***Updated: Dec. 31, 2009***
For the new craft blogger, choosing the right hosting plan can be tough. I’ve hosted my websites with several different companies over the years, all for different reasons. Below is a comparison of six companies I’ve personally used.
All of these companies offer more robust packages than those I’ve listed here. The featured packages are the basic economy plans offered, and will in most cases be suitable for the new craft blogger. [Please note that all these links are affiliate links. If you don't like affiliate links, that's cool.]
Site5
Site5.com is my #1 choice for crafters who want to sell their handmade goods online. I’ve been a customer since 2006. Why? Their site is easy to navigate and their customer service is stellar. Stellar! They offer a basic plan for less than $7/month. For new craft bloggers who are hesitant to commit to a long term contract, Site5′s short term 6 month contract is a great way to start blogging without a huge commitment.
Features:
- Unlimited disk space.
- Unlimited bandwidth.
- 60 day money back guarantee.
- Excellent customer service.
Other cool things:
- Easy WordPress installation to get your blog up and running with little hassle.
- Your own email address to give your site a professional image.
- Basic mailing list to keep your customers informed.
- Getting-Started-Wizard and How-to Videos to help you make the most of your hosting package.
- Short 6 month contract is great for new craft bloggers who want to test the blogging waters.
Real cost
- 3 months: n/a
- 6 months: $39.00 ($6.50/mo. + free setup)*
- 12 months: $71.40 ($5.95/mo. + free setup)*
- 24 months: $118.80 ($4.95/mo. + free setup)*
- 36 months: $178.20 ($4.95/mo. + free setup)*
*Domain registration not included
BlueHost
BlueHost.com is still one of the companies I would recommend, and I still have a few sites hosted there. For less than $10/month, their basic plan is a fantastic option for your craft blog. This is one of the plans I use.
Features:
- Unlimited disk space.
- Unlimited bandwidth.
- One FREE domain name registration for life.
- Unlimited domains on one account.
- 30 day money back guarantee.
Other cool things:
- One-click WordPress installation to get your blog up and running right away.
- Your own email address to give your site a professional image.
- Basic mailing list to keep your customers informed.
- Getting-Started-Wizard and How-to Videos to help you make the most of your hosting package.
Real cost
- 3 months: $69.85 ($9.95/mo. + $30 setup + $10 domain registration)
- 6 months: $99.70 ($9.95/mo. + $30 setup + $10 domain registration)
- 12 months: $107.40 ($8.95/mo. + free setup + free domain registration)
- 24 months: $190.80 ($7.95/mo. + free setup + free domain registration)
- 36 months: $250.20 ($6.95/mo. + free setup + free domain registration)
GoDaddy
GoDaddy.com offers a basic blogger plan for less than $5/month. The combination of a short term contract and inexpensive hosting makes GoDaddy a great solution for a new craft blogger who can overlook an obnoxiously ugly site.
[**Update: I've noticed I'm frequently unable to view WordPress sites hosted by GoDaddy while I'm using Safari as my browser. For this reason, I cannot recommend GoDaddy as a web host at this time, however, I still use them to register my domains.]
Features:
- 10 GB of disk space.
- 300 GB of bandwidth.
- $1.99 domain names.
Other cool things:
- Easy WordPress installation to get your blog up and running with little hassle.
- Your own email address to give your site a professional image.
- Short minimum 3 month contract is good for new craft bloggers who are just testing the waters.
Real cost
- 3 months: $16.96 ($4.99/mo. + free setup + $1.99 domain registration/yr)
- 6 months: n/a
- 12 months: $58.87 ($4.74/mo. + free setup + $1.99 domain registration/yr)
- 24 months: $111.98 ($4.50/mo. + free setup + $1.99 domain registration/yr)
- 36 months: $158.97 ($4.25/mo. + free setup + $1.99 domain registration/yr)
Other
Dreamhost
Dreamhost had great customer service support, but I had serious lag issues when I tried to use ZenCart on their site. I haven’t used Dreamhost since 2006, so I cannot give more updated information.
Fluid Hosting
I still have one site hosted by Fluid Hosting. I have no complaints about my experience with Fluid Hosting, but I find their interface more difficult to navigate than Site5.
Moonlight Crafter
Did you know I can host your website for you? I offer a complete package that includes website design and hosting for one year. Contact me for more details.
