Tag Archives: web hosting tips

What Is a Dedicated IP Server?

Posted on February 25, 2019 by Hosting

The post What Is a Dedicated IP Server? appeared first on HostGator Blog . When you’re searching around, trying to find the best type of hosting for your website you’re going to have a lot of decisions to make. But, what makes your choice even more difficult is the often confusing terminology that’s associated with each type of hosting. One of the things that can trip up a lot of people is a dedicated IP address. What is it? Do you need one? Will it benefit your website? What is a dedicated IP server? If you’ve been considering a dedicated IP address or dedicated hosting in general, then this post is for you. Below we’ll clear up all the confusion surrounding dedicated IP addresses, along with defining dedicated hosting , so you can make the best decision for your website. What is a Dedicated IP Address? First, we’ll begin with a standard IP address. An IP address is a unique string of numbers that identifies a machine that’s connected to a network. In this case, the machine would be the server, while the network would be the internet as a whole. An IP address is then translated by the Domain Name System (DNS) to an associated domain name. There are two types of IP addresses currently in existence. The longest running is IPv4, which is the original formulation of an IP address. This initial inception has allowed for the creation of billions of IP addresses. However, since the number of servers and devices connected to the internet continues to grow, this has led to the creation of IPv6 addresses. This style of IP address isn’t commonly used, but it will become much more common in the future. IPv6 addresses are longer than IPv4, which offers even more combinations of IP addresses for future devices and servers. You’ll find that some hosting companies are already offering IPv6 addresses. However, not all routers will support them, so most website owners are better off using the classic IPv4 until IPv6 becomes mainstream. Now, if you’re currently on a shared hosting plan, then you’re probably also sharing an IP address since IP addresses are assigned to a single server. However, your host will automatically route traffic to the correct website, even though you’re sharing an IP address with hundreds or thousands of other sites. This process happens instantly and takes place entirely behind the scenes, so users won’t even know the transfer has occurred. The next level of IP address is a dedicated IP address. With a dedicated IP address, your IP address is yours and yours alone. You can either have a dedicated IP address paired with a single website, or a dedicated server that has its own IP address, which you can use for multiple websites that you own.   What is Dedicated IP Hosting? Dedicated IP hosting can actually be pretty broad in scope. It can refer to any form of web hosting with a dedicated IP address . So, you can have dedicated IP and shared hosting coupled  together, or even a dedicated server with a dedicated IP address (most common). Some forms of hosting will come equipped with a dedicated IP address no matter what. Typically, this is a standard feature of both dedicated hosting and VPS hosting packages. This isn’t the main reason you’ll want to use these styles of hosting, but for some website owners, it will be a valuable feature. With dedicated IP hosting you’re getting all of the dedicated IP address benefits (which we cover in detail below).   Why Would You Use a Dedicated IP Address? Most website owners probably won’t find a ton of value in upgrading to dedicated IP address hosting, unless they’re at the level where upgrading to a dedicated server also makes sense. Dedicated IP addresses don’t offer the same level of benefits that they used to, but there are still some tangible advantages that certain site owners might find useful. Here are some of the most common benefits you’ll receive when using a dedicated IP address.   1. Better Email Deliverability Some website owners will prefer to send email through the host, instead of using a traditional email provider like Gmail. Or, they might use email forwarding to send emails through their host with a domain-associated email address, while still managing emails through a traditional email provider. Whichever approach you’re taking, one thing you’ll want to ensure is that you maintain a high level of deliverability. In some cases, if you’re using a shared IP address you can run into deliverability issues, which means your emails will never reach the recipient’s inbox. If another user on the same server is causing spam complaints, then this could affect you too. With a dedicated IP address, you can ensure this will never become an issue, as long as you’re not spamming yourself.   2. Use of an SSL Certificate You may be wondering, do you need a dedicated IP for SSL certificates? Well, a dedicated IP address used to be a requirement for an SSL certificate. Since Google is making having a SSL certificate a necessity to avoid a security warning, more and more site owners are installing them on their own sites. Today there’s a technology known as Server Name Identification (SNI), which makes it so dedicated IP address is no longer a requirement. No matter what your current IP address and hosting setup are you can install and reap the benefits of an SSL certificate. Don’t know what an SSL certificate is or why you need one ? Check out our blog for helpful resources. However, not every hosting provider will support SNI. Check with your hosting provider to determine the requirements for installing and activating an SSL certificate .   3. Potential SEO benefits There’s still a lively debate that surrounds the SEO benefits of using a dedicated IP address. There isn’t really any tangible proof that using a dedicated IP will improve your rankings. But, there are some related performance metrics that might improve your rankings. For example, when you’re using a dedicated IP the chances are high that you’re also using a dedicated server. If you’re migrating from a shared server to a dedicated server you’ll see a definite improvement in your site’s performance. Since Google places a value on things like site loading time and overall performance, then you could see an increase in rankings. Having a dedicated IP address is a great way to speed up your website . However, there isn’t any data that supports the notion that solely using a dedicated IP address will have an SEO benefit.   