ShivarWeb

Better Websites. SEO. Marketing. Business.

Choosing The Right Website: Web Hosting, Ecommerce Platform Reviews & More

Choosing the right infrastructure for your website is critical. It's the foundation you'll use to build your business - whether it's an online store or personal project.

But choosing the right option is tough.

Because there is no such thing as an overall "best" option for everyone. There is no "best web hosting" or "best ecommerce website platform" - there is only the best option for you based on your goals, expertise, resources & situation.

Here's an overview of the types of reviews I've written based on my experience as either a customer or consultant.

Web Hosting Reviews

Your website has to "live" somewhere. And that somewhere is a server that "hosts" your website. I've been able to look at a wide range of web hosts and break them down based on pros & cons, or compare them to each other based on set of criteria.

My most popular web hosting review looks at the two of the industry's top brands - Bluehost vs. GoDaddy. My post on InMotion and 1&1 Hosting are also popular.

If you're getting frustrated reading about all the options, I also have a BuzzFeed-style quiz that can help you figure out the best web hosting options for you.

Find all my web hosting reviews here.

Ecommerce Hosting Reviews

There are some types of websites that need a core set of features. For ecommerce, that means a shopping cart, payment processing and inventory management. For some, it makes sense to provide those features as part of an integrated platform. My most popular ecommerce hosting review looks at Shopify. I've also written a guide to building your own ecommerce site with WordPress.

If you're getting frustrated reading about all the options, I also have a BuzzFeed-style quiz that can help you figure out the best ecommerce hosting options for you.

Find all my ecommerce hosting reviews here.

Domain & Business Software Reviews

But your business doesn't start and end with hosting - below, you'll also find reviews of domain name registrars, website builders & more. And I have quizzes on choosing domain registrars & choosing website builders too, and a full list of my favorite resources here.

Background on Ratings

I generally hate stars. They do not provide the nuance that I like to know when choosing a service. And yet, stars are a thing. We all expect stars on reviews, so my reviews have stars.

Here's what star ratings on my site mean.

1 Star - if you need the service, stop researching this company and move on. You will certainly find someone better.

2 Star - For what it's worth, this company is fine...but you'll probably be able to find a better service provider regardless of your goals.

3 Star - if there is a specific pro or feature that speaks to you - then you should feel good about using this company. Their cons or disadvantages are not especially bad across the board.

4 Star - unless there is a specific con or disadvantage that turns you off - then they are a good choice. Their pros are great across the board, but you should still keep an eye out for disadvantages that apply to your goals.

5 Star - if you need the service, stop looking and use them. I've never given a full 5 star even though Ahrefs comes super close.

Explore onwards - you'll find all my reviews listed below!

Zenfolio Website Builder Review: Pros, Cons, and Alternatives

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Zenfolio is a photography portfolio website builder that includes ecommerce functionality, so photographers can “showcase and sell your photography”.

Check out Zenfolio’s Current Plans & Pricing

Recently, I gave Zenfolio a try for a small project after receiving a few reader questions. But before I get into the pros and cons of my Zenfolio review, let’s consider a bit of background on building a website in general.

There are so many considerations to take into account when choosing a website builder — and really, there are a thousand ways to get what you want in the end in terms of functionality, convenience, pricing, etc. The thing to remember is: whether you’re building a simple photography portfolio or running a full-fledged photography business, the way you build your photography website has a lot of consequences. [Read more…] about Zenfolio Website Builder Review: Pros, Cons, and Alternatives

9+ Recommended WordPress Themes for Directories & Databases

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There are a million and one reasons to build out a directory, listing, or database website. From industry associations to realtors to local business owners, being able to organize and display information for your customers and users can make for a very useful website.

While there many ways to build different websites (community, home care, government, etc.) with templates, you are likely here looking specifically for WordPress themes that specifically organize listing and directory information.

