Hi everyone, I am looking at trying to pick a web host and am planning on using the service provider to host advanced uses of WordPress as a CMS and was wondering on what all I should see that the host supports (ex. php5, apache......). I will be building numerous real estate websites using WordPress and alot...ALOT...of plugins. Most of these sites will be mine but some will be agents from my office. Please help a newbie out.
You don't need any special requirements for wordpress and plugins. Hostgator would give you hosting for unlimited domains, automatic wordpress install via fantastico - but more importantly, they offer great support and uptime that is as good as anyone for under $10 a month. There are other good hosts, but hostgator is the largest for a reason. I'm assuming you only need shared hosting, but if you need a dedicated server ($100 a month +-) you have other options which are probably better. I am not affiliated with hostgator in any way, currently host with 8 different hosts (have operated sites for over 10 years), but think hostgator would be the best for your situation. Whomever you choose, don't try to save a couple of bucks a month and go with some unknown reseller or a host that hasn't been around for several years. It's too much to risk for someone just starting out imo. bluehost/hostmonster (same owner) would be another choice, but I think their email support can be very slow to respond at times.
Nowadays, you can install wordpress easily through the control panel given by the host. Example is fantastico in cpanel control panel. There are alot of scripts which you can install through fantastico beside wordpress. Like what mjewel had said, you do not need very high end web host. A simple $10 hosting account will be good for the start. And make sure the host give good support and uptime. It will be a disaster if you couldn't access your sites every now and then.. -- joseph
Thanks guys I did not know if perhapse I needed a better hosting option because of using many plugins. @mxhub - I was wondering which plugins cause WordPress to be easily hacked and if there exists any good preventiitive measures.