4. Create Your Own Gaming Server Using a dedicated IP address will give you a greater level of server control. For example, you’ll be able to FTP into your web server right away, even before the domain has propagated. Or, you can access your website via IP address alone, instead of the domain name. Another useful feature is creating a gaming server . If you want to create your own server so you can play your favorite games, or host your own matches, then you’ll need a dedicated IP address, along with a dedicated server for games . For website owners who demand a higher level of control and customization, then a dedicated IP address is a must have.   What is a Dedicated Server? A dedicated server is a server that you have complete access to and control over. Instead of sharing server resources with other users all of the server resources can be used to power your website. If your site has outgrown a traditional shared hosting plan, then you might consider upgrading to a dedicated server . This type of hosting is very beneficial for larger sites that receive a high volume of traffic, or those that require custom server configurations. With a dedicated server, you have the resources of an entire web server at your disposal, for you to do whatever you wish. Whether that’s powering your website, running a gaming server, or something else entirely (as long as you’re in alignment with the host’s terms of service).   Pros of a Dedicated Server A dedicated server can provide a ton of advantages for the right kind of user. Here are some of the biggest benefits you’ll receive when upgrading to a dedicated server.   High Level of Performance When using a dedicated server you have the full power of the server behind you. You won’t be sharing any server bandwidth, disc space, memory, or any other processing resources with other users. As a result, you’ll get an incredibly high level of server performance. If you have a very large and high traffic site and are reaching the limits of your dedicated server, you can also upgrade hardware components to support your growing site.   Ability to Customize Your Server When you’re using a shared hosting plan you’re limited to whatever server configuration the host is providing. But, with a dedicated server, you’ll have a much higher level of control. For example, you’ll be able to choose your own server operating system, install unique software, and even make hardware customizations to ensure optimum performance.   Fast Site Loading Speeds Dedicated servers are fast. If you place a high level of importance on your site’s speed and user experience (which you should be), then a dedicated server can easily help you meet these needs. Even if you have a very high volume of monthly traffic, you’ll still be able to deliver your users an incredible experience.   Improved Website Security Dedicated servers are also very secure. Since you’re the only user who’s using the server you’ll be able to create custom security protocols, like firewalls, web security checker , and more. You also won’t have to worry about any other sites sharing the server having weak security standards, like you do when using shared hosting.   Cons of a Dedicated Server However, a dedicated server isn’t perfect. Here are some of the disadvantages that might turn you away from using a dedicated server:   High Level of Technical Expertise Required When using a dedicated server your hosting company generally won’t provide that much technical assistance. Server setup, configuration, maintenance, and more will all fall on your shoulders. If you don’t have the necessary technical skills, then you’ll probably need to bring on a team member for server configuration and maintenance. However, some hosting providers will offer managed dedicated servers. In this scenario, the hosting provider will help to manage your server environment and take care of server setup, maintenance, updates, optimization, and more.   Higher Monthly Hosting Costs Dedicated server hosting is generally one of the most expensive forms of hosting. Since you’re not sharing server resources with any other users, you won’t be splitting these costs either. But, with these higher costs you’re getting access to extensive server resources that’ll greatly improve site performance. However, if you’re the type of website owner who could benefit from a dedicated server, then you probably have the revenue to justify the cost. It’s also possible to save on cheap dedicated server hosting cost with more affordable plans.   What is a Dedicated IP Server? The term dedicated IP server is commonly thrown around in relation to dedicated IP addresses and dedicated servers. This term has a more broad definition, but generally, it refers to a dedicated server that’s equipped with a dedicated IP address. When you’re using a dedicated server this will have it’s own IP address, known as a dedicated IP address. However, you can also have multiple dedicated IP addresses on a single dedicated server. This can be useful if you have multiple websites that you’d like to host on a single dedicated server. In some cases, a dedicated IP server can refer to any kind of web hosting configuration that’s using a dedicated IP address. But, most often it’s a dedicated IP address paired with a dedicated server.   Closing Thoughts A general rule of thumb is that if you need a dedicated IP address, then you’re the kind of user who could also benefit from having their own server, or a dedicated IP server. Generally, having a dedicated IP address on a shared host is less common as there are multiple levels of software configuration that need to take place for this to work. Hopefully, you have a better understanding of what a dedicated IP address is, why you want one, and how it relates to a dedicated IP server . For further questions regarding our web hosting plans, please contact HostGator today. Find the post on the HostGator Blog Continue reading →

