How To Host Several Websites Under One Account
In today’s digital age, having a website has become a necessity for businesses, organizations or even individuals to establish their online presence. It is a platform to showcase their products, services, ideas and ideologies to the world. However, sometimes hosting multiple websites can be a financial burden, especially for small businesses and individuals. Hosting several websites under one account can be an ideal solution to save costs and is relatively easy to manage. In this article, we will guide you on how to host several websites under one account.
1. Understand the types of web hosting
Before diving into the process of multiple website hosting, it is crucial to know about the types of web hosting available. There are four types of web hosting - shared hosting, dedicated hosting, virtual private server (VPS) hosting, and cloud hosting.
Amongst these four types, shared hosting is the most economical one, suitable for beginners, small businesses and individuals. In shared hosting, multiple websites share a single server, providing limited resources to each website. On the other hand, dedicated hosting provides exclusive access to a server, providing more resources, flexibility, and control. VPS hosting is an intermediate option, providing a virtual private server that simulates and replicates a dedicated server. Cloud hosting is a service that enables you to host your website on a cloud infrastructure instead of a physical server.
2. Choose the right hosting provider
Choosing the right hosting provider is a crucial factor influencing the success and performance of your website. When selecting a web hosting provider, ensure that you choose one who offers multiple website hosting services. Also, ensure that they provide adequate storage, bandwidth, and security features at an affordable price. Some well-known hosting providers offering multiple website hosting options include Bluehost, HostGator, SiteGround, and DreamHost.
3. Select the right hosting plan
Once you choose the hosting provider, it is essential to select the right hosting plan that suits your requirements. Hosting providers offer different types of hosting plans, which can range from basic plans suitable for small businesses to advanced plans suitable for large enterprises. Ensure that the hosting plan you select provides adequate resources to host multiple websites and offers the ability to add domains to your account.
4. Add your domains to the hosting account
To host multiple websites under one account, you need to add domains to your hosting account. Hosting providers allow adding multiple domains to a single account at no extra cost. To add a domain, you need to go to your hosting account dashboard and look for the ‘Domains’ or ‘Add Domain’ option. Enter the domain name you wish to add and follow the instructions provided. Ensure that the domain is correctly added to your hosting account.
5. Create separate directories for each domain
Once you add the domain to your hosting account, create separate directories for each domain. A directory is a location where all the files and content of your website resides. Using separate directories for each domain can keep the website content organized and can make managing different websites easier. To create separate directories, go to the File Manager option on your hosting account dashboard and create a new directory for each domain.
6. Install content management system (CMS) and website software
To create a website, you need to install a content management system (CMS) and website software. Some popular CMSs include WordPress, Joomla, and Drupal. CMSs provide a user-friendly interface that enables website owners to create, edit and manage the website content without technical skills and knowledge.
To install CMS and website software, go to your hosting account dashboard and look for the ‘Software’ or ‘Softaculous’ option. Select the CMS you wish to install and follow the instructions provided. Ensure that you install separate CMS and website software for each domain in their respective directories.
7. Assign the website to its domain name
After installing CMS and website software, you need to assign each website to its domain name. To do this, go to the ‘Domains’ option in your hosting account dashboard and select the domain you wish to assign to the website. Select the correct directory where the website files and content are stored and follow the instructions provided. Ensure that you assign each website to the correct domain name for efficient management.
8. Configure website settings and design
After assigning the website to its domain name, you need to configure website settings and design. This includes setting up website title, tagline, meta descriptions, and keywords, selecting the right theme and design template, and adding website content and media.
9. Configure email for each domain
Hosting providers offer email hosting services, allowing website owners to create email addresses associated with their domain name. To configure email for each domain, go to the ‘Email’ option provided on the hosting account dashboard. Add the email address and password for each domain, and you are ready to use professional email addresses associated with your domain name.
Conclusion
Hosting multiple websites under one account can be a cost-effective solution, especially for small businesses and individuals. It requires careful planning and execution, like selecting the right hosting provider, hosting plan, adding domains, creating separate directories, installing CMS and website software, assigning the website to its domain name, configuring website settings and design, and setting up email for each domain. With the right guidance and technical knowledge, anyone can host multiple websites under one account and establish their online presence.