Themes are one of the “killer” features of using WordPress to power your website. Unlike drag and drop website builders , you start with a defined, beautiful template with built-in features. While some themes come with feature overkill (or a blank slate), there is a whole universe of themes customized for every type of website imaginable.

In fact, there are hundreds and hundreds of “off-the-shelf” WordPress themes for directories, listings, and databases that have stunning design and amazing functionality – like bulk editing, user submissions, and templated listing pages.

And, even better, WordPress themes are (supposed to be) open-source & GPL licensed so you gain access to a wide community of resources and help…which means you’ll never be left high and dry by a design firm. Some require a learning curve, and some are super-simple, but all have the versatility for a firm that wants an active online presence.

Here are the 9+ Best WordPress Themes for Directories, Listings, and Databases (+3 frameworks) curated from marketplaces and theme sellers around the Internet.

[Read more…] about 9+ Recommended WordPress Themes for Directories & Databases

Squarespace vs. WordPress (Self-hosted .org & WordPress.com)

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Squarespace and WordPress are two of the most recognizable brands in the website building industry. They are both excellent choices in general. But if you are comparing Squarespace vs. WordPress – which is the best fit for your project?

See Squarespace’s Current Plans & Pricing here

See WordPress.com’s Current Plans & Pricing here

See How To Setup & Self-Host WordPress here

Before we look at different considerations between Squarespace and WordPress, we have to define exactly what Squarespace and WordPress are.

Squarespace is an all-in-one “hosted website platform” (aka “website builder“). A hosted website platform is where all the components needed for a website come in a single bundle with a single monthly price.

Squarespace provides the software to manage your website content; they provide the designs and functionality. And most importantly, they also provide the hosting (aka the server where your website files live) all in one price.

WordPress is technically free website software that you manage your website content, designs and functionality. But it’s used in two different ways because you also need a domain & hosting to use it.

First, there’s self-hosted WordPress (aka “WordPress.org). It’s free, open-source, community-supported software that anyone can install on any web host that meets minimum requirements. You pay for hosting, install WordPress, and run your website how you like. I wrote a setup guide here. I also built a way to try self-hosted WordPress here.

Second, there’s WordPress.com. It’s a hosted platform service sold by the main corporate supporter of WordPress. With WordPress.com, you can get any website running a limited, hosted version of WordPress for free. You then pay for upgrades. It’s basically a website builder like Squarespace….but built with WordPress.

Yes – it’s confusing. I wrote a bit more about the difference between WordPress.com and WordPress.org here if you want to dig deeper.

But here’s an analogy that works –

Imagine you are looking for a place to live.

Squarespace and WordPress.com are both like buying a condominium. You own everything inside your condo. You can do whatever you want inside. The condo association takes care of the water, electricity, security, and structural issues. They even have furnished unit options. However, you also have to abide by condo association rules. You are limited by their structure and you have to pay extra HOA fees.

Self-hosted WordPress is like buying a house. You can do anything you want. There’s no rules or limitations. But you have to take care of everything (or hire someone to take care of it). It’s also as cheap or as expensive as you want it to be. There’s also a bit more of a learning curve. [Read more…] about Squarespace vs. WordPress (Self-hosted .org & WordPress.com)

Yahoo! Website Builder Review: Pros, Cons, and Alternatives

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Yahoo! Small Business Website Builder is known as an all-inclusive website builder that’s tailored to helping small business owners get up and running online quickly and easily. They’re also known for offering responsive websites, which means the site fits on any device (i.e. a tablet, phone, computer).

See Yahoo’s Current Plans & Pricing

Recently, I gave Yahoo! a try for a full Yahoo! review. But before I get into the pros and cons of my Yahoo! Website Builder review, let’s dive into an overview about tools to build a website.

There are so many considerations to take into account when choosing a website builder — and really, there are a thousand ways to get what you want in the end in terms of functionality, convenience, pricing, etc. The thing to remember is: whether you’re building a simple personal website or running a business, the way you build your site has a lot of consequences.