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4 Proven Methods to Increase Your Website Conversions

Posted on February 21, 2019 by Hosting

The post 4 Proven Methods to Increase Your Website Conversions appeared first on HostGator Blog . Are you actively creating new content for your website or blog, only to find that you seem to be wasting more time than anything else? If so, then you will find a lot of value in today’s article. With more than a BILLION active websites and blogs on the internet today, there are a few things you need to know: There is now more competition than ever to rank in Google Every topic has already been written about a thousand times over For content to make money, it needs to have traffic and call-to-action The best business models are ones with a direct focus and need on their audience Remarketing similar products and services to your site visitors is key By reminding yourself of these five key points, you will find a lot more success in blogging and content creation . It’s also important to remember that people are using the internet for three main reasons, which are 1) to buy something, 2) to find information, 3) to be entertained. Cater to any of these needs with an ending call-to-action, and you are on the right track. At the same time, it’s extremely important to make sure you have a marketing plan in place as well. Just creating content and hoping to rank in the search results is no longer a viable plan. With all of this in mind, let’s take a look at a some of the many different ways to create valuable content and marketing methods that continues to make money time and time again. 1. Have a Great Call-To-Action on Your Main Page When you look at any of the top websites on the internet today (especially in online marketing and business services), you will see that most of them have a direct call-to-action, or CTA , on their main page. Here’s an example of HostGator’s: There are plenty of reasons for this, but two of the most obvious are that you only have a few seconds to make a great first impression and to get the user to act on whatever you have to offer. Another reason, is that simple micro-sized actions usually have much higher conversions and engagement in the long run. Let’s take a look at a couple examples of this below. With more entrepreneurs, content creators, and affiliates jumping into the world of ecommerce, there is a huge untapped market that is searching for answers daily. One of the biggest problems ecommerce sites are facing, is trying to find winning products that are in demand, have low competition, and also offer higher profit margins. All of this can be summed up nicely in the “Find products for your store in minutes” call-to-action that is found right on the home page of Oberlo . Throw in the addition of the product image and a visual on the retail price and potential profit, and you can only imagine the conversion rate on this homepage alone. At the same time, when having any type of product or service, it’s a huge benefit if your brand is actually using that same solution itself. Another example of this can be seen on OptinMonster , which is a popular WordPress plugin that has a whole collection of popup and call-to-action lead generation tools for site owners to use. Once you start to scroll away from their site and appear to close it out, they have a popup window that appears and discusses the topic of “Cart Abandonment.” For anyone already visiting the site, they are likely already interested in how to improve their business and user engagement for the better, and this is a perfect way to show not only what their service has to offer, but how it can work for other site owners and brands as well. These are just a few working examples of how to create excellent home page calls-to-action that grab the interest of your audience and make them want to convert and become a paying customer right away. 2. Focus on How To Content, Case Studies and Live Webinars When most people visit Google, they are often searching for information to solve a problem or to help them with a decision or process. By creating content that caters to this audience, gives them value, and then direction, not only will you be providing a service, you can also turn such traffic into leads and sales as well. “How To” guides and “Tutorials” are some of the best ways to accomplish this. Just think about what your service or business offers, then reverse the process and recommend it to your audience as the solution to their problem. For example, thousands of individuals and brands are starting a new website or blog for the first time. While this might seems like nothing for the majority of us, it can be quite a daunting task for anyone attempting this the first time around. HostGator has a whole slew of tutorials and reference guides on our site for how to get started, and we also offer several live webinars as well. And just like how millions of people will be starting a new website or blog today, the same is true with social media. It’s not just about how many people will actively go live on new platform, but also how they use it for their business or brand. Even if they aren’t new to the social platform, they might be new to the concept of advertising with them — and those businesses and services out there that cater to this need will continue to generate new business as well. Another example of how to use case studies and brand examples to provide new leads and sales for your business, is to show how other companies are doing something right (such as social media marketing), and then how your customers can follow along and do the same. This Zappos case study is a great example of how a site is leveraging the success and branding of another brand, then offering a relevant service to their audience — hoping to turn them into customers. Often times, these types of case studies and resource guides go into super detail on how complex and time-consuming it actually is to create a winning strategy, and then sell that formula and service instead. Again, this all goes back to knowing your target audience and catering to their needs. These are just a few examples to consider when trying to come up with new content ideas and calls-to-action for your site, while also driving new traffic and leads in the process. 