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The Ultimate Guide for Choosing Your ASP.NET Hosting Provider

Are you searching for a reliable ASP.net hosting service provider? Then this guide is for you. ASP.net is a development framework provided by Microsoft for building website pages. It is one of the most widely used web development frameworks, and for good reasons. ASP.net offers vast features that help increase the application performance and overcome systematic development problems.

The framework is known for its high performance and speed, compatibility with any operating system, and high security. Furthermore, it supports web sockets and offers a rich development environment. Unfortunately, only a few hosting providers offer ASP.net hosting, and only a few are worth your time. Continue reading this guide to the end to learn everything you need to know about ASP.net hosting.

What is ASP.NET?

ASP.NET is an open-source platform that is used by software engineers to build dynamic web pages and web application frameworks. The tool is designed, developed, and maintained by Microsoft and utilizes HTTP commands.

The framework was released in 2002 and is a server-side technology. It is used to build many applications and services such as Windows, Web, and Consoles. This tool has acquired a good name and is preferred by many world-renowned organizations like eBay and Amazon.

And because it has an intuitive syntax that is simple to learn, even developers with little programming knowledge can easily create their first ASP.net. Furthermore, its ASP.NET Core and Kestrel web server features make the software one of the fastest, most highly performing, and lightweight web application frameworks worldwide. It also supports cross-platform, which means it is compatible with Linux, Windows, and macOS.

The framework comprises three main components: different programming languages, a library, and Common Language Routine (CLR). Below are the various things you can do with this powerful software

As it allows you to develop applications for macOS, Windows, and Linux, You can provide support to platforms
This application runs on .NET Core or .NET Framework.
You can design ASP.net applications, IoT applications, or Mobile Backend services.

6 Best ASP.Net Hosting Providers

Here are the top 6 .NET hosting providers

1. Hostinger

If you are looking for an affordable ASP.net hosting provider offering top-notch services, Hostinger is an ideal option. Hostinger is one of the most reliable and popular ASP.net hosting providers globally. The company offers cloud hosting, web hosting, VPS hosting, and dedicated servers with a wide selection of flexible options for your business needs. Whether you are a beginner or an experienced webmaster Hostinger has everything you require to own an .Net website. Its servers have high bandwidth, multiple cores, and dedicated IP addresses on all its plans. In addition, Hostinger provides SSD storage, data backup, and many other features to ensure your website is always up and running around the clock.	Our Expert Rating: 97% Best Features 4 Core Servers 30 Days Money Back Guarantee Data Backups Dedicated IP address and IPv6 on all plans Minimum 20GB SSD storage Visit Hostinger

2. Interserver

Another great ASP hosting provider is Interserver. The provider offers.NET hosting on cloud servers and scalable windows hosting on VPS infrastructure. Interserver offers a thirty-day money-back assurance service, website migration, and free SSL certificates. In addition, InterServer uses a Plesk control panel with over 100 most common CMSs and apps, including Magneto, WordPress, and more. Although the InterServer only has one ASP.net, it possesses all the required resources. Once you purchase the plan, you will enjoy unlimited databases, SSD storage, and email accounts with the company. The main downside with Interserver is that they don’t provide a free domain name once you purchase ASP.NET hosting plan. However, the provider offers other perks, such as discounts for long-term commitments.	Our Expert Rating: 95% Best Features Unlimited MySQL and MSSQL databases Unlimited SSD storage Plesk Control Panel InterShield Protection 99.9% uptime guarantee Visit InterServer

3. HostGator

With over 17 years of hosting service, HostGator stands among the favourites for people seeking ASP.net hosting services. HostGator offers superfast speeds, 24-hour client service, and a 99.9% uptime assurance. This company provides ASP.NET hosting on Windows Server, available in 2 plans; personal and enterprise. It also uses a flexible, easy-to-use Plesk control panel. You will get unmetered bandwidth and disk space. In addition, it offers a one-year free domain name, free dedicated IP, unlimited email addresses, and a free SSL website security certificate. Also, it supports a wide selection of major programming languages and scripts such as ASP, GD Library, PHP, AJAX, and many more.	Our Expert Rating: 95% Best Features Powerful admin tools Instant installs Plesk control panel Unmetered bandwidth & disk space. 99.9% uptime guarantee Site transfers

4. GoDaddy

GoDaddy is among the best ASP.NET host providers on the market. It has an incredible uptime guarantee of 99.97% and affordable price plans. GoDaddy offers three packages of.NET hosting, namely the Economy, Deluxe, and Ultimate. The Economy package comes with 100Gb storage, hosting for one website, 1 MSSQL database, and 10 MySQL. On the other hand, the Deluxe package features unlimited storage, unlimited websites, 2 MMSQL databases, and 25 MySQL databases. The Ultimate package offers unlimited databases, Unlimited MySQL databases, Unlimited MSSQL, and Unlimited FTP users. GoDaddy offers unmetered bandwidth, one-year free email, and a free domain in all three plans. The host also offers around-the-clock security monitoring & DDoS protection on all its plans.	Our Expert Rating: 90% Best Features Superb template-based website builder Plesk Control Panel 24/7 expert support Unlimited MySQL and MSSQL databases. Free Domain

5. AccuWeb Hosting

Another .Net hosting provider you can consider is AccuWeb Hosting. The company uses the latest .Net hosting technology, enabling it to provide you with the fastest and most reliable hosting solutions when hosting your website AccuWeb hosting servers are fast, reliable, and highly secure and allow regular backups without compromising the quality and security. Furthermore, when hosting with this company, you don’t have to worry about performance. AccuWeb hosting plans provide SSD storage that guarantees the performance that you want. Also, it provides free SSL security, spam filtering, and 24/7/365 monitoring. Moreover, their subscription fee per month is very reasonable.	Our Expert Rating: 88% Best Features 99.99% server uptime Free backups Free Migration One-year free domain with IP address 24/7/365 security monitoring FTP accounts

6. A2 Hosting

Are you looking for a professional and reliable hosting service provider to make .Net accessible to the public? A2 Hosting can serve you right. A2 Hosting provides everything you need to set up a successful website, from easy-to-use tools and free website migration to excellent guru crew support. Furthermore, it provides industry-leading security and top-notch hosting speed. Whether you are a beginner or an expert, A2 Hosting has a plan that suits your needs. Depending on your needs, you can select your option from the following Hosting services such as: shared, WordPress, VPS, and dedicated. Furthermore, A2 Hosting servers provide an excellent uptime of 99.99% and free SSL, making your site highly secure and reliable for visitors.	Our Expert Rating: 86% Best Features Unlimited space and bandwidth 99.99% uptime commitment Free account migration Free SSL and SSD Guru crew support.

Advantages and disadvantages of ASP.Net?

ASP. NET uses technology that aids in interactive engineering applications and developing a rich and dynamic website. Here are some of its common advantages and disadvantages.

Advantages of ASP. NET

It has a rich toolbox

This framework is known for its unique and rich toolbox, which helps the developer to develop their desired application quicker. The toolbox has two distinct features that make it unique and efficient: automatic deployment and drag-to-drop server control.

Secured option

Security is a vital feature to consider in a framework language. With features such as built-in Windows authentication and per-application configuration, you can create several applications securely.

Reduces Coding time

With the help of framework technology, you will enjoy reduced coding time when you are developing an extensive application.

The disadvantage of ASP. NET

Costly

When you compare this software with other open-source providers, it is expensive. For instance, you will have added expenses such as SQL server licenses, Windows server licenses, and visual studio licenses. On top of these expenses, the upkeep of this framework is costly.

Documentation is up to a different task

The framework documentation could be better than it is. For instance, when you are building an MVC app, there is a higher chance of facing some issues.

How do I choose the right provider?

When you are searching for a reliable ASP.NET hosting provider. Here are the factors to consider when selecting the best .NET hosting provider.

Reliability

Before you conclude on the best hosting provider for your ASP.NET, you should know about your provider infrastructure. Also, it is crucial to determine if the site has any redundant internet connection. Go further and ask about them in newsgroups and emails form. However, if the feedback is from an un-trusted source, take it with a grain of salt.