In the long-term, it affects your versatility, functionality, and, of course, your brand. In the short-term, it can certainly add/take away a lot of headaches. That said, just like choosing a physical house or office, there is no such thing as an absolute “best” or “top” choice. There’s only the right choice relative to your goals, experience, and circumstances. [Read more…] about Yahoo! Website Builder Review: Pros, Cons, and Alternatives

22+ Quality WordPress Premium Theme Providers

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Before we dive into the best premium WordPress theme providers, here’s a quick reminder of what Themes are in WordPress.

Themes in WordPress control how your website looks and contributes some (but not all) toward the functionality of your website. For a more detailed description, check out this Introduction to Themes.

While technically it is possible to build you own theme, the fastest and easiest way to create a stunning, beautiful, functional site is to get a pre-built theme. The longer route would mean building one with the assistance of a Theme Framework (check out some great providers here) or writing your own code.

There are literally thousands of free WordPress themes – and thousands of paid, or “premium” themes on the Internet. Some of them are amazing…but most are plainly speaking, horrible. (Is that too harsh?)

The fact is, a theme isn’t just a template. It can introduce security issues, bugs or just create nuisances into your site (like lack of updates or compatibility with other services). Additionally, the WordPress license requires that you use a theme whose PHP code is licensed under the GPL.

In other words, not all theme providers are the same – and it certainly pays to find a quality theme to build your site around. So, here is a list of reputable, high-quality premium WordPress themes that qualify as “best” in my opinion.

Some have free themes; most all have a selection of paid themes – but they all have coding, design & security standards that you won’t find from any random theme provider. Read on! [Read more…] about 22+ Quality WordPress Premium Theme Providers

Vistaprint Website Builder Review: Pros, Cons, and Alternatives

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When you think of Vistaprint, you probably think of business cards — which is what the company is known for and has been since their founding in 1995. But did you know Vistaprint offers other marketing materials for small business owners — like a website builder?

Actually…

You probably do know that, because you are likely in the middle of checking out and got their website builder offer. And you thought “is the Vistaprint website builder actually good?” And so, you stumbled on this post.

Well I thought the same thing while buying a few business cards. So, I went ahead and gave Vistaprint a try for a small project for a full Vistaprint Website Builder Review.

But before I get into the pros and cons of my review, let’s get a bit of background on building a website in general. [Read more…] about Vistaprint Website Builder Review: Pros, Cons, and Alternatives

12+ Impressive WordPress Themes for Events & Clubs

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There are a million and one reasons why events, clubs, and social groups need their own website – event information, ticketing, merchandise sales, directions, and registration – the list goes on. It could be a site geared toward your event marketing, attendees, artists, or all the above.

While there many ways to build an event website with templates, you are likely here looking specifically for WordPress themes for events.

Themes are one of the “killer” features of using WordPress to power your website. Unlike drag and drop website builders, you start with a defined, beautiful template with built-in features. While some themes come with feature overkill (or a blank slate), there is a whole universe of themes customized for every type of website imaginable.

In fact, there are hundreds and hundreds of “off-the-shelf” WordPress themes for events, clubs, and social groups that have stunning design and amazing functionality – like ticket check-out and printing, attendee sign-in, and e-commerce functionality.

And, even better, WordPress themes are (supposed to be) open-source & GPL licensed so you gain access to a wide community of resources and help…which means you’ll never be left high and dry by a design firm. Some require a learning curve, and some are super-simple, but all have the versatility for a firm that wants an active online presence.

Here are the 12+ Best WordPress Themes for Event Organizers, Promoters, and Hosts curated from marketplaces and theme sellers around the Internet.

[Read more…] about 12+ Impressive WordPress Themes for Events & Clubs

iPage Hosting Review: Pros & Cons of Using iPage

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iPage Hosting is a hosting company targeting the entry-level and budget-conscious end of the market. They’re one of Endurance International’s (a large hosting brand holding company) brands, along with Bluehost, HostGator and others.