3. Product Information, Review Articles and Testimonials Matter We already know that a ton of people are going to Google everyday to learn new things and to research processes to accomplish whatever their personal or business goals are. But what about product and service information? Sure, there are millions of websites about products and services out there, but some do it better than others. Just having a product page with generic information will get you nowhere. Instead, shopping comparison and niche review sites do this extremely well. This is something Amazon has revolutionized over the past several years. Just take a look at any product on their site, and then you will see a ton of product recommendations based on other customer viewing and purchases. Just imagine how much of an increase Amazon sees in order size, thanks to these little recommendations and ratings throughout their site. This method also works very well for affiliate marketing and commission-based lead generation as well. Since site owners and bloggers are pretty good at social media and SEO, it’s actually one of the most popular and effective ways to drive traffic and revenue to some of the top sites on the internet. A perfect example of this can be seen in this HostGator review , which highlights nearly all aspects of the hosting platform. You can bet that anyone looking for a hosting plan and coming across this page will find all of the information they need, and are most certainly ready to take action in the process. At the same time, there are also user reviews and ratings placed throughout the site as well. And with Inc.com recently reporting that “ 84 percent of people trust online reviews as much as friends ”, you can only imagine how well such testimonials and reviews work, even when we don’t actually know the individuals posting them. These examples show how product ratings and testimonials can make a huge improvement to conversions on a shopping or review site, but this method can be effective for any kind of business, from solopreneurs to small businesses . A couple more content ideas are product/service “alternatives” and “review” style posts. You can also write content on your competition and then recommend your own services or products as the better option. If you know your target audience, cater content to exactly what they are looking for, and provide them with real value — they will then likely take action while they are on your site. 4. Run Your Business with EverGreen Content Many of the methods highlighted in the points above are focused on engagement and impulse buying, while some are specifically targeted towards audiences that are already in buying mode. If someone is searching for information on an individual process or product, they are likely already in action mode. Why not create valuable content that can keep working for you for several months and years to come? This is often referred to as “ evergreen content .” In short, this means it’s something that is always in demand and won’t go out of style anytime soon. Here are a few ideas on winning evergreen topics: health/weight loss finance/making money education/employment birthdays, weddings & graduations If you have content (or a business) that caters to any of these areas, you can continually generate traffic and leads everyday of the year. This is usually easier for businesses that already have a focus in these areas, but there are also plenty of opportunities for any brand to tap into these evergreen markets as well. A winning evergreen content strategy can look something like the chart below. It’s not just about pushing out as much content as possible, but instead creating as much value within one post, which can also be promoted and referenced to time and time again. The good news is that this type of content can be created for nearly any type of business model or customer audience that you might have in place. For example, starting a new website or blog isn’t limited to just those who are tech-savvy. Through the use of articles focused on topics like “How to Lose Weight and Blog Your Journey ” or “ Create a Site for Your Upcoming Wedding! “, site owners can create compelling content for an audience, while also monetizing it through the use of HostGator and their affiliate program . Again, this goes back to the providing your audience with a “walk through,” having a call-to-action in place, and also adding in the “evergreen” component as well. How to Make a Solid Content Creation and Marketing Plan For the most part, content creation is the easy part. You can take any of the examples and concepts above, reverse engineer your end call-to-action or monetization process, and then create content around it. If you aren’t a good writer, you can simply map out these data points and then hand it off to a freelancer to complete. But as we noted, content creation is only half of the battle. With more than two million sites and blogs going live daily , you need to have an effective marketing strategy in place. It doesn’t matter if you focus on paid, SEO, or social media — as long as you have at least one in place. Before you leave this article, run through the list one more time, take some notes and then start thinking about how you can improve your business model and engagement with better main page call-to-actions, using reference guides and webinars, and also implementing evergreen content in the mix. Your competition is likely already doing many of these, and now it’s time for you to do the same. Find the post on the HostGator Blog Continue reading →

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What Are Dedicated Servers for Games?