Security

A reliable hosting provider should have robust firewalls and security features to protect a developer. Look out for hosting companies with SSL certificates. This certificate is a reassurance to the end user of an enhanced level of protection.

Customer support

Any website hosting company needs reputable customer service to tackle customer queries. Look for a hosting provider who can listen, understand, and respond adequately.

Backups

When looking for a hosting provider for your ASP.NET, it is vital to check out more details about their backup strategy. Enquire more about crucial information like their turnaround time when restoring a site or how frequently they back up their file system.

Windows hosting vs. Linux Hosting?

As a starter, when you are faced with the need to create a new website for your business, you need to make an informed choice about whether you should run Windows or Linux Hosting. Below are some of the differences between the two.

Licensing and cost

The first difference between the two OSs is clear. Windows is sold for profit, while Linux is an open source. This action means that when your server uses Windows hosting, you must pay for a license. The hosting company will pass that cost on to you, making Windows more expensive than Linux.

On the other hand, Linux is open-source, and it is entirely free. This hosting depends on a family of open-source operating systems that are available for free.

Programming Language

The Windows hosting uses ASP.NET, but it can work with C, visual basic and C#. On the other hand, Linux hosting works with Ruby and PHP. Be that as it may, there are several languages that work with both hosting types, such as JavaScript, CSS, HTML, and Python.

Control panel

In Windows hosting, you will likely find Plesk, but cPanel is more common for Linux-based options. Both tools are effective and enable their users to install popular programs.

Can I host for free?

Technically, yes – you can. ASP.net in itself is free and open source developer platform. However, unless you are an expert at self-hosting, you would need to choose a free hosting provider in order to launch your app or website.

If you decide to put your trust in a free hosting provider you will inevitably face some limitations. In example, insufficient security practices that may put you and your data at risk. There might be other hindrances as well – such as limited databases, or limited support options.

The good part is that opting for a free plan is a great starting point for beginners. You will be able to test out what works for you what doesn’t and easily cancel the service if you wish to do so. If you like the service you can always upgrade your plan or migrate to another host that fits your requirements.

Which control panel comes with ASP.Net hosting?

Plesk is the control panel that comes with ASP.Net. Plesk will help you to manage your hosting, manage your emails, as well as unlimited domains. With Plesk, your control panel expects the following benefits.

Clear interface

This control panel comes with an intuitive and user-friendly interface. That means everyone can find their way around, more so if they are familiar with WordPress. Also, it has category pages, a feature that makes it easy for you to navigate while looking for the right tools.

Compatible

This control panel controls several operating systems, different platforms and tools (such as WP Toolkit extensions), and technologies. And that is why Windows server installation services opt for the Plesk control panel. It is good to note that Plesk servers are not only limited to Windows servers only but support many versions of Linux.

Automation

Plesk uses automation and simplified set of processes giving server admins time when they are doing system management. This action gives this control panel an upper hand over its competitors as users tend to reduce their efforts and time for routine checks. System admins can also automate servers’ tasks by using Tools and Resources. Besides, you get to access extension tools such as Perfect Dashboard that give a user more task automation power.

If you are looking to find out more on hosting with cPanel – take a look here.

Final verdict

ASP.NET is an open-source framework by Microsoft. The tool is usable in the development of modern websites & enterprise web applications using JavaScript, HTML, and CSS. It supports Windows, Linux, and macOS. Furthermore, it allows you to choose the IDEs and tools that fit your needs.

ASP.Net offers tons of benefits to the users. It is secure, easy to use, and provides a superb user experience with guaranteed reliability and improved performance. Also, .NET is cross-platform compatible with a wide range of platforms. Also, it supports multi-languages such as C#, F#, Visual Basic, and many more, which makes programming and execution easy. In addition, .Net core offers a robust security mechanism and is highly scalable.

However, despite the many benefits it offers its users, it has some drawbacks too. Once it has limited object-relational support, it also provides vendor lock-in, which gives it minimal control. In addition, the licensing cost is another issue. All in all, the few disadvantages do not devalue the many benefits .NET offers.

If you need to host your .NET, you can choose from an array of hosting providers. Therefore, we compiled this list of our favourites on the market to ease the process of choosing.

FAQ

Can I host on my own?

Yes, you can self-host ASP.NET. You will need to start by setting up the site in IIS, then follow the following steps to give the ASPNET account appropriate permission to access your directory.
• Go to My Computer or Windows Explore. Then look out for the folder containing the website you want to use.
• By right-clicking on the folder, you will navigate to Properties and then move to Security
• In the security tab, click on ADD to locate the ASP.NET account.

Do I need a lot of technical expertise?

Yes, you will need technical skills, ASP.NET uses standard programming languages that create websites and applications. Below are some vital skills that will make you succeed.
• Ability to use third-party tools
• Reliable ASP.NET developers should be able to leverage third-party tools to improve the user experience and reduce costs.
• Better Understanding of API
Application Program Interfaces (APIs) are essential tools that allow two applications to communicate with each other irrespective of their technology. You should understand API documentation to be able to code and pass the correct information within the APIs.

Can I start with a free trial?

Yes. Some ASP.Net hosting providers offer a free trial. Starting with a free trial is a great way to get a taste of the service and make up your mind. If there is none, always look for a money-back guarantee. This grants you the option to opt out of the service if you change your mind.

Is .NET secure?

Yes. It is good to know that .Net is safe and secure. This easy-to-use platform has an array of tools that helps it with authentication, authorization, and cryptography. This feature enables the platform to eliminate many threats facing the application. Also, the website does not download any files to your PC. That is why it is simply an information website to look for processes. When adequately used, .Net gives software engineers and system admins granular security for their applications.

Is ASP.Net free itself?

Yes,.NET is a free framework that programmers can use to build unique web applications and websites. This open-source platform was created and is supported by Microsoft. The tool provides a developer with three frameworks to build up web applications: ASP.NET Web pages, web forms, and ASP.NET MVC. All three devices are efficient and stable and create brilliant web applications. It is good to note that ASP.NET helps software engineers to generate dynamic web pages when ASP code and HTML combine.

Is it worth it?

Yes, ASP.NET is a fantastic architecture for building unique websites and web application that uses CSS, JavaScript, and HTML. ASP.NET is also secure, flexible, and of high performance, a feature that makes it appreciated by many startups and enterprise companies.

Besides, the tools are essential in creating Web APIs and using real-time technologies. Also, it reduces the line of code when working on a complex project. The application is also easy to deploy because of its in-built configuration information.

How to transfer a domain to GoDaddy?

Hosting

Nadezhda Petrova

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Are you wondering how you can transfer domain to GoDaddy? Then, this guide is for you. GoDaddy sits among the largest domain registrars. This web hosting platform offers various hosting services, besides domain registration – such as WordPress, VPS, dedicated hosting, and shared hosting. If you plan to migrate to GoDaddy, you will join a well-established company known for its excellent services for a couple of years.

Transferring your domain to GoDaddy is a simple and straightforward process. All that you need is to adhere to simple instructions, and you will be good to go. First, you need to sign up to GoDaddy, if you already haven’t, and finish your account. Then, start preparing for the process. Read on to find out how it is all done. It’s important to note that you will be charged a fee when you transfer domain to GoDaddy. However, it is quite affordable and it is worth it in the end.

Some preparations

You don’t have to worry about how to transfer your domain from your current hosting to GoDaddy. It is an easy process. First, you will need to prepare your domain name using the below steps.

Unlock your domain name – Start by unlocking your domain name held by your current registrar.
Expect an authorisation code – Your current registrar will send you an authorisation code.
Verify contact information – You must verify the contact information on your domain name.

Once the above preparation is set and your domain name is ready, you can initiate the transfer process with GoDaddy.

Start the transfer

Step 1

We’re starting very simple. Open the GoDaddy website and log into your account

Step 2

Next, find your Domains section from the Menu.

Step 3

Once you’re into your Domain Portfolio, look for Transfers on the left side. Here you can choose between transferring your domain to GoDaddy from another registrar or between GoDaddy accounts. We are choosing Registrar.