You can check out iPage’s plans here.

They’ve been around in some form since 1998, but only recently repositioned themselves as a pure-play web hosting company. They specialize in Linux shared hosting (ie, the type of hosting used by most companies who run their site with software like WordPress, Joomla, Drupal, etc), but also offer VPS and Dedicated server plans for higher traffic websites.

After their sister company, Bluehost, changed their pricing, I had a few readers asking what I thought of them. So while shopping for a new budget host for a side project, I decided to sign up and give them a try.

Here’s my iPage Hosting review – structured with pros & cons based on my experience as a customer.

Skip to direct comparisons or skip to the conclusion. [Read more…] about iPage Hosting Review: Pros & Cons of Using iPage

Bluehost vs. HostGator Web Hosting Comparison

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“Bluehost vs Hostgator?” – it’s a question that’s a bit like asking “Coke or Sprite?” It’s somewhat slicing details, but it’s a choice nonetheless for something that you’ll likely be using for years.

Bluehost and HostGator are both –

  • Owned by Endurance International Group (EIG) – a large technology corporation
  • Established, well-known brands in the hosting industry
  • Provide a similar menu of products that revolve around shared Linux hosting
  • Provide pricing & hosting products that focus on small to midsize companies

And yet – they are different companies with different brands. When you are choosing a website host – you still have to end up choosing.

View Bluehost’s Current Plans & Pricing

View HostGator’s Current Plans & Pricing

I have current clients who use (and like) Bluehost. Bluehost has excellent business-focused features & support. They have a known & trusted brand.

I also have several projects that have run on HostGator for years. They have great value pricing, and provide some features for DIYers that are great. I’ve been happy with them.

In this comparison between Bluehost and HostGator, I’ll try to break down the differences that I’ve found in seven different areas ranging from pricing structure to customer service and market focus so that you can decide which is the best fit for your project.

Also – you can skip to the short version in the conclusion here (or take my Buzzfeed-style shared hosting quiz here).

Let’s dive into Bluehost vs. HostGator… [Read more…] about Bluehost vs. HostGator Web Hosting Comparison

Bluehost vs. iPage Web Hosting Comparison

By

“Bluehost vs. iPage?” – it’s a question that’s a bit like asking “Coke or Sprite?” It’s somewhat slicing details, but it’s a choice nonetheless for something that you’ll likely be using for years.

Bluehost and iPage are both –

  • Owned by Endurance International Group (EIG) – a large technology corporation
  • Established, well-known brands in the hosting industry
  • Provide a similar menu of products that revolve around shared Linux hosting
  • Provide pricing & hosting products that focus on DIYers to small to midsize companies

View Bluehost’s Current Plans & Pricing

View iPage’s Current Plans & Pricing

And yet – they are still different companies with different brands. When you are choosing a website host – you still have to end up choosing.

I have current clients who use (and like) Bluehost. I wrote a full review of Bluehost here. I also compared other hosts to Bluehost here. They have a great suite of services and a trusted brand.

Although this site runs on InMotion Hosting (which I’ll mention later) – I also have several small projects on iPage. Their pricing specifically makes sense for many sites. I wrote a full review of iPage here.

In this comparison between Bluehost vs. iPage, I’ll try to break down the differences that I’ve found in seven different areas ranging from pricing structure to customer service and market focus so that you can decide which is the best fit for your project.

Also – you can skip to the short version in the conclusion here (or take my Buzzfeed-style shared hosting quiz here).

Let’s dive into Bluehost vs. iPage… [Read more…] about Bluehost vs. iPage Web Hosting Comparison

Duda Website Builder Review: Pros, Cons, and Alternatives

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Duda is known as an all-inclusive website builder that was originally created as an easy-to-use mobile website platform for DIYers. It has sinced evolved to help agencies, digital publishers, and hosting companies scale with an quick and easy website platform that helps their clients get up and running ASAP.

