There are countless WordPress hosting providers on the market, but which one is right for you?
Find the provider that’s the best possible fit for your website, and you can look forward to faster loading times, improved SEO, protection against the latest security threats, and all the storage and bandwidth your website could ever need. Choose the wrong provider, and you’ll be facing an uphill struggle before you’ve even created your first post!
Previously, we weighed up the pros and cons of choosing Amazon as your hosting provider, and in this article we’ll be deep-diving into one of the most popular and highest rated hosting providers in the WordPress community.
By the end of this article, you’ll know exactly how to get WordPress up and running using SiteGround.
Pros of Hosting Your Website Using SiteGround
Let’s start positive, and look at the reasons why you may want to opt for SiteGround over competing WordPress hosting providers.
1. It’s Recommended by WordPress.org
There are countless hosting providers on the market, but SiteGround is one of only three companies that’s officially recommended by WordPress.org.
“Just like flowers need the right environment to grow, WordPress works best when it’s in a rich hosting environment… We’ve dealt with more hosts than you can imagine; in our opinion, the hosts below (SiteGround, DreamHost and BlueHost) represent some of the best and brightest of the hosting world.” — WordPress Web Hosting
2. One-Click Installation and Automatic Updates
Why go to the effort of downloading, installing and configuring WordPress manually, when SiteGround provides a straightforward, click-and-install solution?
Later in this tutorial, I’ll show you how to install all the WordPress software and plugins your website needs, in just a few clicks. Once you have this software installed, SiteGround’s auto-updater can install any new releases automatically, so you’ll always have access to the latest bug fixes, patches and features.
3. A Speedier WordPress Website
To improve your website’s loading speeds, SiteGround uses SSD, a custom PHP handling setup that’s optimized with an OPCache extension, the CloudFlare Content Delivery Network (CDN), and a unique SuperCacher feature that caches your WordPress website on three different levels.
SiteGround also frees up RAM for dynamic content caching, by using NGINX Direct Delivery to remove static content from the server memory.
For users who want an additional performance boost, SiteGround also offers a SG Optimizer plugin that’s been proven to deliver a 20-30% performance boost even for websites that are already optimized.
4. Staging: Test Changes and New Content in Private
Do you want to test experimental changes or new features in private, before sending them out into the world?
SiteGround lets you create a staged copy of your WordPress website with a single click, so you can test your changes without disrupting your live website. Once you’re happy with your changes, SiteGround makes it easy to roll them out to your users.
5. Protect Your Site Against the Latest Hacks and Exploits
In 2018, WordPress accounted for 90% of all hacked CMS sites, and security continues to be a major concern for the entire WordPress community.
To help protect your WordPress installation, SiteGround manages the overall security of your application at the server and firewall level. Since new security threats are emerging all the time, SiteGround frequently adds new rules that are designed to help protect your website against the latest security threats.
6. Technical Support: Your Issues Resolved Within 5 Minutes
All of SiteGround’s plans come with technical support as standard.
Regardless of whether you purchase the StartUp or GoGeek subscription, you’ll have access to 24/7 technical support over the phone, via instant message, or using SiteGround’s ticketing system, with SiteGround aiming to resolve the majority of serious issues within 5 minutes.
If you invest in SiteGround’s GoGeek plan, then you’ll also get advanced priority support, where all your queries are automatically assigned to the most experienced support agent available.
You’ll find a detailed breakdown of all the WordPress subscription plans over at the SiteGround website.
7. Easily Migrate an Existing WordPress Website
Do you already have a WordPress website, but are unhappy with your current hosting provider?
The prospect of migrating your entire website can be daunting, but SiteGround’s Migrator plugin lets you securely migrate all your content, while keeping your WordPress configuration intact.
Cons of Hosting Your Website Using SiteGround
No hosting provider is perfect, so before you sign up for your SiteGround account let’s explore the potential drawbacks of choosing SiteGround as your hosting provider.
1. Restrictions Across All Subscription Plans
Regardless of whether you opt for SiteGround’s StartUp, GrowBig or GoGeek plan, SiteGround has caps and restrictions in place, particularly when it comes to web space. The StartUp plan has a limit of 10 GB, but even if you invest in the higher-end GoGeek plan, you’ll still be limited to 40 GB of space.
Before committing to any WordPress hosting provider, you should identify the resources your website currently needs, and the resources it’s likely to require in the future. You can then use this information to identify the provider who offers you the best possible value for money in the long-term.
