Finding the perfect platform to host your website can seem like an impossible task if you don’t know what to look for. I’ve had experience working with quite a few different hosting platforms, from freebies like Bytehost, cheapies like Wix, GoDaddy and Bluehost, to more expensive platforms like WPEngine and Siteground.
I used to swear by Bluehost, but since they were acquired by a larger company their service went downhill fast. Last year I made the switch to Siteground after seeing it be recommended over and over again by fellow web designers and I am SO happy I made the switch. Faster websites, great customer service, lots of add-on options and an intuitive user interface make Siteground my top choice for web hosting and the one I recommend you get you get.
In this post, I’ll go over a few pros and cons and then dive into directions on how to set it up.
The Pros
- Site speed and performance
- Free and easy SSL certificate set up
- Fantastic customer service & tech support
- Easy to use interface
The Cons
- Expensive to renew after sign up period
- Cap on storage space
- That’s it!
Step 1: Choose a Hosting Plan
SiteGround has three main plans to choose from:
- The StartUp plan is perfect if you’re just starting out and only plan to have one website.
- The GrowBig plan offers amazing value for your money with unlimited websites and the SG Optimizer, which speeds up your site performance.
- The GoGeek plan is for you if you plan on having a fair-sized e-commerce shop, a larger sites that needs more space, or more geeky development needs like more server resources.
If you’re in my orbit, you can probably safely assume that the StartUp plan will be sufficient, unless you plan on having more than one website, then you’ll need to go with the GrowBig plan (that’s what I use). Remember, if you end up outgrowing your current plan, you can easily upgrade to the option that better suits your needs.
Step 2: Choose a Domain Name
If you haven’t purchased your domain yet (www.yourbizname.com), you can choose to buy a new domain right through Siteground. If you’ve already purchased your domain elsewhere, you can sign up with that existing domain and direct your site to it or you can transfer your domain over to Siteground (recommended). Siteground offers a wide range of domain extensions at fair prices and consistent renewal pricing.
Step 3: Review Options and Complete Your Order
While many hosting providers only offer great discounts for longer term sign up periods (2-5 years), Siteground’s sign-up discounts apply to any of the initial periods chosen during the sign-up process. So whether you’re signing up for just one year or three years, you’ll still get the same discount.
I highly encourage you to sign up for the longest period possible. I only encourage this for the fact that, as I stated in the cons above, Siteground’s pricing increases pretty heavily after your initial sign up period.
Not to say the service isn’t worth the higher prices (I wouldn’t be recommending it or using it myself if it wasn’t). I just want to make sure you get the best deal possible while also committing to a hosting platform you won’t be disappointed with.
Have questions about your options or the sign up process? Leave a comment below or feel free to send me a message and I’ll be happy to go over your options with you.
Ready to get started? Sign up here.