Posted on February 19, 2019 by Hosting

The post What Are Dedicated Servers for Games? appeared first on HostGator Blog . If you love playing video games, then you’ve probably considered running your own gaming server. There’s nothing more frustrating than slow loading games, dropped connections, or experiencing lag that makes gameplay impossible. Issues like these are one of the main reasons gamers decide to use their own dedicated servers. Dedicated server hosting can help to provide the ultimate gaming experience. Whether you’re looking to improve gaming experience across the board or want to create a server environment your friends can enjoy too, then upgrading to a dedicated server just makes sense. Below we look at what a dedicated server actually is, how they can help to improve gaming, as well as the top considerations to take into account when choosing a dedicated server for gaming. What is a Dedicated Server? To start we’ll break down what a dedicated server actually is. Essentially a dedicated server is a physical server that’s dedicated entirely to a single user, you’re not sharing server resources with any other users. Usually, these are used by website owners who have very large websites, receive a high volume of traffic, require a customized server environment, or need enhanced levels of website security like a SSL. However, the great thing about dedicated servers is that they’re incredibly versatile. Once you sign up for a dedicated server package, you can use this server however you desire, including running your very own gaming server. Dedicated servers usually allow for hardware customizations, a variety of operating systems to choose from, firewalls and security monitoring, ongoing maintenance, regular backups, and a dedicated support team. Dedicated servers tend to be towards the higher end of the price spectrum, but there are a ton of advantages that you can’t get with any other style of web hosting , especially if a high level of gaming experience is what you’re after. What you’ll pay for a dedicated server depends upon the length of your contact (monthly, yearly, or multiple years), the company you decide to go with, and the type of dedicated server you require.   What is a Dedicated Server for Gaming? A dedicated server for gaming is a dedicated server that has the requisite requirements to effectively run any game while offering a very high level of performance. What’s required from your server will depend upon the game you’d like to run and how many players you’ll want to have using the server at any given time. If you’re running your own gaming server , some games won’t allow you to charge people to play the game, especially if they’re free and open source. Others, however, are fine with you charging an entrance fee in order to utilize your server. Overall, monetizing your gaming server depends upon the hosting company you’re renting the server from, along with the games you’ll be running via your server. Most hosting companies that offer dedicated servers for gaming will have specialized software that will speed up the game configuration process. At the very least, a company offering dedicated gaming servers will have the necessary hardware to run games at peak capacity.   How Dedicated Servers Improve Gaming There are many dedicated IP benefits you should be aware of, especially for gaming. Sometimes the servers provided by the gaming company won’t cut it, or you’re looking to create the ultimate gaming server for your own games or a place where your online team can practice. Whatever your reason a dedicated gaming server can offer you a ton of advantages. Here are some of the most common benefits you’ll realize when upgrading to a dedicated gaming server.   1. Better Gaming Performance Probably the biggest reason you’ll want to run a dedicated gaming server is to provide a better overall gaming experience. If you’ve been running a game that allows for the use of a dedicated server, then you should probably make the upgrade, if you really care about gaming performance. For example, most games will look for the best connection. But, if the game is incredibly popular, or even if it’s older and there are fewer players, then it might be hard to find a stable connection. Most games will rely on peer-to-peer connection, but sometimes this can be slow of glitchy, depending on the internet connection. Sometimes gaming companies will even provide their own dedicated servers, but due to the cost, most gaming companies will not provide them.   2. More Control and Customization With a dedicated gaming server, you’ll have a much greater level of control over the gaming experience. Some games will even allow you to modify the gameplay, so you can create certain rules, or even control how the game is played. You’ll also be able to control who is allowed onto the gaming server. You’ll be able to add or remove users with ease. This can be valuable if you want to create a gaming server for your friends, or if you want to host a server that allows you and your team to practice, before playing online. In some cases, you can also install software that effectively acts as an anti-cheating tool. This will help provide your server with necessary security measures, so other people can’t manipulate the code to their own advantage.   