Every website needs two things before WordPress can shine: an address (your domain) and a home (your hosting). Choose well here and the rest of this module is a breeze. Let’s make smart, stress-free picks.
Picking a great domain
Your domain is the name people type, like wordpressprofessor.com. A good one is:
- Short and easy to spell when you say it out loud.
- Free of hyphens and odd spellings that confuse listeners.
- On a trusted extension: .com is familiar, but .org, .net, country codes and newer extensions can work well too.
- Clear of trademarks owned by other businesses.
Register it with a reputable registrar and turn on auto-renew. Watch out for low first-year prices that jump at renewal, and check whether WHOIS privacy is included.
Understanding hosting types
- Shared hosting: your site shares a server with others. Budget-friendly and fine for most new sites.
- Managed WordPress hosting: tuned for WordPress, often with automatic backups, caching, staging and expert support. Usually costs more but saves time.
- VPS or cloud: dedicated resources and more control, but more technical responsibility.
Most beginners do great with quality shared or managed WordPress hosting. You can upgrade later as traffic grows.
What to look for in a host
- A one-click WordPress installer (we’ll use it next lesson).
- Free SSL certificates so your site loads over HTTPS.
- Automatic backups you can restore easily.
- A staging site for testing changes safely.
- A current, supported PHP version and responsive support.
Check WordPress.org’s hosting requirements page for the currently recommended PHP and database versions, since they change over time. Our tools page and resources have more help comparing options.
Professor’s tip: Keeping your domain at a separate registrar from your host is a common practice. If you ever switch hosts, your domain stays put and you simply update where it points.
Your assignment
- Brainstorm ten domain ideas, say each aloud, and shortlist your top three.
- Compare two hosts using the checklist above, including renewal prices.
- Register your domain and turn on auto-renew.