Duda is also known for making responsive websites, which means the site fits on any device (i.e. a tablet, phone, computer).

See Duda’s Current Plans & Pricing

Recently, I gave Duda a try for a full Duda review. But before I get into the pros and cons of my Duda review, let’s dive into an overview about tools to build a website. [Read more…] about Duda Website Builder Review: Pros, Cons, and Alternatives

InMotion Hosting Website Creator Review: Pros, Cons & Alternatives

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Website Creator is a stand-alone website builder product built & sold by InMotion Hosting, one of the largest independent web hosting companies in the world.

See Website Creator Plans & Pricing here.

InMotion Hosting has been in the web hosting business since 2001. Unlike many hosting companies, they remain staunchly independent and focused primarily on website products for small businesses. They have an emphasis on customer support and raw performance.

While they still have a range of hosting products (my InMotion Hosting Review), they have also been quick to respond to changes in customer demand. Website Creator came out of that effort.

The big demand of the past 5 years has been for easy to use, bundled, drag and drop website builders. But popular website builders pose some risks for business owners investing in a long-term project.

Website Creator was created for small business owners who need to easily DIY their own website, but also are thinking seriously about how to best build their website for scalability, versatility, and long-term success.

Since I’ve been a user of InMotion’s hosting products for quite some time, I recently decided to give their new website builder, Website Creator, a try for a small, quick project.

Before I dive into pros and cons, let’s talk about some basics.

[Read more…] about InMotion Hosting Website Creator Review: Pros, Cons & Alternatives

SiteGround Hosting Review: Pros & Cons of Using SiteGround

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SiteGround Hosting is an independent web hosting company founded in 2004. They are based in Bulgaria but serve hosting markets globally. SiteGround positions themselves as a company offering high-quality, “well-crafted” hosting solutions.

See SiteGround’s Current Plans & Pricing.

SiteGround offers a spectrum of hosting solutions ranging from shared Linux hosting (the affordable, versatile kind used by most websites) all the way to Cloud, WordPress, and Reseller server solutions for large, growing websites.

They are one of the fastest growing independent (ie, not a brand owned by a larger corporate holding company) hosting companies. I heard about them via their growing event involvement in the WordPress, Drupal, Joomla and marketing communities.

Like my experiment with Web Hosting Hub, I recently had a couple small sites that needed their own hosting accounts, so I wanted to give SiteGround Hosting a try based on high praise from people I respect in the industry. I started that project several years ago, and have kept the account active. I originally published this review several years ago, but have refreshed & republished this post as SiteGround has changed their tools & services.

Here’s my SiteGround Hosting review – structured with pros & cons, comparisons and next steps based on my experience as a customer. [Read more…] about SiteGround Hosting Review: Pros & Cons of Using SiteGround

12+ WordPress Themes for Hospitals, Healthcare & Medical Firms

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There are a million and one reasons why hospitals, healthcare & medical firms need their own website – patient access, general information, sales support, branding/marketing, the list goes on. It could be a site geared toward your present customers, patients or clients, your own new product, facility, or service, or a collection of resources & educational information.

While there many ways to build a healthcare website with templates, you are likely here looking specifically for WordPress themes for hospitals or medical businesses.

Themes are one of the “killer” features of using WordPress to power your website. Unlike drag and drop website builders , you start with a defined, beautiful template with built-in features. While some themes come with feature overkill (or a blank slate), there is a whole universe of themes customized for every type of website imaginable.

In fact, there are hundreds and hundreds of “off-the-shelf” WordPress themes for hospitals and healthcare firms that have stunning design and amazing functionality – like customer portals (that are HIPAA compliant, contact forms, information repositories, media files, appointment schedulers and more.

And, even better, WordPress themes are (supposed to be) open-source & GPL licensed so you gain access to a wide community of resources and help…which means you’ll never be left high and dry by a design firm. Some require a learning curve, and some are super-simple, but all have the versatility for a firm that wants an active online presence.

