How to host a website with Shared Web Hosting? A 101 Guide

Shared web hosting remains the most popular choice for small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) and startups for several reasons. Let's dive into everything you need to know to get your website up and running with this cost-effective and user-friendly option.

Why Shared Hosting is best for Small Businesses and Startups

Research shows that shared web hosting continues to dominate the market, accounting for roughly 60% of all web hosting solutions. But why is it such a favourite among SMBs and startups? Here's the breakdown:

1. Affordability: Shared hosting offers a significant advantage in terms of cost. By sharing server resources with other websites, you get a reliable platform at a fraction of the price of dedicated hosting. This makes it perfect for businesses on a budget.

2. Ease of use: Shared hosting is designed with beginners in mind. Most providers including us, offer user-friendly control panels like Plesk, allowing you to manage your website, install applications, and configure settings intuitively – even with no prior technical knowledge.

3. Scalability: As your business grows, so can your web hosting plan. Many providers offer upgrade options to accommodate increased traffic and storage needs. This allows you to scale seamlessly without having to migrate your entire website to a new server.

4. Suitable for most websites: Shared hosting is ideal for websites with moderate traffic, such as company websites, blogs, and basic online stores. It provides ample resources for most SMBs and startups to establish a strong online presence.

Unsure if shared hosting is the right choice for your small business? We've created a helpful guide that dives deeper into the benefits of shared hosting specifically for businesses.

Steps to consider when you host a website with shared web hosting

Let's explore the key steps to hosting your website with shared web hosting:

1. Find the perfect fit: shared web hosting options

Basic Shared Hosting - Starting Small? Go for Core Shared Hosting!

Perfect for the newbies on the block, small businesses, or personal projects. It's like your cozy corner on the internet. You'll get everything you need to kickstart your online presence, wrapped up with top-notch server stability, performance, and security. Plus, a super user-friendly control panel that makes adding sites and managing servers as easy as pie.

Pricing plan for Core Shared Hosting

• €1.99 /month (-20%)
• 10 GB traffic per month
• 1 GB SSD storage
• 1 website

Advanced Hosting - Ready to Level Up? Advanced Hosting is Your Game!

When your site is growing and you are diving into the e-commerce world or need something a bit more robust, Advanced Hosting steps in. It's like upgrading your backpack for a bigger adventure. More space, more sites, and all the tools to keep things running smoothly. Ideal for businesses on the rise!

Pricing plan for Advanced Hosting

• €5.99 /month (-20%)
• 50 GB traffic per month
• 10 GB SSD storage
• 10 websites

Advanced Plus Hosting - Big Plans? Advanced Plus Hosting Has You Covered!

For those who mean serious business and have the traffic to prove it, Advanced Plus is the way to go. Think of it as the VIP section of web hosting. You'll get heaps of storage, tons of traffic allowance, and the capacity to manage even more websites. It's the ultimate pick for larger e-commerce platforms or if you've got hefty web hosting needs. 

Pricing plan for Advanced Plus Hosting

• €11.99 /month (-20%)
• 200 GB traffic per month
• 50 GB SSD storage
• 20 websites

2. Understand bandwidth and storage needs

Our plans offer varying levels of bandwidth (traffic) and storage capacity to perfectly match your website's requirements. Bandwidth refers to the amount of data transferred from your website to visitors' browsers each month. Here's a crucial tip: Consider the type of content you offer. Websites heavy on images and videos require more bandwidth than text-based sites.

We provide plans with 10GB, 50GB, or 200GB of monthly traffic. Storage refers to the space needed to store your website's files, including pages, photos, videos, databases, and scripts. Our plans offer 1GB SSD, 10GB SSD, and 50GB SSD storage options. To make the best choice, consider your website's current size and potential future growth.

3. Consider speed, security, and peace of mind

No matter which plan you choose, your website will benefit from top-tier security and performance. We utilize clustered servers housed in geographically dispersed Tier IV data centres. Additionally, automatic data backups ensure you never lose valuable information. All plans support SSL certificates, further enhancing your website's security and establishing trust with visitors.

