What is this hosting thing?

When you have your domain name, you need a physical server that runs your email accounts, web hosting, DNS, and other domain name stuff.

Usually, this is some inexpensive account that you point your domain to by updating your name servers. Name server addresses will be provided by your host. They are what enable your domain to translate into a website, blog, email inbox or whatever somewhere on the Internet. They often take the form ns1.example.com.

There are a lot of hosting ISPs, and I’ll come to who I use in a moment. But first, a safety tip.

How to remain bulletproof in this uncertain world

As long as you keep your domain registration and content separate, if you don’t like your host, then it takes very little time and effort to move everything somewhere else. Combine that with taking regular backups, and no host can ever hold your online presence hostage.

Remember: Storing in the cloud just means your stuff is on someone else’s computer. That’s fine, but do it so that you stay in control. That’s the point of a personal domain name after all.

Where I host my sites and email

There are thousands of options for hosting. Most are fairly cheap. Many have terrible customer service, and others have patchy technical support or poor uptime. I’ve moved about for hosting quite a lot over the last twenty years.

These days, I use a company called 20i, which I switched to after another host (who will remain nameless to protect the guilty) started messing me about. 20i had the highest rating on the trade rating website I looked at.

20i did not disappoint. The value for money was great; the uptime was almost perfect; and the customer service team is a delight to interact with. Whenever there has been a problem or niche need, their staff are consistently a joy to work with. More than that, I trust 20i to always have my back.

I am also an affiliate partner of 20i, which means if you click my links, I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you.

If you want to host WordPress, the 20i WordPress optimised hosting is very good.

I use the 20i reseller package so I can make lots of sites and generally have a huge sandbox to play in.

I am very happy with 20i and have no intentions of looking elsewhere. So I can only recommend 20i with any sincerity or insight.

Comment below with who you host with.