Hosting (also known as Web site hosting, Web hosting, and Webhosting) is the business of housing, serving, and maintaining files for one or more Web sites. More important than the computer space that is provided for Web site files is the fast connection to the Internet. Web Hosting is an account on a computer (aka server) that can store and serve website files via the Internet. Domain Registration is leasing a human-readable word (e.g., amazon.com) that directs people to specific website files via a browser. As an analogy, a domain is an “address” on the Internet. Most hosting services offer connections on T-carrier system lines. Typically, an individual business hosting its own site would require a similar connection and it would be expensive. Using a hosting service lets many companies share the cost of a fast Internet connection for serving files.
A number of Internet access providers, such as America Online, offer subscribers free space for a small Web site that is hosted by one of their computers. Geocities is a Web site that offers registered visitors similar free space for a Web site. While these services are free, they are also very basic.
A number of hosting companies describe their services as virtual hosting. Virtual hosting usually implies that their services will be transparent and that each Web site will have its own domain name and set of e-mail addresses. In most usages, hosting and virtual hosting are synonyms. Some hosting companies let you have your own virtual server, the appearance that you are controlling a server that is dedicated entirely to your site.
Dedicated hosting is the provision of a dedicated server machine that is dedicated to the traffic to your Web site. Only very busy sites require dedicated hosting. Many companies purchase their own servers and place them on a site that provides fast access to the Internet. This practice is called colocation.
How To Buy Web Hosting With A Free Domain Name For Your WordPress Blog
Before we begin, here are a couple of things you need to have in preparation:
1. Domain Name
A domain name is like your online address. This is where your blog/website lives.
You will get one free domain name with Bluehost, or you can use any of your existing domain names if you already have one purchased. (Even if you don’t need the free domain name now, you can use it later.)
If you have not yet decided on your domain name, this guide will be helpful to you. You can also use a free service like BustAName, or LeanDomainSearch, or NameStation to find a good domain name.
2. Payment Mode
When purchasing a web hosting and domain, you can make payment via credit card, debit card, or PayPal. Be sure to have your payment mode on hand.
Here is one guide that I recommend you read first. This will give you some basic information about web hosting, and you will learn how to save money on your web hosting purchases.
How To Save Money On Web Hosting Renewals
The step-by-step guide to buying a web hosting plan:
To begin, head over to Bluehost homepage and click on “get started now”.
This will take you to a page where you will see three different packages from which to choose. I will quickly explain the various packages, but you should also read this guide to get a deeper understanding of what these packages offer.
Here are my recommendations:
Running only one site: Basic
Running more than one site: Plus
Need who.is guard: Prime
Since the price difference between plus and prime package is not much, you should opt for Prime. Even if right now you’re only hosting one site, with the Prime package, you can host unlimited sites in the future if you need to.
Note: The links I give here will give you a big discount on all of these packages. But this discount is only for the first bill, so it’s better to buy a package for 2-3 years to save money.
Click on “select” in front of the plan you have chosen.
After selecting your plan, you can either choose to get a free domain name from Bluehost, or you can use any of your existing domain names.
Remember that you can use your free domain name later if you don’t need it now.
You can also claim your free domain at a later point. Just email Bluehost’s customer service team and they’ll help you out.
If you are using an existing domain name, you need to change the nameservers at your domain registrar to:
NS1.Bluehost.com
NS2.Bluehost.com
If you want to keep things simple, enter the domain name you wish to buy in the “new domain” field, and your free domain will be activated with the web hosting plan.
Click on “next”, and from here, the remaining steps will be very simple.
In this section, you need to enter your details (name, email address, address, etc.).
Make sure you verify every detail, especially your email address. Your login and hosting information will be sent to your email address.
This part is crucial, and you should pay extra attention here to make sure that you are not overcharged for add-ons that you do not need.
Choose your hosting package for a 24 or 36-month term. You will notice that the price decreases as the tenure increases.
Be sure to deselect the options “Site Backup Pro” and “Sitelock Security” as you don’t really need them.
Before you make your payment, I suggest that you scroll up and verify all of the information once again.
By default, you will see the option to make payment via credit card only, but if you want to make payment via PayPal, click on “more payment options” and it will reveal the pay by PayPal option as well.
After making payment, you will see another sales page
Click on “no thanks” at the end of the page.
On the next page, you will see a confirmation of your hosting package purchase, and you will see a screen like the one below.
Click on “create your password”
This is the final stage of your web hosting purchase.
You can choose a password, or you can use a password generator to create a complex password (which I recommend). Copy and paste the password in a safe place, and click on “Paste”.
Click on “Create”, and that’s it!
Now the process of buying web hosting for your blog is 98% complete.
Check your email inbox, and you will find a confirmation email with all of the login information for your web hosting account. The only thing that will not be included in the email is the password you created in the last step — this is for your security
Go to Bluehost.com, and click on “login” at the top.
In the login field, type your domain name or username and the password which you have chosen or generated.
Click “submit”.
You will now be inside of your Bluehost Dashboard which is optimized for WordPress:
That’s it! Congratulations! You have just purchased your web hosting package and domain name.
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