Step 4

There we are – on the Domain Transfer page. Now, you need to click on New Transfer.

Step 5

It’s time to add the domain or domains you wish to move. If there is more than one, you would have to type each on a separate line. Furthermore, you can add up to 500 domains. When you’re done click on Continue.

Step 6

Now that you’ve chosen your domain/s, you can take a look at the Summary. Don’t forget to double check if all the information is correct. Here you can also check the estimated subtotal of the entire transfer – as we mentioned above, there is a transfer fee. When you are done checking, click on Go To Checkout.

Step 7

Only thing left to do now is go through the checkout process – take one final look and choose the length of your subscription. Additionally, you can choose to add domain protection. Then, click on I’m Ready To Pay.

Now, just finish the checkout – add your details, payment method, etc. Et voilà – the process is complete!

Please note that when you transfer a domain it might take up to 7 days, so don’t worry that you’ve done something wrong. You can always check the status from the Transfers page in your account.

Why transfer to GoDaddy?

There are many benefits that a domain transfer to GoDaddy offers its clients. Here are some of the great features you will like about GoDaddy’s hosting.

Great page load time

One of the reasons many people prefer hosting their site with GoDaddy is that it offers excellent page loading time. The average page loading time for this platform is below 280ms.

Large domain registrars

GoDaddy sits among the far-reaching domain name registrars. When you transfer a domain to this platform, expect to access any domain extension such as .com, .net, .org, .law, or even .today.

Provides shared hosting plans

This web hosting platform provides a shared hosting plan that costs between $8.99 and $24.99. This feature allows you to share your server with other clients at a cheaper rate.

Provides WordPress

GoDaddy provides its client with WordPress pre-installed with a selection of themes. The site also offers WordPress optimised shared hosting services.

Final thoughts

When you transfer domain to GoDaddy, as long as you plan adequately, your site never has to be offline or unavailable. GoDaddy is a solid choice as one of the largest domain registrars on the market. Furthermore, if you decide to do so you can easily migrate your entire website as they offer a ton of great hosting deals.

The best part of it all – you don’t need a ton of technical expertise

FAQ

What if I change my mind?

If you have already initiated a domain transfer to GoDaddy and change your mind during the process, you can cancel it anytime. All you need is to follow the below steps.
Step 1. Log in to your GoDaddy and access your Domain Control Center
Step 2. Click on the domain and then look out for Pending Account Changes
Step 3. If you are opting to move out of your account, select ‘To Another GoDaddy Account’, or if your option is to move your domain into your account, select ‘From Another GoDaddy Account‘.
Step 4. Tick the icon Select All
Step 5. Cancel transfers on the list of your domains
Step 6. Go ahead and confirm the cancellation

Why is an Authorisation code needed?

An authorisation code, commonly known as a transfer code, is produced by your registrar to assist recognize the domain name holder (registered name holder). This code is required when the registered name holder is looking to transfer their website from one Website hosting provider to another. A web hosting provider will offer this code in two ways.
• Allowing the registrant to create its code via cPanel.
• Provide the authorisation code within five calendar days

What will happen to my website and email during the transfer?

Any business website owner must worry about what will happen during the transfer period. The two main concerns are about: will their clients get their usual services when they engage their site or will their emails be working properly. Be it as it may, during the actual transfer process, they should rest assured of no interruption of service. This interruption may only occur when the transfer process is complete, and the domain is active with GoDaddy.

Can I register my domain with GoDaddy?

Yes, you can. If you have not yet purchased a domain name – GoDaddy is a great registrar to choose from. They are among the largest registrars on the market with a ton of great deals and perks.

Why is a custom domain important?

A custom domain is a branded domain name that is unique to your campaign. You can buy the customised domain from GoDaddy to fit your brand. This domain name comes with the following benefits.

• Branding: Buying a custom domain helps your firm to promote your brand.

• Discoverability: Using a custom domain improves your search engine optimisation. Also, a custom domain gives a true reflection of your brand in a more appropriate way. For instance, clients looking for more information about your product tend to be confident with your information.

• Customer Trust: With all of the scams going around the web, customers are looking for recognisable URLs. Using a custom domain name makes clients trust your brand more.

GoDaddy Domain Forwarding – How to Do It Step by Step

Hosting

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GoDaddy Domain Forwarding – How to Do It Step by Step

Do you want forward your GoDaddy domain to another website? Here’s what you should do. GoDaddy domain forwarding is available for GoDaddy subscribers who wish to redirect their visitors from one website to another. You can redirect a GoDaddy domain to a website with other content management systems (CMS) such as Wix, WordPress, and others.

Check out our step-by-step procedure below to learn how to forward your GoDaddy domain.

What is Domain Forwarding?

Domain forwarding lets you redirect your website visitors to another website. The process forwards users from the original website they typed to a different website.

But why do web admins use domain forwarding? Well, there could be a multitude of reasons why website owners want to redirect their customers to a different website.

For one, there is a change in the business name or website address. To ensure that users still get to their intended site, you may use domain forwarding to forward users to that new website.

There are two types of domain forwarding – standard and stealth.

Standard domain forwarding redirects users who go to, for example, Website X and brings them to Website Y. The user address bar changes to Website Y.

Stealth domain forwarding redirects users who enter Website X and forwards them to Website Y. The user address bar remains unchanged; Website X. In GoDaddy, this is referred to as GoDaddy forward with masking.

GoDaddy Domain Forwarding Process

To use the GoDaddy forwarding feature, including the GoDaddy subdomain forwarding, follow these steps:

Step 1

Log in to your GoDaddy.com account. Enter your username or customer number and input your password. After that, click on Sign In.

Step 2

Enter your one-time code. GoDaddy may ask you for your one-time code. The system sends it to your registered email address or phone number. Enter the 6-digit code and click on Verify Code.

Step 3

Once logged in, click on the menu beside your name and select My Products.

Step 4

On the My Products page, click on the Manage All link in the right part of the Domains section.

Step 5

The website redirects you to your Domain Portfolio. Tick on the domain that you want to forward to another website.

Step 6

After selecting the domain that you want to forward, click on the More menu icon and then click on Forward.

Step 7

Choose where you want to forward your domain. Select HTTP/HTPPS and then enter the destination you want to send your domain. For this example, we would like to redirect visitors of mycoolwebsite.club to myothercoolwebsite.com. Take note that http to https redirect is not supported in GoDaddy. You can do that on your hosting platform.

Reminders when entering a domain name:

Make sure that the first and last letters are numbers
You can use periods (.)
You cannot use consecutive periods (…)
The maximum number of characters allowed is 1,000
You cannot use underscores (_)

Step 8

Choose how you would like to forward your domain. The type of forwarding you choose determines the length of the forwarding action and how search engines, such as Google, handle the forwarding request – SEO-wise.

GoDaddy 301 direct tells search engines this is a permanent redirect to the new site. Users who go to the old URL will be automatically sent to the new URL. The user address bar shows the address of the new website. The SEO rank of the old website gets passed on to the new website.

Temporary (302) tells search engines that this is a temporary redirect to the new site until you remove the redirect. Users who go to the old URL will be automatically sent to the new URL. The user address bar shows the address of the new website. No changes in the SEO rank for both website.

Forward with masking on GoDaddy automatically forwards users who go to the old URL to the new URL. However, the user address bar will still show the URL of the old website.

Option 1

If you select Forward with Masking, click Next to add more details.

In the Forward with Masking page, add a title, description, or keywords. You need to fill in at least one of the three fields. Once done, click on Save. It’s that easy to set up GoDaddy Domain forwarding with masking!

Option 2

If you select Permanent (301) or Temporary (302), click Continue.

You just learned how to forward your GoDaddy domain. For this example, anyone who visits mycoolwebsite.club gets automatically redirected to myothercoolwebsite.com.

Permanent versus Temporary Forwarding

As discussed in the previous section, there are two types of forwarding – permanent and temporary.