3. Decreased Level of Lag One of the biggest effects on the overall playability of a game is lag. High lag usually comes into play when a user has a slow internet connection, or they’re connecting from another far-off part of the world. This not only provides them with a poor gaming experience, but it will also affect other users who’re playing the game as well. If you have a team member experiencing a high level of lag, then they could cost your more matches. Overall, teams who are experiencing less lag will tend to win more games and matches. By running your own dedicated server you can help to reduce issues that surround lag for you and any other players who are using the same server.   3. Greater Reliability With a dedicated server, you’ll experience higher levels of reliability than any other type of server. With other types of server environments, like shared servers, you’re competing for server resources with potentially hundreds of other sites. This increases the chances that your server could be temporarily offline when you need it the most. As always, it’s important that you fully understand both dedicated IP and shared hosting plans before choosing the right one for you and your website. Dedicated servers have an extremely high level of uptime, sometimes reaching as high as 100%. Of course, there are minor times when server maintenance needs to be done, but beyond keeping your server up to date there shouldn’t be any other reasons your server will be offline. This means that whenever you want to play a game or host an epic multiplayer match you’ll be able to count on your server.   Considerations When Choosing a Dedicated Gaming Server If you’re sold on getting a dedicated gaming server you’ll want to keep some things in mind throughout your search. Not every company that offers dedicated servers will make it easy to run games on your server. Beyond looking for a hosting provider that actually offers dedicated gaming servers here are some tangible requirements to keep in mind:   1. Know Your Gaming Resource Requirements Every game has different hardware and software requirements. Some online games have massive resource requirements and you’ll need to ensure your server environment is up to the task. If the overarching goal of running a dedicated gaming server is an improved gameplay experience, then you’ll need a server with sufficient resources. You’ll also need to consider how many people you’ll have playing on average. For example, if you’re maxing out server resources with solo gameplay, then you’ll need to upgrade to a server that has a higher level of available resources.   2. Required Memory and Bandwidth Sever memory and bandwidth are two of the main hardware requirements you’ll need to look out for. With enough memory and bandwidth you’ll be able to have a lightning fast connection. You’ll want to invest in a higher bandwidth host, so you can ensure that any games you run will run smoothly.   3. Don’t Choose on Price Alone If you’re trying to save money, then a dedicated gaming server might not be for you. A dedicated server is typically the most expensive forms of hosting you’ll find. You may be able to find cheap dedicated server hosting options, but this could come at a cost of negatively impacting the gameplay experience. With a cheaper provider, you’ll usually have to sacrifice server performance, lack of customer service, and more.   4. Look for a Knowledgeable Support Team Unless you’re an expert in server technology you’ll want to have a solid technical support team behind you. Most dedicated server environments require at least some level of technical expertise to configure and get up and running. But if you’ve set everything up correctly and you still run into an error, you’ll want to be able to troubleshoot the issue with a team of experts. In some cases, you might also be able to find a managed dedicated server. Instead of having to deal with server setup, maintenance, optimization, and any other technical tasks on your own you’ll have a team of experts do it for you. This option is usually more costly but can be very valuable if you don’t have the necessary technical skills.   5. Bundled or Available Server Software Most dedicated servers will offer you the choice of server software to install. You’ll need to make sure that the server software you go with will support your game of choice. If you want to run multiple games on the same dedicated server, then look at the software requirements and ensure they match up. Generally, this won’t be an issue, but some games will have very specific requirements. Beyond the initial dedicated server software requirements, your host might also offer additional software that’ll help morph your standard server into a gaming server with little effort on your part.   