Here are the 12+ Best WordPress Themes for Hospitals, Healthcare & Medical Firms (+3 frameworks) curated from marketplaces and theme sellers around the Internet.

[Read more…] about 12+ WordPress Themes for Hospitals, Healthcare & Medical Firms

FreshBooks Review: 6 Pros & Cons of Using FreshBooks for Accounting

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I’ve been running a business for more than 9 years now. The last 8+ years, I’ve been using FreshBooks for invoicing and bookkeeping. It’s also one the companies on my Resources page that readers ask me most about. I thought I’d convert those emails into a full FreshBooks review for reference – because here’s the thing.

See FreshBooks’ Current Plans & Pricing

I’ve had 3 bosses at 3 different companies tell me variations of the same idiom. “If it feels tedious, you’re doing it wrong.” Or, “if you’re working hard, you are using the wrong tool.” Or, “if you’re working hard, you’re probably ignoring what’s important.”

Boring stuff like invoicing and bookkeeping aren’t technically part of marketing or improving your or your client’s website. But it does compete for your time and attention. It’s also an easy-time suck.

By 2012, I had been running a freelance marketing & web design business for several years. I was spending way too much time trying to keep costs down while also looking professional and legit. I was using PayPal’s free invoice feature and Google Sheets. It was quite a mess. So I started looking a resource for bookkeeping, invoicing, and a bit of accounting.

I started using FreshBooks. I’ve never used QuickBooks or compared QuickBooks vs. FreshBooks. It seemed feature overkill (and $$$) at the time. But I haven’t left FreshBooks even as business has grown and my career has changed.

BTW – I evaluated it by signing up for a free plan and clicking around. Check out FreshBooks’ free trial & plans here.

I don’t use FreshBooks for anything super-complicated. I use it to:

  • Create and send invoices to clients and advertising partners and track their accounts.
  • Track and manage expenses.
  • Basic accounting (aka looking at P&L sheets & Schedule C documentation).
  • Simplify communication with my accountant.

In fact, I still use FreshBooks Classic. The upgrade to the new version came at the wrong time for me (at tax time). So I rolled back and am still using the old version, despite seeing real advantages in the newest version of FreshBooks.

So here’s my FreshBooks review with pros & cons. It’s not for everyone, but it’s also not meant to be either. [Read more…] about FreshBooks Review: 6 Pros & Cons of Using FreshBooks for Accounting

InMotion Hosting vs. SiteGround vs. Bluehost Web Hosting Comparison

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InMotion Hosting vs. SiteGround vs. Bluehost? is a very common comparison for anyone shopping for web hosting, especially for anyone planning on using WordPress as their website software.

View InMotion’s Current Plans & Pricing

View SiteGround’s Current Plans & Pricing

View Bluehost’s Current Plans & Pricing

InMotion, SiteGround, and Bluehost are all –

  • Established, well-known brands in the hosting industry, particularly in the WordPress hosting industry
  • Provide a similar menu of products that revolve around shared Linux hosting
  • Provide a full spectrum of hosting needs with advanced features
  • Provide pricing & hosting products that focus on DIYers to small to midsize companies
  • Are either endorsed by the WordPress Foundation or are ever-present at WordCamps
  • Have marquee clients with plenty of endorsements or testimonials

And yet – they are very different companies with different brands and different focuses.

Unlike most online reviews, I do not think there is such a thing as a “best” host. There is only the best fit for you based on your goals, expertise, resources, and preferences.

I have current clients who use (and love) Bluehost. Although this specific site runs on InMotion Hosting – I also have several projects that have run on SiteGround for years. I’ve been happy with them.

In this comparison between InMotion, SiteGround, and Bluehost, I’ll try to break down the differences that I’ve found in several different areas ranging from pricing structure to customer service and market focus so that you can decide which is the best fit for your project.