Permanent forwarding is advisable if you want to move your old website to the new one permanently. All ranking power and SEO value of the old website gets passed on to the new website.

On the other hand, temporary forwarding is advisable if you just want to redirect your website visitors to a new site temporarily. When you want to rebuild your old website without interrupting user activity, you can redirect your visitors to a temporary site. SEO ranking power remains on the old site.

When choosing what is best for you, ask yourself, “Do I want to completely give up this site and move on to the new website?”

If the answer is yes, then choose permanent forwarding; else, select it to be temporary.

Final Thoughts

Forwarding GoDaddy domain to another website is easy. GoDaddy makes it hassle-free for its users. You can start forwarding your GoDaddy domain to another domain with just a few clicks.

This article taught you how to forward your GoDaddy domain to another website.

You also learned the difference between direct forwarding and forwarding with masking – and what is the best one to use based on your situation.

We’ve also dived into the difference between the two types of direct forwarding – permanent (301) and temporary (302).

If you have more questions about GoDaddy subdomain forwarding, send us a message in the comments. We would be happy to help. Also, if you think this article is helpful, we would appreciate you sharing this with your friends.

FAQ

What is domain masking, and should I use it?

Domain masking, from the name itself, is masking a domain name so that a different domain name appears in the user address bar. Masking a domain is entirely up to you. People mask domains for a variety of reasons.

For one, they want to keep a certain domain name private, so they mask it with another name. Another reason is that the original website is in construction, and you want your users’ experience to be uninterrupted. Some users may get confused if they try to visit a website and get redirected to another one.

Why would I need to set up domain forwarding?

You need to set up domain forwarding if you want to redirect users from your old domain to your new domain. Again, there could be a variety of reasons why people want to set up domain forwarding. Sometimes, it’s promotional, sometimes it’s a temporary solution, and sometimes it’s when you make permanent changes, but you still want old users to access your new website.

Instead of explaining things to your customers, automatically forwarding them to another website without further actions from their end could help with the overall browsing experience.

What is DNS?

DNS means Domain Name System. The Domain Name System makes it easier for people to access websites on the internet. Web browsers interact using Internet Protocol (IP) addresses.

IP addresses are in the format of 192.0.XXX. However, it is harder for humans to remember the IP address 208.65.153.238 than when it is just www.MySite.com.

The Domain Name System was adopted to make it easier for humans to interact with the internet. Every domain name, for example, Youtube.com, is linked to at least one IP address.

Think of DNS as your name and the IP addresses as your ID numbers.

Do I need to own the domain I am forwarding to?

You do not have to own the domain you are forwarding to, but you need to own the domain you are forwarding from.

Domain forwarding is simply telling people, “Hey, you are now on website A; let me take you to website B.”

You need to own the original website since you are taking traffic off it and forwarding the same to the new one. Websites cannot prevent incoming traffic, so you do not have to own the website you are forwarding to.

Is it easy to set up?

Well, we just showed you how to set up your GoDaddy domain forwarding. We can say that it is fairly easy to set up.

Our step-by-step procedures, complete with screenshots, should readily guide you. You don’t have to worry about making a mistake since our tutorial starts from the login screen to the part when the setup is complete.

Also, if you have more questions or anything that confuses you, you can always use the comment section to let us know.

How to Delete a WordPress Blog

Hosting

Nadezhda Petrova

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Want to learn how to delete a WordPress blog? Let’s go through this process together. WordPress user numbers continue to rise yearly, making it the most popular blog and web hosting platform available today. As a matter of fact, statistics indicate that WordPress powers close to 35% of all active websites worldwide.

This shouldn’t come as a surprise for those in the know. WordPress comes with plethora of features, e.g., thousands of plugins to choose from, easy site setup, and free account creation. These features have helped it outdo other content management systems, such as Drupal.

But despite all perks and unrivalled functionality, there may come a time when you no longer require the WordPress account. When that day comes, you’ll want to know how to delete a WordPress blog.

How to Delete a WordPress Blog from Your Dashboard

Developers and blog owners usually have different reasons for wanting to remove blog from WordPress. Typical reasons include the following:

Ensuring Security: A developer who has no intention of continuing to operate their blog or website may wish to delete it instead of risking a breach. Breaches are common when hackers attack the WordPress servers at a large scale, causing your account to become compromised.
Shifting Platforms: Another reason you may want to learn how to remove a blog from WordPress is when you’re planning to move it to another CMS platform. For example, Drupal has stronger security than WordPress, while Joomla has better functionality. And HubSpot enables you to build well-designed sites without coding experience.

If you do decide to use the dashboard to remove WordPress blog, you can follow the steps below:

Step 1

Start by login into your official WordPress account. You can use your Apple, Google, or WordPress username and password to log in. If you own multiple accounts, confirm that you have logged into the right one before proceeding

Step 2

Head over to the upper left-hand corner and click on “My Site“. To close the WordPress account, you must start by first deleting all the active sites currently in the “My Sites” panel.

Step 3

Click on “Manage,” then proceed to “Settings“. When you click on manage, a dropdown menu will appear, which will display three options, Domains, People, and Settings.

Step 4

Use the mouse pointer to scroll to the bottom section of your page and click on “Delete your WordPress site permanently“. You should note that this will take down all your content.

Step 5

Export any pages, media, and data you want to retain. It’s advisable to convert all the content you want to keep into a .zip file. Download the file once the conversion is complete.

Step 6

Slowly scroll down until you find the “Delete Site” button. As you’ll see on the prompt that will appear, a WordPress account delete action is irreversible. Contact support if you need any clarification on what you’ll lose if you proceed.

Step 7

Submit the name of your blog and click “Delete this site“. You have to type in the blog name as it appears to delete WordPress site. Again, confirm that this is the account you want to delete before you proceed.

Step 8

Head over to the upper-left-hand corner and click on the profile picture

Step 9

From the menu that appears, make sure to click on “Account Settings.“

Step 10

Scroll to the lower part of that page and select “Close your account permanently.“

Step 11

At this point, ensure you go through the risks of deleting your account and select “Close account” if you have understood them.

Step 12

Enter your username and click on “Close your account.”

Delete a WordPress Blog Through Dashboard

How to Delete a Self-Hosted WordPress Blog Via cPanel

Apart from using the WordPress dashboard to delete a WordPress blog, you can also remove blog from WordPress using cPanel. This option mainly applies to users who use the convenient auto-install system by WordPress to complete their installation.

To uninstall WordPress from cPanel, follow these steps:

Step 1:

Go to your cPanel dashboard and locate the “Hosting” tab. The URL for the cPanel will generally vary from one hosting provider to the next. However, it should look something like this:

http://cpanel.mywebhosting.com/

Step 2:

Select “Switch” to navigate to the configuration system for your particular domain. Here, you’ll need to find the domain where you have installed your WordPress account. Once you have it, click on “Switch” to submit the configuration details for the domain in question.

Step 3:

Go to the cPanel auto-installer and click on the “WordPress” option. You have to open the auto-install tool to continue with the WordPress account removal process.

Step 4:

Select “Uninstall“: The last step is pretty much self-explanatory and is one that will help conclude this process. Once you finish this step, a certain prompt will appear on your screen, confirming that you have completed the WordPress blog removal process.

How to Delete a WordPress Blog via cPanel

How to Delete a Self-Hosted WordPress Blog Manually

If you installed the WordPress blog on your personal web server manually, you’d also need to use the manual removal process. Typically, the options available to you with regards to how to delete WordPress blog permanently are three and include the following:

Access via a web-based file manager
(S)FTP access
SSH-based console access

With all three options, you’ll be deleting the primary WordPress directory and have a chance to delete your MySQL database. It’s recommended that you begin by backing up all your data and other essential files before proceeding any further.

Often, your WordPress directory is saved as “blog,” and you can find it by navigating to the /var/www/ directory. If you don’t see it, make your way to the public_html file in your home directory.

via FTP/SFTP

In this step, you’ll learn how to delete a WordPress blog using an FTP client, such as Filezilla FTP client. Before proceeding further, please note that what you’ll learn here is how to remove site files and not the database.

