last blog ..iandevlin.com mentioned on Web Design Ledger
This comment was originally posted on 1stwebdesigner – Love In Design
Tim from Rototiller
I am a customer of Godaddy. It is the number one place online to get your domain and hosting account. It usually costs about $10.00 to get your domain and then it is yours for life, or for as long as you choose to renew it every year.
Claudio Rimann
i like the designs you showcased. but in one point i disagree. web 2.0 is – imho – much more than just a “design trend” or how a website looks. it’s the whole concept of interaction between creator and consumer, which changed the web to version 2.0, not only the look and feel of it.
This comment was originally posted on 1stwebdesigner – Love In Design
jeprie
Nice article. I really agree with the one page trend.
jeprie´s last blog ..Membuat Poster Wanted Bergaya Koboi dengan Sobekan Kertas
This comment was originally posted on 1stwebdesigner – Love In Design
AnggaRifandi
Thanks for this great article and resources
AnggaRifandi´s last blog ..Wallpaper Blogger in Your Own Word
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Anggayasha
Yes, web with large image quite popular for now.
This comment was originally posted on 1stwebdesigner – Love In Design
Andrew M
I guess it depends on how you define trends. What you describe here are random observations of the past. Any possible trends happened years ago. The Web 2.0 look and feel was a trend overt two years ago.
This article stats the obvious and provides no insight and little value. Your title must have been created for SEO purposes as it has all of the buzz words – 2010, trends, etc. although your content does not deliver.
This comment was originally posted on 1stwebdesigner – Love In Design
Nate G
Agreed.
This comment was originally posted on 1stwebdesigner – Love In Design
Web Design Maidstone
Some really nice insights
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Don-nash
thanks for the sharing
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website ontwerp
Very great overview! I personally like the simple and typography stuff as todays trends. Like designwise, grafik and sanguine. Keep it up!
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Josh Kohlbach
From what I can tell as far as trends for 2010 go the concentration seems to be on two main things:
- Nice big headers that are pretty, but more importantly, functional.
- Ample use of whitespace to promote clarity
I’m not sure the content here describes trends as such, but they sure are a nice collection of inspiring designs.
Josh Kohlbach´s last blog ..The Lazy Mans Guide To Designing Your Customer’s Website
This comment was originally posted on 1stwebdesigner – Love In Design
DesignDef
Thanks for a great compilation of these blogs. I have been reading regularly from a few of these but there are some that i missed.
This comment was originally posted on 1stwebdesigner – Love In Design
Kris Harris
Coming from a web design company myself we are getting more customers wanting blogs for their sites or want us to re-design their existing. Seeing these blogs have given us some great ideas for our future customers. Thanks.
This comment was originally posted on 1stwebdesigner – Love In Design
Ted Rex
Thanks for that post. I made this one of my three links today on my Design Thought for the Day blog:
http://designthoughtfortheday.blogspot.com/2010/02/02-04-blog-design-trends-great.html
All the best, Ted
This comment was originally posted on 1stwebdesigner – Love In Design
Dainis Graveris
Thank you! Great to see your appreciation for this research! Thanks to Cyrus!
This comment was originally posted on 1stwebdesigner – Love In Design
Dainis Graveris
Hey, good point though you should agree it’s hard to define what’s really new in Year 2010, because big trends will stay all the time, they just will change – for example web 2.0 is staying more subtle, but trend as name is still staying.
This article tries to define and show some new and subtle changes which could be interesting to notice.
I am sorry if you were expecting more than you received. We definitely try our best to deliver.
This comment was originally posted on 1stwebdesigner – Love In Design
Edward Julio B. Tuppil
IEMAI was the best… A very Nice Concept… Really Cool… Everythings Nice and great!!! :X
This comment was originally posted on 1stwebdesigner – Love In Design
agel
Great, thanks for sharing.
This comment was originally posted on 1stwebdesigner – Love In Design
andrew
Wow nice to see the new web3.0 trends already.
andrew´s last blog ..Free ashampoo winoptimizer 6
This comment was originally posted on 1stwebdesigner – Love In Design
David Ingledow
Web 3.0 is going to be brilliant. I’m starting to look at AJAX as well! I still can’t believe that there are a lot of sites that are still distinctly Web 1.0!?!?!?!?!
This comment was originally posted on 1stwebdesigner – Love In Design
David Ingledow
Agree with Ian Devlin – your logo really stood out to me!
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Duvvar Design
web 2.0 finished,
welcome to web 3.0
this is thank you..
This comment was originally posted on 1stwebdesigner – Love In Design
Rommel from Man and a Van London
I’m a customer of EUK hosting. I have found some of the requirements listed in this post. Is that mean I have the right provider for installing wordpress?
Simon
I would assume so, but as I am not with them there is no way to know. You could try contacting them.
wien
very nice article, thanks
This comment was originally posted on 1stwebdesigner – Love In Design
SM
Nice collection. Thanks
SM´s last blog ..Новое доменное имя блога
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KARTHIK KUMAR
Nice Designs thanks.
This comment was originally posted on 1stwebdesigner – Love In Design
KARTHIK KUMAR
Nice designs. Will try some.
KARTHIK KUMAR´s last blog ..Dolphin declared as National water animal of India
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web designing companies delhi
really its awesome ….
very useful for designing
This comment was originally posted on 1stwebdesigner – Love In Design
Print Create
Looking Ahead to Print Design in 2010…
I recently ran across a blog that talks a little bit about web advances that have lead to design changes online. It also talks a lot about elements of design that cross over from web design to print design. You can read Design Trends among Blogs to see…
This comment was originally posted on 1stwebdesigner – Love In Design
keith from Find Blog Ideas
I’ve never used a hosting plan before My blogs have been hosted by blogger and I just linked my own domain up to my blog, good points here and probably good to know for the future.
FreshDesigns
Its indisputable how technology changed. Even the simplest of websites have evolved throughout the years.
I remember the first Internet where websites were only text – now we have dynamic portals, flash animated websites and what more. Technology has changed everything and its evolution will never end – as long as its used for the good of the people and not vice-versa.
This comment was originally posted on 1stwebdesigner – Love In Design
rene
I’ve been wanting to move to WordPress engine on their blogs, and even thought that they could be some difficulty with the choice of hosting, thank you for your helpful advice.