Also – you can skip to the short version in the conclusion here (or take my Buzzfeed-style shared hosting quiz here).

Let’s dive into InMotion Hosting vs. SiteGround vs. Bluehost… [Read more…] about InMotion Hosting vs. SiteGround vs. Bluehost Web Hosting Comparison

Bluehost Review: 6 Pros & Cons of Using Bluehost Hosting

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Bluehost is one of the most established and well-known hosting brands on the internet. It’s a brand owned by the Endurance corporation. I have written about Bluehost in my comparison between Bluehost vs. GoDaddy, but I have never written a Bluehost review looking at the pros and cons of the brand.

See Bluehost’s current plans & pricing.

Bluehost has positioned themselves as not only the go-to hosting provider for beginner and starting websites, but also the no-hassle hosting provider for small businesses. I’ve used Bluehost for several projects of my own, and my oldest client has been using Bluehost for almost 10 years.

There are a lot of Bluehost reviews online – usually with user-generated reviews based on anecdotes and personal experience. That’s totally fine but I take a different approach, looking at both the advantages and disadvantages of a host.

Like I have mentioned in all my hosting reviews, I don’t think there is such a thing as a “best hosting provider”, just like there is no such thing as a best car or a best house. It’s all about finding the right fit for your project given your goals, your resources and your know-how.

Here’s what I found to be the pros, cons, and alternatives in a full Bluehost review based on my experience with personal projects and clients’ projects. [Read more…] about Bluehost Review: 6 Pros & Cons of Using Bluehost Hosting

WordPress.com Review: Pros & Cons of WordPress.com as a Website Builder

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WordPress is one of the most popular pieces of software in the website space. WordPress powers over 25% of the Internet and is famous for its versatility and ease of use.

Its is so well-known, that it’s common for people with some web design experience to generally say “just use WordPress” when referring DIYers and freelancers to a website solution.

But for those who are unfamiliar with the general WordPress world, there is a major point of confusion: WordPress.com vs. WordPress.org.

In this article, I’ll be reviewing WordPress.com as a website builder and general website solution for DIYers.

See WordPress.com’s Plans & Pricing here.

But before I dive into specifics, let’s talk about the difference between WordPress.com and WordPress.org.

WordPress.com vs. WordPress.org: What’s the Difference?

WordPress is the name of a piece of software that can “power” your website on a server. So instead of uploading individual files to a server to create a website, you can use WordPress to create a “backend” where you can log in to your website to create, edit and manage web pages, blog posts, images – any sort of content.

It’s a “content management system” in web development jargon. WordPress is also “open-source” – which means that a community maintains it. A for-profit corporation does not own it. A non-profit foundation technically manages the trademark while leaving the software open under a General Public License.

The software & open-source community live & function at WordPress.org – where anyone can grab a copy of the software.

Note that I still haven’t said anything about it running a website. The other two pieces needed to run a website are hosting (ie, a server to run WordPress and render your website) and a domain name, which allows people to navigate to your website.

WordPress.org is also known as “self-hosted WordPress” because you have to provide the server for the software to live on. You pay for hosting and domain registration fees separately. You can learn how to setup a self-hosted WordPress website here.

And then there’s WordPress.com. It is a for-profit company owned by Automattic and founded by Matt Mullenweg – one of the original developers of WordPress.

WordPress.com is a service (not just the actual software & community) that offers websites / blogs powered by their install of WordPress software. They bundle hosting, support, services, and software into a single subscription. I refer it to as “hosted WordPress”, because you’re buying a hosted version of the software.

The renting vs. buying in real estate works well as an analogy.

WordPress.com = Renting a building for your living space (aka your website). You can pay for upgrades, but ultimately everything is up to your landlord (WordPress.com). That said – your landlord also has to pay to keep everything in working order.

WordPress.org = Owning a building for your living space. You own everything on your own hosting space. You do whatever you want. That said – you are responsible for everything.