2. A Minimum One Year Subscription
SiteGround’s subscriptions may work out at between £2.95 and £24.95 per month, but you can’t make payments on a month-by-month basis. Regardless of which plan you opt for, you’ll need to purchase an annual or multi-year subscription in advance.
Yearly subscriptions aren’t unusual among WordPress hosting providers, but a 12 month contract is a substantial commitment—especially if you’re testing out a new idea that you may not even pursue in the long-term!
How to Launch Your WordPress Website With SiteGround
Now you have a high-level overview of SiteGround’s standout features, let’s look at how you can use this platform to create, configure and launch your WordPress website.
Don’t Already Have a SiteGround Subscription?
If you haven’t already invested in a hosting plan, then head over to SiteGround’s website and choose the plan that’s right for you.
You’ll also need a domain name. There are countless domain registrars to choose from, but some of the most popular include:
Alternatively, you can purchase a domain name directly from SiteGround.
Create a Website in Just a Few Clicks
You can quickly and easily setup a new WordPress website, using SiteGround’s Account Setup wizard:
- Log into your SiteGround account.
- Select the Websites tab.
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Select New website > Start New Website.
Assuming you’re using a domain name you previously purchased, select Existing domain, enter the domain name that you want to use, and then click Continue. Alternatively, select New domain and then follow the onscreen instructions to register a domain name.
Under Choose application, select WordPress.
Enter your email address, create a password, and then click Continue > Finish.
Change Your Domain’s Name Servers
SiteGround should now display a selection of name servers.
To transfer management to SiteGround, you’ll need to add these name servers to your domain name’s registrar. This process can vary, so you should check your provider’s official documentation or blog for more information, but as a general overview you’ll need to:
- Copy the SiteGround name servers.
- Log into your DNS hosting provider’s website.
- Find your hosting provider’s name servers, and delete them.
- Paste SiteGround’s name servers into your provider’s account.
- Save your changes.
For example, here’s how I changed the domain name serves for my GoDaddy account:
- Log into the GoDaddy Domain Control Center.
- Select your domain name.
- Choose Manage DNS.
- In the Nameservers section, select Change.
- Select the I’ll use my own nameservers checkbox.
- Delete all of GoDaddy’s default name servers.
- Select Add nameserver.
- Copy/paste SiteGround’s name servers into the GoDaddy console, and then click Save.
How to Install WordPress With SiteGround
You can now install WordPress with just a few clicks. To start, go to your SiteGround account, select the Websites tab followed by the Site tools button. In the left-hand menu, navigate to WordPress > Install & Manage.
In the Install New WordPress section, select WordPress. Then, in Application Setup, make sure the Install with WordPress Starter checkbox is selected, as this includes a collection of tools and themes that you can use to kickstart your WordPress website.
Assuming you want to install WordPress on your main domain, leave the Installation Path blank. In Admin info, enter the login details that you’ll use to access your WordPress admin dashboard.
Click Install and SiteGround will now install all of the required WordPress software.
Putting the Finishing Touches onto Your WordPress Website
You’re nearly ready to launch your website! In this section, we’ll perform the final few bits of configuration, including selecting a WordPress theme:
- Head over to the Site Tools page.
- In the left-hand menu, navigate to WordPress > Install & Manage.
- Under Manage Installations, find your WordPress installation and click its accompanying Log in to Admin Panel icon (circled in the following screenshot).
SiteGround’s Welcome to Your WordPress Site wizard will now open in a new tab; select Start Now.
Choose the WordPress theme that you want to use.
At this point you may be prompted to install some additional plugins, such as WooCommerce and Elementor. If you want to add these plugins to your WordPress installation, then click Confirm > Complete.
Once SiteGround has finished installing your software, select Go to Dashboard and you’ll be taken to the familiar WordPress dashboard—complete with some extra goodies, courtesy of SiteGround!
If you load your domain name, then you’ll see that your WordPress website is up and running—you’re now ready to start building your website!
Conclusion
In this article, we explored the pros and cons of hosting your WordPress website with SiteGround. If you were swayed by the pros, then I also showed you how to setup, configure and launch a WordPress website, using the SiteGround service.
Discount for WordPress Hosting
If you decide to go with a WordPress.org site, take a look at SiteGround. It comes with an easy installer, free support, and automatic updates. We’re happy to be able to offer a huge discount of 70% off self-managed WordPress hosting, thanks to our partnership with SiteGround.