The first step to removing a WordPress blog using FTP is to use your credentials to connect to the FTP server. Once you’re connected to the server, you’ll want to locate a file called wp-config.php. When you see it, right-click on it, and select the ‘View‘ option.

Selecting this option will allow the FTP client to download the file automatically to your computer. When the download process completes, open it, and locate the line labeled as “define (‘DB_NAME,’ ‘YourDatabase ‘).”

In this scenario, ‘YourDatabase‘ refers to the name used to save the WordPress database and is one you’ll need to remove later on. Save this database and proceed with the file removal process.

For those using the Filezilla FTP client, you can do this by pressing Ctrl + A to allow you to select all files. Once the selection is complete, right-click and click on the Delete option. A confirmation prompt will appear on your screen. Hit yes to proceed with the site file removal process.

Via A Web-Based File Manager

It’s also possible to delete a WordPress blog using a web-based file manager. This is perhaps the easiest of all options. In order to delete WordPress site HostGator, you must follow the steps shown below:

Login to the web hosting dashboard
Locate the file manager application and open it
Find your way to the WordPress directory that’s of concern. Confirm that it’s the same directory you want to delete and proceed to click on the “Delete” button.

As you can see from these steps above, this is a quick way to uninstall WordPress siteground.

Via Console Commands

Last but not least, on this list of how to manually delete a WordPress blog is the console command method. To help you remove the WordPress blog via SSH access, you’ll be required to type something similar to this:

[maverick-5f16fe2b82ad3606552467/]

The command should help you delete the WordPress blog permanently.

Don’t Forget About the Database

Although the steps mentioned earlier will help remove your WordPress account, the WordPress database will remain in place. You may, therefore, want to delete the blog’s MySQL database before calling it a wrap.

One quick way to do this is by using a MySQL command. An example of such a command can look something close to this:

$ MySQL -h HOST -u USERNAME -p PASSWORD -D WordPress

$ DROP WordPress

Please note that you must replace “WordPress” with the name used to save the WordPress database you want to delete. Remember, this is the same database that is stored in the wp-config.php file.

The process you follow to locate the database for deletion will vary depending on your preferred hosting provider. For instance, if you have been using cPanel to manage the blog, you’ll have to rely on the file manager to browse through the directory.

Delete your database via cPanel

All cPanel users should follow the steps below to help them delete the WordPress database permanently:

Use your login credentials to log in to the cPanel
Scroll down until you find the Databases section, and click on “MySQL Databases.”
Check the available databases and select the particular MySQL database you want to delete
Locate the database link and click on it
A prompt will appear with an onscreen warning. Go through its contents to ensure that you understand what you’re about to do, and then hit “Delete Database.”

cPanel will now proceed to delete the WordPress database.

Final Words

There are several reasons why a developer or blog owner may want to delete a WordPress blog. If the day comes and you decide to go ahead with this process, you can use any of the methods mentioned above to help you with the removal process.

Before you get started, there’s something that we want to emphasize – just because you have deleted a WordPress account doesn’t mean that it’s no longer available online. Google usually creates a cache of the WordPress blog, which may remain available for up to 30 days.

Furthermore, there are projects such as Archive.org that attempt to preserve the web by tracking all changes happening to any given website. You may also want to learn about spammers who steal/copy full websites.

They do this through a technique called scraping. If the spammers have somehow managed to copy your website, its content will remain online for as long as the spammer wants.

Looking at the above, it’s clear that it may take a while before the content on your WordPress blog or website becomes unavailable for good. Consider all this before you decide to delete a WordPress blog.

FAQ

Why would I delete my WordPress site?

WordPress blog owners have several reasons for wanting to delete a blog. While these reasons are usually personal, it’s always best to think carefully before taking any action. Some of the top reasons for wanting to learn how to delete blog on WordPress include the following:

1. Your blog/website is abandoned: Maybe it no longer receives any traffic or cannot generate sales from the little traffic coming into it.

2.You want to merge the existing blog/website with an upcoming blog or website and don’t want to run multiple platforms.

3. You have determined that it’s best to start from scratch by launching a new website using a different theme.

4. You lack the time and energy needed to care for a site – it takes a lot of dedication to create content and maintain.

What if I delete my WordPress account?

Before you proceed to delete WordPress site, make sure you understand all the consequences that will come with this action. Some of the consequences will go into effect immediately, while others may take a bit longer to become active.

When you close an account, its closure may affect any other accounts, e.g., WooCommerce accounts attached to it. It will become impossible to access your WooCommerce sites, as mentioned on the WordPress support page.

Another thing worth noting is that your username won’t become available for use again just because you have decided to close down your WordPress account. When you take down a WordPress account, its linked username becomes permanently unavailable for use.

It’s a technique employed by the platform to reduce impersonation instances.

Will my site disappear from Google after I delete it?

Not entirely! Google will have cached all the contents of your site prior to deletion. What this means is that all indexed sites will, in all likelihood, continue to appear in SERPs. It’s, however, possible to submit a request to Google to have this deleted.

You can do this by checking out Google’s support page or by checking the questions and answers given on various WordPress forums. Please note that it may take a while for the Google team to respond to your request.

What if I want to restore it in the future?

There are instances where one may make a rushed decision to delete a WordPress blog, only for them to regret their decision after a few hours, days, or weeks. If this happens to you, you’ll be glad to know that you do have some recourse.

According to WordPress.com, a WordPress blogger or site owner can reverse their account deletion during the first 30 days. You’re encouraged to contact the WordPress team immediately after you realize that you have made a mistake.

The team will assist you in reopening the closed/deleted account, provided you make the request within this timeframe. After this time has elapsed, it will become impossible to recover the account, as the CMS will have purged all your sites and their accompanying data.

What happens to my domain name after I delete my blog?

Contrary to popular opinion, deleting your account will not cause you to lose your domain. When the deletion process is completed, you’ll have two options with regard to what you can do with it:

1. You can point the domain name to an existing domain

2. You can choose to use the domain name to create a new site According to GoDaddy, the registry may hold the domain name you have canceled for a while before releasing it for use by others. The hold process allows you to re-register the domain name once the domain register releases it for use.

Can I hide my blog without deleting it?

Hiding a blog is the best alternative to permanently deleting it from the internet. Developers refer to this technique as “unpublishing your blog.” If you’re sure that this is what you want to do, you can achieve your goal using three methods:

Employ a maintenance plugin: It works best when you’re redesigning or looking to add new content to the blog and don’t want site visitors to see what’s happening. The plugin will close the WordPress account temporarily until you’re ready to get it back online.

Request search engines not to index the WordPress site: Use the WordPress dashboard settings to make this request. Activating it means that Google won’t show your pages on its SERPs.

Go to the content editor and make a give page ‘private’: There are times when you need to make a specific page invisible. This option will make this a possibility.

How to Build a Website On Your Own

Hosting

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Small businesses are often a one-person show. Business owners must juggle all business needs from procurement, production, marketing, sales, and logistics. And with the growing trend in online shopping and e-commerce, every entrepreneur should build a website for his business to thrive and increase profits.

To the uninformed, having a website can be offputting since most people think building and maintaining a website is expensive – it’s not.

Whether you have zero knowledge in coding or someone who can write codes but doesn’t know what to do next, this article will guide you on how to build a website with minimal spending costs.

Step 1: Start with a Great Domain Name

A domain name is your unique address on the world wide web. Though you are free to choose your preferred domain name, it is advisable that you keep it relevant to your business and that it is easy for people to remember or type in your domain name.

So, here are some essential tips for choosing a good domain name:

Choose a name that’s relevant to your business.

A cellphone repair shop should never choose MikeLovesDogs.com. Instead, it will use keywords related to the company – cell phone and repair.

Keep it short

The longer a domain name is, the easier it is to forget or mistype.

Make it easy to remember

Choose a domain name that has an easy recall value to your target market.

It should be easy to type and pronounce

You do not want people to mistype and mispronounce your website name.