If you want to get into the weeds, I wrote a whole post about the differences between WordPress.com and .org. But that analogy says it all.

The key tradeoff here is between convenience and control. WordPress.com is what we call an all-inclusive website builder. It competes directly with other hosted website builders like Squarespace, Weebly, Wix, GoDaddy GoCentral, etc. You sacrifice some control (like FTP access) to get a lot more convenience (like not installing security patches or crashing your own site).

Compared to its direct competition, WordPress.com focuses on scalability, support, and flexibility. Let’s dive further into my WordPress.com review to see how it really compares.

[Read more…] about WordPress.com Review: Pros & Cons of WordPress.com as a Website Builder

Weebly vs. WordPress (Self-hosted .org & WordPress.com)

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Weebly and WordPress are two of the most well-known brands in the website building industry. They are both excellent choices in general. But if you are comparing Weebly vs. WordPress – which is the best fit for your project?

See Weebly’s Current Plans & Pricing here

See WordPress.com’s Current Plans & Pricing here

See How To Setup & Self-Host WordPress here

Before we look at different tradeoffs between Weebly and WordPress, we have to define exactly what Weebly and WordPress are.

Weebly is an all-in-one “hosted website platform.” A hosted website platform is where all the components needed for a website come in a single bundle with a single monthly price. It’s otherwise known as a website builder.

Weebly provides the software to manage your website content; they provide the designs and functionality. They provide add-ons & extensions for unique functionality. And most importantly, they also provide the hosting (aka the server where your website files live) & security all in one price.

WordPress is technically free website software that you use to manage your website content, designs, and functionality. But it’s used in two different ways.

First, there’s self-hosted WordPress (aka “WordPress.org). It’s free, open-source, community-supported software that anyone can install on any server that meets minimum requirements. You pay for hosting, install WordPress and run your website how you like. I wrote a setup guide here.

Second, there’s WordPress.com. It’s a hosted platform service (ie, website builder) sold by the main corporate supporter of WordPress. With WordPress.com, you can get any website running a limited, hosted version of WordPress for free. You then pay for upgrades.

Yes – it’s confusing. I wrote a bit more about the difference between WordPress.com and WordPress.org here if you want to dig deeper.

But here’s an analogy that works –

Imagine you are looking for a place to live.

Weebly and WordPress.com are both like buying a condominium. You own everything inside your condo. You can do whatever you want inside. The condo association takes care of the water, electricity, security and structural issues. They even have furnished unit options. However, you also have to abide by condo association rules. You are limited by their structure and you have to pay extra HOA fees.

Self-hosted WordPress is like buying a house. You can do anything you want. There’s no rules or limitations. But you have to take care of everything (or hire someone to take care of it). It’s also as cheap or as expensive as you want it to be.

And FYI – this basic explanation is very similar to Squarespace vs. WordPress, Wix vs. WordPress – or even hosted eCommerce platforms like Shopify.

Ecommerce Real Estate Tradeoffs
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A2 Hosting Review: Pros & Cons of Using A2 Hosting

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A2 Hosting is an independent web hosting company founded in 2003. They are based in Ann Arbor Michigan but serve hosting markets globally. A2 Hosting positions themselves as a high performance, speed-focused hosting company with excellent support.

See A2 Hosting’s Current Plans & Pricing.

A2 Hosting offers a full spectrum of hosting solutions ranging from shared Linux hosting (what most businesses need) all the way to cloud, WordPress, VPS, and dedicated server solutions for large, growing websites.

Like InMotion Hosting and SiteGround Hosting, A2 Hosting is one of the faster growing independent hosting companies (i.e., not owned by a larger corporate holding company like Endurance or GoDaddy). They have a large dedicated fanbase in addition to some high-profile bloggers as customers.

I recently had a couple small websites that needed their own hosting accounts. Since I’ve had readers ask about A2 Hosting, I decided to give them a try.

Here’s my A2 Hosting review structured with pros and cons based on my experience as a customer.

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