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What is web hosting?
How hosting works, the five main types, what it costs in the UK and what to check before you buy.
Guides
Web hosting guides for UK website owners
Plain-English explanations of how hosting, domains, WordPress, email and security work, from the team that runs the servers.
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Hosting basics
6 guides What is shared hosting?Shared hosting explained: how many sites share one server, what that means for speed, security and price, and who it suits. A clear guide for UK site owners.Shared hosting vs VPS: which should you choose?Shared hosting or a VPS? Compare cost, speed, control, security and skills needed, and find out which suits a small business site, shop or application.How to choose a web host in the UKA practical checklist for choosing a UK web host: server location, real prices, uptime, backups, security, support and refunds, with questions to ask first.How much does web hosting cost in the UK?What UK web hosting really costs: plans from £10.03 to £133.79 a year, what is included, the extras to watch for and how to budget for a business website.Bandwidth and disk space explainedWhat bandwidth and disk space mean in web hosting, how to estimate how much your site needs, and how to avoid running out. Examples for UK small business sites.Website uptime explained: what 99.9% really meansWhat website uptime is, what 99.9% means in real hours of downtime, how to monitor your own site and what to do when it goes down. A clear UK guide.
Domains
7 guides How to choose a domain name for your UK businessA practical guide to choosing a domain name for a UK business: length, spelling, .co.uk or .uk, checking trade marks and avoiding mistakes that cost customers..co.uk vs .com: which should a UK business choose?Compare .co.uk and .com domains for a UK business: trust, search, availability, cost and when each makes sense, with a clear recommendation for most firms.How to register a UK domain name, step by stepStep-by-step guide to registering a .co.uk or .uk domain name in the UK: checking availability, ordering, details you need and what to do afterwards.What is DNS? The domain name system explainedDNS explained in plain English: how domain names find websites, the main record types (A, MX, TXT, CNAME), TTL and propagation, and how to fix common problems.How to point a domain name to your web hostingHow to point a domain to hosting using name servers or DNS records, how long it takes, how to check it worked and how to avoid downtime when moving a live site.How to transfer a domain name to a new registrarHow to transfer a domain to a new registrar without losing your website or email: checks to make first, the steps, timing and fixes for the usual problems.How to transfer a domain from GoDaddyHow to move a domain away from GoDaddy: unlocking it, getting the transfer details, .co.uk and .com differences, timings and what to check first.
WordPress
10 guides How to secure a WordPress website: 15 practical stepsA practical guide to WordPress security for UK small business sites: updates, passwords, plugins, backups, hardening and what to do if you are hacked.How to speed up a WordPress site: 12 proven stepsMake a WordPress site faster with 12 practical steps: caching, images, plugins, themes, PHP and database tuning, plus how to test speed properly on a phone.How to install WordPress: one-click and manual methodsHow to install WordPress on UK hosting, using the one-click installer or a manual install, with a checklist of what to set up straight afterwards.How to update WordPress safely, step by stepHow to update WordPress core, plugins and themes without breaking your site: backups, staging, the right order, automatic updates and how to roll back.WordPress vs website builders: which should you choose?WordPress versus hosted website builders such as Wix and Squarespace: cost, control, flexibility, ease of use and when each is the better choice for a UK site.How to fix the WordPress white screen of deathFix the WordPress white screen of death step by step: find the cause, disable plugins and themes, raise memory limits, read error logs and restore a backup.WordPress staging site guide: what it is and how to use oneWhat a WordPress staging site is, why it protects your live site, how to create one on a subdomain, test changes safely and push them live without losing data.How many WordPress plugins is too many?There is no magic number of WordPress plugins. Learn what really slows or endangers a site, how to audit your plugins and which kinds are worth keeping.How to choose a WordPress theme for your siteHow to choose a WordPress theme: free versus paid, speed, support, mobile design and block editor compatibility, plus a checklist to test any theme.How to fix WordPress login problemsCannot log in to WordPress? Fix forgotten passwords, redirect loops, cookie errors, plugin lockouts and wrong URLs with these step by step solutions.
Moving a website
3 guides How to move a website to a new host without downtimeA step-by-step guide to moving a website to a new web host without downtime: what to copy, how to test, when to switch DNS and the checks to make afterwards.How to move a website from HTTP to HTTPS safelyStep-by-step guide to moving a website from HTTP to HTTPS without losing rankings: certificate, redirects, mixed content, sitemaps and Search Console.A website migration checklist for before, during and afterA complete website migration checklist for UK site owners: what to do before, during and after a move so nothing is lost, with a printable list of checks.
SPF, DKIM and DMARC explained in plain EnglishSPF, DKIM and DMARC explained in plain English: what each email authentication record does, how to set them up and how they keep business email out of spam.How to stop your business email going to spamWhy business email lands in spam and how to fix it: authentication records, sender reputation, content, lists and the mistakes that harm delivery.How to set up email on your own domainCreate professional email addresses on your own domain: add mailboxes, connect your phone and computer, set up DNS records and avoid common mistakes.IMAP vs POP3: which should you use for business email?IMAP or POP3 for business email? Compare how each works, what happens to your messages on phones and computers, and which to choose for a small UK business.
Security
5 guides How to back up a website: a complete guideHow to back up a website properly: what to include, how often, where to store copies, the 3-2-1 rule and how to test a restore, for WordPress and other sites.What is a DDoS attack, and how does it affect your website?What a DDoS attack is, the main types, how to spot one on your website, what protection hosting gives you and what to do if your UK site is targeted.How to remove malware from a website, step by stepFound malware on your website? Follow this UK guide to confirm the infection, clean it, close the hole, restore from backup and get warnings removed.Two-factor authentication for websites: why and howWhy two-factor authentication matters for your website, hosting and email logins, how the different methods compare and how to set it up in WordPress.The website security checklist for small businessesA practical website security checklist for UK small businesses: accounts, updates, backups, hosting, SSL, forms, data protection and a yearly review.