Use a popular top-level domain (TLD)

TLD, in simpler terms, refers to the last part of your website address. For Google.com, the TLD is the .com. For general-purpose websites, it’s good to use common TLDs such as .com, .co, and .org. If you want to target a local audience, using a country code top-level domain such as .us (if you are from the US) can help with the SEO.

Do not use hyphens, numbers, and non-regular characters

Minimize the possibility that users may mistype your website address by removing characters that may confuse them.

Include your brand name

Incorporating your brand name into your domain name helps familiarize people with your brand, thus earning you more clicks and visits.

Step 2: Choose Your Host

Now that you have your domain name ready, it is now time to ensure how you will make your website available to the public all the time. On the internet, hosting stores your files and makes your website accessible to users.

You can choose to host your website or get a web hosting service provider to do all the technical work. We suggest you go with the hosting route through a good service provider.

Quality website hosting is needed for your website to stay online, ready to be accessed by your users. A good website with good content has no use when it is offline most of the time.

There are a lot of good hosting providers that have been serving small and large businesses for years. Our article comparing web hosting prices and features can help you make an informed choice. Here are a few providers from the list:

	Starting Price $0.50 per month

IONOS by 1&1 offers one of the cheapest hosting services. At $0.50 on the first year on their most affordable plan, IONOS is one of the choices for starting businesses. Take note that the plan automatically renews at $10 per month after a year. The service offers unlimited websites, bandwidth, and a free domain for a year.

	Starting Price $2.95 per month

GreenGeeks is the only web hosting provider in this list that runs entirely on green energy. With a starting plan of $2.95 per month for a year and renews at $10.95 a month after, it may be a bit costly, but if you are committed to reducing your carbon footprint, GreenGeeks is a good choice. Subscribers get 24/7 support and a free domain for a year.

	Starting Price $0.50 per month Visit Hostinger

Hostinger offers many plans to fit every user’s needs. From new website owners who want a simple hosting service to those high-traffic websites that needs a quality and reliable hosting service, Hostinger is a good option. The cheapest plan is $1.99 per month and automatically renews at $3.99 after a year. Free weekly backups, a free SSL certificate, unmetered traffic, and a free domain for those on higher-tiered plans are why users may love Hostinger.

	Starting Price $5.99 per month

GoDaddy is one of the largest providers of hosting services. They boast of having a one-stop shop for all internet needs, such as hosting, virtual private servers, domain name services, and more. The most affordable plan for GoDaddy starts at $5.99 and already offers daily backups, a free domain for a year, and unmetered bandwidth. The cheapest plan renews at $8.99.

Step 3: Choose Your Site Building Method Depending on Your Technical Knowledge

With a domain name and a potential hosting provider, let’s discuss building your website. Many business owners are put-off when website building is concerned. The usual stigma with building a website is that it could be complicated, expensive, and may take a lot of time.

However, anyone can build a website without spending too much. Whether you are a complete newbie or have advanced HTML and CSS knowledge, here are your option to make your website:

Beginner: Try a site builder

It’s not easy building your website from scratch – especially if you do not have the technical knowledge. However, a person with zero knowledge in website-building can now build a website using website builders.

Website builders take users through an easy process to create good-looking websites. You don’t have to be an expert in HTML and CSS to start making your website. All you have to do is choose a template based on the type of website that you want, and customize the website based on your preference.

Furthermore, some businesses solely offer website building. You can use their services to start building your website. However, we recommend using a hosting provider that offers a website builder- and most of the time, it comes free with the plan. Here are some domains that offer a website builder as part of their package:

	Starting Price $1.99 per month

iPage offers a 1-click WordPress installer, a free domain, unlimited MySQL databases, unlimited bandwidth, and a free SSL certificate at a low price of $1.99 for three years. The plan renews at $7.99 per month. Subscribers to iPage’s plans get a free website builder.

	Starting Price $2.99 per month

Starting at a cheap $2.99 plan for three years, A2 Hosting is one good contender for an excellent hosting service with a free website builder. After three years, the plan renews at $8.99. Aside from the free website builder, A2 Hosting guarantees a 99.9% uptime, free SSL, and a 30-day money-back guarantee.

	Starting Price $4.50 per month

While others offer website-building features and hosting plans, WIX offers hosting services on top of their website builder. WIX offers a cloud-based drag-and-drop website builder so that anyone can build a good website fast and easily, regardless of technical knowledge. Wix has a free tier, but if you want to take things seriously, at least go for the cheapest plan at $4.50 per month, which gives you a custom domain, 1 GB of bandwidth, 500 MB of storage space, and 24/7 customer support.

If you are starting and do not have much budget for your website, then setting up your business website through a website builder is advised. The key is building your website as soon as possible to get it out to the world.

You can always change, edit, or upgrade your website when your business grows and you have more funds to go on a more feature-packed website.

To have a base design, you only need to prepare your assets, such as the company logo, domain name, and other business-related images. Your website builder provider will handle the rest. Most website builders offer a step-by-step procedure to get your website up and running.

Depending on your site builder provider, you can choose from a wide range of templates that fits your business needs. It is essential though that you should clearly define the objectives you have with the website.

Do you want to create a website to inform people about your business? Do you want to make a website to get more sales? Or do you want your website to capture potential customers? Once the objective is clear, you can proceed with a template that fits your website and goals, and you can start building your own website.

Though choosing site builders is the fastest, easiest, and cheapest way to build your website, the options are limited. If you want more customization, try WordPress, or if you have the technical know-how, you can build a website from scratch.

Intermediate: Try WordPress

If you find websites built through website builders boring and too essential, you can use WordPress to build your website.

WordPress is a content management system (CMS) that’s free and open-source.

With the proper knowledge and training, one can make nice-looking websites using the power of WordPress. Moreover, even people with no coding knowledge have made tremendous and successful websites using WordPress.

As of 2022, there are 455 million websites powered by WordPress. As a matter of fact, 43% of all websites use WordPress for their content management system.

If you want to try WordPress to build your website, here are three hosts that offer WordPress:

	Starting Price $3.99 per month

InMotion offers hosting services, VPS for both dedicated and shared servers, and even specialized WordPress plans. For two years, you can start with a WordPress Core plan at $3.99 per month. The plan gives you two websites, 100GB SSD storage, free lifetime SSL, unlimited bandwidth, and 24/7 customer support.

	Starting Price $2.59 per month

Dreamhost has been in the hosting business since 1997. They are one of the oldest and most popular hosting providers. Dreamhost offers managed WordPress hosting. Their WordPress Starter Plan costs $2.59 per month and gives you one website, a free domain, unlimited traffic, free automated WordPress migrations, a WordPress website builder, and more.

	Starting Price $2.95 per month Visit Bluehost

Like Dreamhost, Bluehost is a long-term player in the hosting space. Since 2003, Bluehost’s number of subscribers has been growing. Bluehost offers WordPress hosting plans for as low as $2.95 per month. The most basic plan offers a free domain for a year, one website, 10 GB SSD storage, customer themes, and 24/7 support.

Though making a website using WordPress is not as easy as using site builders, WordPress offers a lot of functionality and control on your website that no site builders can offer – no matter how customizable these site builders may be.

If you are new to WordPress, you can follow this step-by-step plan by WordPress.Org to help you get started.

Here are the basic things you should do to build websites using WordPress:

Choose your hosting provider and domain name. The first half of this article already covers that.
Choose your WordPress plan provider. You don’t have to choose any of the providers in this article. You can research and choose your own.
Install WordPress. Relax. It’s easy.
Select your preferred theme.
Add pages and posts to your websites to cater to your goal of sales, brand recognition, or client acquisition.
Install relevant plugins.
Customize your website to make it your own.

WordPress.org offers enough documentation so that someone who knows how to read and use the internet could learn how to create websites using WordPress. You can always refer to their website’s WordPress troubleshooting guide in case of trouble.

Let’s look at a more advanced option – building your website with HTML.

Advanced: Build your website with HTML

Website builders are easy and convenient, but they lack features and control. Building a website using WordPress is a better option. However, you may be limited to WordPress’ terms of use which can change anytime. Plus, WordPress has additional costs aside from the hosting service.