Host multiple websites with ease

Do you manage multiple websites for your business, or have plans to expand your online presence? Our Advanced and Advanced Plus plans cater to your needs. These plans allow you to host 10 and 20 websites, respectively. They also offer unlimited domains and subdomains, allowing you to organise your main website into dedicated sections for better navigation.

Plesk Control Panel: Your all-in-one management tool

All our shared hosting plans come equipped with the user-friendly Plesk Onyx control panel. Renowned for its intuitive interface similar to WordPress, Plesk Onyx empowers you to manage your website with ease.

Here are some of the advantages of using Plesk Onyx:

• Effortless website creation: Build your website directly through the control panel.
• Cost-effective customisation: Only add the features and extensions you need.
• Streamlined updates: Manage updates for your website's software and applications.
• Performance monitoring: Track your website's performance and identify areas for improvement.
• Platform compatibility: Plesk Onyx supports various operating systems and integrates seamlessly with popular tools and platforms like Magento (e-commerce), Patchman (website security), CloudFlare CDN (content delivery network), Let's Encrypt (SSL certificates), WordPress, Drupal, and Joomla.
• Automated tasks: Save time and effort with automated server tasks and a simplified setup process.
• Mobile management: Manage your website on the go with the handy Plesk mobile app.

Plesk Onyx even offers a built-in WordPress toolkit, perfect for creating and managing WordPress websites.

For a more in-depth look at Plesk and its functionalities, visit our 101 guide to Plesk Hosting 

Shared web hosting is a cost-effective solution for many websites, especially those starting out or with moderate traffic. It offers a variety of benefits, including ease of use, scalability, and the powerful Plesk control panel to manage your website effectively.

We hope this comprehensive guide has empowered you to choose the perfect web hosting plan for your website. If you have any questions, don't hesitate to contact our support team!

FAQ

How do I activate my shared web hosting?

Please follow these steps:

1. In your account, please go to PRODUCTS > WEB HOSTING.
2. In the section: Web hosting tokens, select the corresponding token in the drop-down menu and click on ACTIVATE.
3. Select one of the options: domain in your account or domain with another provider.
4. If your domain is in your account, choose the domain name in the drop-down menu. If you selected "Domain name with another provider", enter the domain name in the field.
5. Ensure that you select the correct token.
6. Select one of the options for the configuration of the zone records.
7. Click on ACTIVATE.
8. You will find the new shared web hosting under PRODUCTS > WEB HOSTING, section: Active products.
   

How to add domains or subdomains to my shared web hosting?

Depending on the plan you have chosen, you can add different domains and subdomains to it, so you can host different websites in only one subscription.

To add domains, please follow these steps:

1. In your account go to PRODUCTS > SHARED HOSTING.
2. Go to the section: Active products and click on Manage on the right of the corresponding domain.
3. Click on MANAGE.
4. Click on "Add Domain".
5. On the next page, enter the domain name.
6. Click on OK.

To add subdomains, please follow these steps:

1. In your account go to PRODUCTS > SHARED HOSTING.
2. Go to the section: Active products and click on Manage on the right of the corresponding domain.
3. Click on OPEN CONTROL PANEL.
4. Click on "Add Subdomain".
5. On the next page, enter the subdomain name.
6. Click on OK.

How do I access my shared web hosting control panel?

Through your account:

1. In your account go to PRODUCTS > SHARED HOSTING.
2. Go to the section: Active products and click on Manage on the right of the corresponding domain.
3. Click on MANAGE under Control Panel.

The user name and password of the control panel can be reset if you click on your name on the top right.

This opens a drop-down menu.

Click on "Edit Profile".There you can see your username and enter a new password or automatically generate one. Click on Show to see it.

Click on "Apply" to save the changes.

How do I access my web hosting control panel?

Please follow these steps:

1. Log in to your account and go to PRODUCTS > HOSTING.
2. Move the cursor to the domain name concerned and click on View.
3. Click on Manage.