Troubleshooting
8 guides How to fix a 403 Forbidden error on your websiteA 403 Forbidden error means the server understood your request but refuses it. Learn the usual causes, from permissions to .htaccess, and how to fix each.How to fix a 500 Internal Server ErrorA 500 Internal Server Error is a general server-side failure. Find the cause fast using the error log, .htaccess, PHP limits and plugins, with fixes for each.How to fix 404 errors and set up redirectsFix 404 Not Found errors and set up 301 redirects correctly. Find broken links, redirect old pages, avoid chains and protect your search rankings.How to fix the Your connection is not private errorFix the Your connection is not private warning and other SSL certificate errors. Learn the causes, from expired certificates to wrong clocks.How to fix the WordPress database connection errorSeeing Error establishing a database connection on WordPress? Check wp-config.php, test the database, repair tables and restore from backup.Website not loading after a DNS change: how to fix itSite not loading after a DNS change or move? Learn how propagation and TTL work, how to check records, flush caches and tell if the problem is DNS or hosting.How to fix ERR_TOO_MANY_REDIRECTSFix ERR_TOO_MANY_REDIRECTS and redirect loops caused by HTTPS rules, WordPress URLs, .htaccess, plugins and CDN settings, step by step.How to fix email not sending or receivingDomain email not sending or receiving? Check MX records, mailbox space, ports, passwords, SPF and bounce messages with this step by step guide.
Speed and SEO
8 guides What is a CDN, and does a UK website need one?A CDN stores copies of your site closer to visitors. Learn how one works, what it costs, and whether a UK-only business website really needs a CDN.Core Web Vitals explained: LCP, INP and CLSCore Web Vitals explained in plain English: what LCP, INP and CLS measure, the good thresholds, how to check them and what to fix on a small business site.How to test website speed and read the resultsHow to test your website speed properly: the best free tools, what the numbers mean, why results vary and how to compare before and after changes.How to optimise images for the webMake images load faster without losing quality: choose JPEG, PNG, WebP or AVIF, resize and compress properly, add alt text and lazy load, with simple steps.Does web hosting affect SEO?Does your web hosting affect SEO? Learn how speed, uptime, server location and security influence rankings, and which hosting factors are worth caring about.Technical SEO basics for small business websitesTechnical SEO basics for small UK business sites: crawling, indexing, HTTPS, sitemaps, redirects, mobile and speed, explained plainly with a checklist.How to set up Google Search ConsoleSet up Google Search Console for your website: verify ownership by DNS or HTML tag, submit a sitemap and learn which reports matter for a small UK business.How to set up a Google Business ProfileSet up and verify a Google Business Profile for your UK business: categories, opening hours, photos, reviews and how it connects to your website.
Law and compliance
4 guides UK GDPR for website owners: a plain English guideA plain English guide to UK GDPR for website owners: personal data, lawful bases, privacy notices, ICO registration, rights and breaches. General guidance only.Cookie consent for UK websitesHow cookie consent works for UK websites: PECR and UK GDPR rules, essential versus non-essential cookies, banner design and checking what your site sets.What to put on a UK business website legallyThe legal information a UK business website should show: company details, registered office, trading name, contact details, e-commerce terms and policies.Website accessibility for UK businessesA practical guide to website accessibility for UK businesses: the Equality Act 2010 in general terms, WCAG basics and simple fixes anyone can make.
Building a site
8 guides How to start a website in the UK, step by stepA plain guide to starting a website in the UK: planning, choosing a domain and hosting, building the pages, going live and getting found, with realistic costs.Website launch checklist: what to check before you go liveA practical website launch checklist for UK small businesses: content, links, forms, speed, mobile, security, SEO, email and legal checks before you publish.How to set up 301 redirects, step by stepLearn what a 301 redirect is, when to use one, and how to set it up with .htaccess, WordPress or your control panel without losing search rankings.What is SFTP and how do you use it?What SFTP is, how it differs from FTP, and how to connect with a free client to upload website files securely, with settings, steps and common errors fixed.What is a MySQL database, and why does your website need one?A plain explanation of MySQL databases for websites: what they store, how WordPress uses one, how to create and back one up, and what to do when it fails.What is a subdomain, and when should you use one?A subdomain is a prefix on your domain, like shop.example.co.uk. Learn what they are for, how they differ from folders, and how to create one on your hosting.How to add a contact form to your websiteHow to add a contact form that actually delivers: choose a method, set it up in WordPress or by hand, stop spam, protect data and fix missing emails.The pages every small business website needs, and what to write on themPlan and write the core pages of a small business website: Home, About, Services, Contact, FAQ and trust pages, with a clear structure and no filler.
Build with AI
3 guides Build a website with Claude and put it live on UK hostingHow to build a website with Claude or Claude Code, check the result, and put it live on UK shared hosting. Steps, prompts, honest limits and costs.How to deploy a website to shared hosting with SSH and GitDeploy an Astro or static site to shared hosting with SSH keys, rsync, Git or GitHub Actions, with commands, a deploy script, rollback and fixes for errors.Which stack should you ask Claude or another AI to build?Building a website with AI? Learn when to ask for plain HTML, Astro, WordPress, Node.js or Python, and which of them run well on UK shared hosting.
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- WordPress hosting: what WordPress needs and how to install it
- Email hosting: addresses on your own domain
- Domains: .co.uk and .uk at £9.99 a year
- Server location: speed tests from our UK server