This is the reason why some people prefer to build websites using HTML. For the most part, a person with a good foundation in HTML can make websites better and cheaper.

Building websites with HTML is also good for the long term. You do not have to worry about possible future updates by WordPress or your website builder provider that may mess up your current site’s data and performance.

If you choose this route, we recommend checking on some hosting providers:

	Starting Price $2.99 per month

SiteGround is a good provider if you want a “choose your plan” hosting service. Though their plans are not that cheap, they have proven themselves to have one of the best speeds in the industry. SiteGround’s hosting plan starts at $2.99 per month for a year. Features include unlimited email accounts, unmetered traffic, free SSL, and 24/7 support.

	Starting Price $3.99 per month

Accuweb is a reliable company that offers web hosting services. This host has some of the wealthiest features in a hosting company, such as web and WordPress hosting, Windows VPS, Forex VPS, Cloud VPS, and VPS hosting. Accuweb’s Basic Shared plan starts at $3.99 monthly for three years and then renews at $6.99.

	Starting Price $2.50 per month Visit InterServer

Interserver doesn’t have the most affordable plans, but many users still prefer their service because they are one of the best hosting providers in the space. Their plans start at $2.50 per month. Not the cheapest, but having excellent colocation services, unlimited email accounts, and a price lock guarantee, Interserver is a good hosting provider to consider if you are in it the long term.

Building your website from scratch using HTML is not for everyone. However, some businesses need to own their codes and want to be free from external factors such as changes in a service provider’s policies.

Here are the advantages of building your website from scratch:

You have complete control over your data. Only you and your authorized personnel have access to and control over your files, site structure, and codes.
You have complete control over your site’s hosting services. Some website-building providers and hosting providers will force you into availing of their services or that of their partners. So, using your code frees you from that spot on not having a choice.
No need to pay additional fees when building multiple websites.
You are not bounded by the service provider’s terms of use.

Depending on your needs and resources, you can choose to create a website using a site builder, through WordPress, or start from scratch using HTML.

Regardless of your choice, the fact remains the same – if you want to grow your business and take advantage of the sale opportunity offered by the internet, then you need to create your website as soon as possible.

If You Plan on Selling

If your main goal is to sell, you can make your website designed for selling. However, with the growth in e-commerce businesses, some hosting providers now have hosting plans tailored for e-commerce businesses.

Hosting platforms such as Hostgator and Hostinger have programs designed for e-commerce. E-commerce hosting plans have extra tools to help you create and organize your shops, capture leads, create more sales, and get access to analytics.

If you aim only to have a shop and not an entire website, then you can use e-commerce platforms to make it hassle-free on your end. By using e-commerce platforms, you have a done-for-you website and shop. You only have to customize and add items for sale.

E-commerce platforms help businesses grow online by doing all the technical work and providing valuable tools to help businesses flourish. By letting go of the technical work of creating a website, online shop, and payment integrations, companies can focus more on what they are good at – their products.

Here are some of the e-commerce platforms we recommend:

Shopify – the most popular all-around e-commerce platform
Squarespace – recommended for specific niche markets
Zyro – is recommended for those who want a complete online store.

Let’s Talk About Content

In the world of the internet; content is king. Content can be in the form of a helpful tip or good advice. Content can be in a state of items to sell or giving people something to enjoy or learn.

Having good content helps you sell your product. Of course, you can’t just go to someone’s door and say you are selling them a pancake maker. It would, undoubtedly, be best to tell them how good the pancakes are from your pancake maker. Or even how it can save them half the time when making it from the competing pancake maker.

Here are some tips to help you with content creation:

How to Create a Good and Engaging User Interface for Your Website

The longer a potential customer stays on your website or shop, the higher the chances of them purchasing your products.

This is the reason why you need to create a good and engaging user interface so that customers will enjoy their stay on your website or shop and them eventually clicking on the BUY button.

Here are things to consider when creating a good and engaging user interface for your website:

Know your market. You are less likely to sell skateboards to 90-year-old retirees.
Create content that can help your chosen market – even those who are non-buyers. Content on repairing broken skateboards for less than $10 will be a big help to the skateboarding market.
Arouse your market’s curiosity. Make your content exciting enough to make your market curious. The more they stay curious, the longer they stay on your site, and the more likely they will take your offer.
Show how your product can help your market’s biggest challenge. Show them how using your lotion can make their skin softer and fairer. Tell them how their loved ones would quickly notice the changes in just a few days.
Make your market want your product. Tell them what they will miss if they will not take your offer.
Add a call to action. Do you want them to click a button? Do you want them to give their emails? Guide them. Genuinely show them how you can help them.

Once you apply the tips above, your website content should be good and engaging enough for the users to enjoy and keep visiting.

Why is Search Engine Optimization Important, and Where to Begin?

If you want to search for something, what do you usually do? You would usually go to a search engine, most of the time Google, and enter the keywords to your search.

Say you want to search how to repair a phone with water damage. After entering the keywords “repair phone water damage,” what does Google show?

Google will show you results that match your search. All in all, that’s how a search engine works.

Now, what do you usually click? It’s usually the links on the first page, right? Or if you may not find the answer, you go to the following pages until you find it.

Here’s where search engine optimization comes in. SEO is optimizing your content so that you will likely appear on the first page of any search engine, and your website will have a higher chance of getting clicks.

You can optimize your SEO by using the right keywords, making your content cater to a specific niche, using the correct tags, linking to authoritative and relevant sites, and having good content.

SEO is both a science and an art. To get started with SEO, you can check out this article on improving eCommerce SEO for your website.

How Often Should You Post?

Since content is king on the internet, your website should have regular posts. But how often should you post? The answer is up to you.

However, the more posts you have, the more information you can give your users. The more they are also likely to return to your site if they know you regularly post.

Depending on your budget and preference, you can post multiple times a day, once a day, once a week, or monthly.

However, note that though the frequency of posting is important – quality posting matters. Never publish half-baked or worse articles; never post recycled articles or, worse, plagiarized content.

Also, aside from posting multiple times a week, it is essential to analyze your engagement. What days do you get the most views? At what hours do you get the most clicks? Which days of the month do you get the most sales? Having those data can help you plan the frequency and timing of your posts.

To keep things short – post quality content regularly on the days and times when your target customers are most active.

How about website maintenance?

You don’t buy or create things, and they run forever. Cars need maintenance; houses need to be checked and repaired now and then.

The same is true for websites. Websites need maintenance to work precisely as it was designed to do.

Website maintenance includes monitoring and tracking website traffic, content updating, updating themes, security updates, and other technical activities.

As someone who does not know much about the internet, this may not be very safe. However, if you are only starting and you do not have much traffic and content yet, availing a good hosting provider can help you with stuff such as security and theme updates. You have to check focus on your content and links.

However, traffic will increase as your business grows, and you need more content to cater to your growing users.

This is the right time to upgrade. Some businesses and contractors focus on helping people maintain their websites. You have to pick and choose a proven and trusted service provider to help you maintain your website.

You can also opt to hire someone full-time to do your website maintenance. The choice is up to you, your preference, and your budget.

How to Make My Website Secure for Both Myself and My Visitors?

Aside from ensuring that you keep your website secure, you have a moral responsibility to keep your website visitors safe.

According to a study made at the University of Michigan, there is a hacker attack every 39 seconds. You need to protect your website, your data, and your customer from all of these attacks.

Here’s how to make your website secure for yourself and your visitors:

Use a strong password. Using 123456789 or Qwerty123 as passwords is like having your front door open to thieves and other bad elements. Check out this article on how you can ⦁ create a strong password.
Install Secure Sockets Layer (SSL). SSL is usually offered free by the hosting sites outlined above. SSL creates an encrypted link between a server and a browser keeping both ends safe.
Use an anti-virus or anti-malware software. Regularly scan your computer and servers to ensure you catch any possible breaches.
Screen your website comments. Scammers and hackers can comment on your content and leave malicious links. If you do not have an excellent automated comment filter, we suggest you manually accept comments on your website.
Keep your website up-to-date. Updating your website to the latest version will ensure that any bugs and vulnerabilities are fixed and addressed.

