Hello! My name is Kurt Francom, and welcome to one of the hundreds of videos I’ve created to answer the most common questions about small business websites. I’m passionate about helping entrepreneurs and small business owners navigate the complexities of establishing and maintaining an online presence. Whether you’re a seasoned web developer or just starting, these videos are designed to demystify the world of web design and hosting.

Today, we’re diving into a fundamental question that often arises: “What is website hosting?”

This is a fantastic question! Many people don’t realize that every website needs a place to reside online, much like a physical house. Just as a house needs a foundation and a plot of land, a website needs a server to function. Imagine the house itself as your website—the framework, the bricks, and the design. All of these elements come together to create a digital space that users can interact with. The address of that house, including the numbers and location, represents your domain name. This is crucial because it helps users find your website. A memorable domain name can make a significant difference in attracting visitors.

Website hosting is like the parcel of land that your house sits on in the vast online landscape. Without that land, your house—or website—has nowhere to go. Hosting provides the necessary infrastructure that allows your website to be accessible on the internet. It’s essentially a service that connects your website to the internet and makes it available to users around the world.

Your website needs a server to live on. When someone enters your domain name into their browser, they are directed to that server, which allows your website to appear on their screen. This process may seem simple, but it involves complex technology working behind the scenes to ensure that your website is up and running 24/7.

While there’s some maintenance involved in website hosting, it’s essential to protect the server from various threats, including viruses and cyber attacks, which could harm visitors’ computers or compromise their personal information—definitely not ideal for good customer service. Regular updates and security checks are critical to maintaining the integrity of your website.

Moreover, hosting is not just about keeping your website live; it’s also about performance. A good hosting provider ensures that your website loads quickly and operates smoothly, providing a better user experience. Slow loading times can deter potential customers and negatively impact your search engine rankings.

In essence, you need a dedicated server to keep your website running smoothly without relying on your personal computer to be on all day. This is where professional hosting services come into play. They offer a range of options tailored to different business needs. For instance, shared hosting is a cost-effective solution for small businesses just starting. It allows multiple websites to share the same server resources, making it a budget-friendly option. On the other hand, if your business grows and you require more power and resources, you might consider VPS (Virtual Private Server) or dedicated hosting, which offers more control and better performance.

At WPXpress, we take care of hosting all our clients’ websites, ensuring they operate effectively and securely. We understand that managing a website can be overwhelming, especially for small business owners who are already juggling multiple responsibilities. That’s why we provide comprehensive hosting solutions that include regular backups, security monitoring, and customer support, so you can focus on running your business instead of worrying about your website’s technical aspects.

In conclusion, website hosting is a critical component of your online presence. It provides the necessary infrastructure for your website to thrive in the digital world. By choosing the right hosting provider and understanding the basics of website hosting, you can create a reliable and effective online platform for your business. Stay tuned for more videos where I’ll answer more of your burning questions about small business websites!

So, if you are looking for a good host, we’d love to design a website for you and host it for you. We use Flywheel, Flywheel’s powerful WordPress platform removes all the hassles of hosting, streamlines your processes, and lets you get back to doing your best work.

Do not use Godaddy, here’s one of our previous post why we do not recommend Godaddy to our clients.