How to Shop for a Managed WordPress Host

If you’ve decided to invest in managed WordPress hosting, it’s likely because you want to worry less about security, updates, and data loss, and focus more on the operation of your business. Shopping for a the right host may take a bit of time, but getting it right for your situation will pay for itself plenty of times over the life of your website.

Budget

How much do you have to spend? If you’re using a shared web hosting plan, you’re going to end up paying more for a managed platform, but the advantages are well worth the expense. Plans start at under $30/month, but the base plan may not be right for your business.

Number of Sites to Host

How many WordPress websites do you need to host? Many base plans only allow for one site, but allow you to expand to other installations for an additional small fee every month. The more you have to host, the larger your plan needs to be.

Pageviews

Each plan will allow for a certain number of pageviews every month, though they do offer some flexibility if you experience a temporary spike in traffic, and will not force an immediate upgrade. What kind of pageviews are you getting now? Which plan best fits that number and allows for expansion? If you’re hosting more than one site, do all the monthly pageviews fall in line with the plan limits?

Bandwidth

Each pageview will take bandwidth, and the amount depends on the size of the pages within your site. 100,000 views on a larger site will take more bandwidth. Make sure that if you do not have an unlimited bandwidth plan, the bandwidth included in your plan is enough.

Considering each of these things while shopping for a host will get you the best plan for your money, and ensure you have exactly what you need. Re-evaluate often, as growth may mean your needs will change.