Ready to Launch Your Very Own Website!

At last, you are now prepared to launch your site. You just learned all the things that you need to know about how to build your website.

Here’s a quick recap of what you need to do to start building your site:

Choose a good domain name
Select a good and reliable hosting provider that suits your needs and budget
Choose your site-building method depending on your technical knowledge
Have good content and SEO.

We’ve also covered how to maintain your website. Again, you need to know how to make your website safe for you and your visitors.

That’s it. We’ve covered everything there is to know about building your own website from scratch and the things you need to do to ensure continuity. Now it’s your turn to act and implement.

One good thing to note, though, is that growing a website can take time. You can make your website, add content, and have good SEO, but you can’t expect it to grow and get good traffic overnight.

The key is consistency and having the intent to help your visitors and target market.

FAQ

Can I build a website for free?

You can make a website for free if you have the technical knowledge. However, people who ask if they can make a website for free usually do not have the technical expertise to do it. We, therefore, recommend using service providers that help you make your website for free.

Many service providers offer a free tier for those who want to build their websites. You can try WIX, WordPress, and even Blogger. All of those websites provide a free version. However, your top-level domain is tied-up to the provider.

Are there alternatives to WordPress?

There are a lot of options for WordPress. Others offer specialized services to cater to a specific niche.

Sites such as Wix.com, Blogger.com, Domain.com, and Drupal.org are good alternatives to WordPress.

Blogging platforms such as Medium.com and Ghost.org offer an easy way to post content and gain traffic.

Depending on your requirements and budget, there’s always a service that fits you and your business.

Can I build a website if I have no technical skills?

As mentioned in the previous section, you can create a website without technical skills. You can use a site builder to build your website in no time.

Further, some domain hosting companies offer site-building services. When making a website using a site builder, you are taken on an easy step-by-step procedure to choose your layout, design, theme, and how your website generally looks.

We have outlined some good references of domain hosting providers that also helps you build your own website. Go through the list and choose the one that best suits you.

How to make sure my data is secure?

To make sure that your data is secured, first, you need to ensure that you only visit trusted sites.

Never go to shady sites or click on links that lure you to scam websites.

Next, you want to ensure that you use good anti-malware software to protect yourself from attacks and viruses.

Then, you need to make sure you use a strong password and regularly change passwords. Do not use the same passwords on different websites, and never share your passwords with other people.

How much does it cost to launch a website?

Depending on the website you want, its features, and the expected traffic you will be getting, website-launching costs can go from $0 to $50,000.

The average launching cost for small businesses ranges from $100 to $1,000.

Zero-cost websites are available but do not expect much from them. They may get you a sale, but if you want to make a website to launch, grow, or promote a business, setting a budget for website launching and maintenance is the best option.

Is it difficult to create a website?

Building a website is not difficult since website builders are available for those who want to make their website without the expertise in coding.

As mentioned in the previous sections, website builders take you through a step-by-step process to guide you in creating your website.

Building websites can take time, though – especially if you want them to have more features and better security.

You just learned the complete guide on how to build a website with minimal spending. Do you think that we missed something? Or maybe you have some questions in mind? Let us know through the comments section. We’d love to help you out.

How to Wipe a Lost iPhone Remotely

Apple iPhone

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A lost iPhone is more than just a lost device. A lost iPhone could mean a potential exposure to your data and privacy especially if the device falls in the wrong hands. If you can’t find your device and you want to clear the data off of it, here’s how you can wipe a lost iPhone remotely.

iPhones are one of the most secure devices in the world. One can’t just tap into an iPhone, hack it, and gain access to the device. Even the FBI had a hard time getting into a person’s iPhone as Apple refused to help unlock the device

A 2018 update on the iPhone’s software disables the phone and data port making it harder for law enforcement agencies to crack into an iPhone forcefully. Still, it pays to be on the safe side. Sometimes, your iPhone may be in possession by someone who knows your passcode. This article should be your guide in can you need to wipe a lost iPhone remotely.

How to Erase Data on a Lost or Stolen iPhone

Erasing the data on a lost iPhone prevents your data from being exposed to malicious use. If you enabled the Find My iPhone feature on your device, things would be easier and smoother for you. The next section details the steps on how to remotely wipe a lost iPhone.

Before You Wipe Your iPhone

Confirm that your iPhone is lost before actually trying to erase your phone’s data. Try to locate your iPhone using the Find My iPhone feature or remotely play a sound on the iPhone even if the device is set to silent.

Remote Wipe a Lost iPhone Using Find My iPhone

If you are convinced that your phone is lost and you set up the Find My iPhone feature on your device, do the next steps to use Find My iPhone to erase all content, settings, and data on your phone:

1. Sign into your iCloud account.

2. Click on the Find My iPhone icon located on the lower part of the screen.

3. Find My iPhone displays a list of turned on devices where your iCloud account is logged in. Tap on the device you want to erase remotely.

4. The next screen shows the selected device’s information. Tap on the Erase iPhone button to start to wipe a lost iPhone remotely.

5. Confirm the action to start the deletion process. Once confirmed, all data on the iPhone will be deleted, and there is no way to reverse the process back. The device will then be deleted from the list of your devices on your iCloud account.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Q: I checked the Find My iPhone on my iCloud account, but I can’t find my iPhone. Did I miss something?
A: You need to enable Find My iPhone on your iPhone to take advantage of the feature. If you have not activated the Find My iPhone feature on your device, your iPhone won’t be displayed on your list of devices in your iCloud account.

Q: After doing the steps in this article, my device was no longer available on my list of devices? What does that mean?
A: It means that the device has been successfully removed off of your account. Data on the device were deleted including the Apple ID on it – this the reason why the device no longer shows on your list.

Q: Will the remote erase begins right away?
A: The system will automatically start to remotely wipe a lost iPhone as soon as your device is online.

Q: What will happen if my device was turned off or offline during the process?
A: The remote erase activates once your device goes online.

Q: I found my iPhone. Can I undo the reset?
A: You cannot undo the changes that you made to your iPhone. However, you can restore backed up data by following the steps in our article on how to recover deleted files on iPhone.

Q: Will the credit and debit cards information on my device be removed during the remote erase?
A: All data including credit and debit cards are removed once you erase data on your iPhone. Unlike general data, financial data are immediately removed without waiting for the device to go online.

Q: Is a remote wipe the only thing I should do when my iPhone gets lost?
A: Most of the time, doing a remote wipe on a lost iPhone is enough. Still, we recommend that you report the lost iPhone to your carrier or the authorities. It’s best that you document the loss of the device.

Having a lost iPhone may be a bad thing but getting your data exposed could be worse. Learning how to wipe a lost iPhone remotely is essential to keep you safe from issues such as online fraud.

You just learned how to wipe a lost iPhone remotely. If you have questions about any of the steps above, let us know in the comments section.

How to Set Parental Controls on Android

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Welcome to the no-fluff guide to enabling Parental Controls on Android devices.

There is a lot of debate going on about what is the right age for kids to have their own smartphones. According to Bill Gates age 14 (which is not until high school) is the safest age to give a child a smartphone.

How to Use Smart View on Samsung Smart TV

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How to Use Smart View on Samsung Smart TV

Smart View lets you view your phone’s screen on your Samsung Smart TV. Aside from the screen-sharing feature, Smart View also lets you use your mobile device as a TV controller. This article will teach you how to use Smart View on Samsung Smart TV.

How to choose the right TV for your home

Entertainment

Slavcho Andov

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How to choose the right TV for your home

In these modern times where we are surrounded with all kinds of devices that either make our life easier or just improve our entertainment. When it comes to TV, the same rule applies, or both of them do. Depending on the type of user, some people use them for entertainment only, or some use them for productivity as well as entertainment.

How To Check RAM on Android

Android

admin

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Here’s another simple but yet exciting article in our cookbook full of tech-recipes. This article is aimed at teaching you how to check RAM on Android. After reading this post and applying the steps, you’ll have no challenge checking the RAM size of your device.