Can’t I Just Run a Gaming Server At Home? When you’re doing research and trying to find the perfect dedicated gaming server the question might arise: why don’t I just run my own gaming server? However, if you’re thinking about going this route just know that it’ll require a high level of technical expertise, and you probably won’t be able to get the levels of performance you’re looking for. A dedicated server is technically just a computer that’s connected to the internet. But, a remote dedicated server provided by a hosting company will have all of the specialized server hardware that’s uniquely configured to run the required server software. Simply trying to piece together a server on your own might work, but then you have to think about ongoing maintenance, security, and a lot more. Not only that but if your server crashes you won’t have a support team you can rely on to help you diagnose the issue. You’ll probably spend more time trying to setup and maintain your own server than actually gaming, or hosting games for your friends. Overall, doing your web hosting with a dedicated IP is going to be your best course of action.   Is a Dedicated Server Right for Your Game Environment? If you’re a serious gamer, you can’t go wrong with a dedicated server when making a gaming website . By choosing a high-quality hosting provider you can ensure you’ll get a dedicated gaming server that offers you unparalleled levels of performance, along with the resources required so you can play your favorite games. The process of setting up your own gaming server can be a little technical. But, with the help of a dedicated support team behind you, it might be easier than you think. Plus, you’ll have ultimate freedom in creating your own custom game environment, from your own gameplay options, to who you want to let play with you. Although a dedicated server might be a little costly, for some having the ability to create your own gaming experience, and offer the highest level of gameplay possible is too much to pass up. However, keep in mind that the quality of the host you choose does matter, especially in regards to overall performance, security, and the support team you’ll have behind you. Find the post on the HostGator Blog Continue reading →

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Do You Need a Dedicated IP for SSL?

Posted on February 13, 2019 by Hosting

The post Do You Need a Dedicated IP for SSL? appeared first on HostGator Blog . Maybe you’ve heard the news about the importance of installing an SSL certificate on your site? Or, maybe your site sells goods or processes sensitive visitor information and you want to secure your site with SSL? Whatever your reason, adding an SSL certificate to your site is close to becoming a necessity. But, how do you actually install an SSL certificate? For beginners, it might seem a little technical in nature, but overall the process can be quite simple. Still, one age-old question remains: Do you need a dedicated IP for SSL? The short answer is no. The long answer is below. Although it’s no longer a requirement across the board, some hosts still prefer that you have a dedicated IP address before they’ll allow you to install an SSL certificate. Below we examine this in-depth and take a look a the history between dedicated IPs and SSL certificates , along with the different types of certificates available, and the reasons you still might want to use the two together. What is a Dedicated IP Address? To understand what a dedicated IP address is, let’s first look at what a standard IP address is. An IP address acts as a locator for any computer that’s connected to the internet. So, in the case of your website it most likely refers to your server where your website is hosted. IP addresses are then mapped to specific domain names, so in some cases, you can actually enter an IP address into your address bar and visit a website (no domain necessary). Most people will be using shared IP addresses, which are IP addresses shared between multiple users who are using the same server. But, with a dedicated IP address you’ll have an IP address that’s dedicated to your website and only your website. In some cases, you can have a dedicated IP address and shared hosting , but typically it will be linked to a single website.   What is an SSL Certificate? An SSL certificate encrypts any data that’s shared between a person using your website and your server. It’s a small data file that binds a cryptographic key to your organization. This cryptographic key will bind together both your domain name (or server name, or hostname), along with the name of your company and its location. Think of it as a way to verify that you are who you say you are. This certificate will also enable a secure connection between your server and a user’s web browser. This connection will help to prevent data theft, and ensure your visitor’s that any information they input into your website is kept safe. There are a few different types of SSL certificates available:   1. Domain Validated Certificates This is the lowest level of validation available. It’s used to verify that an organization does indeed have control over a given domain. These are generally the lowest cost type of SSL certificates available, and can be installed very quickly.   2. Organization Validated Certificates This certificate is one step up from a Domain Validated Certificate. You’ll have to verify ownership of a domain , plus there will be additional steps to verify that you are indeed who you say you are. This will show visitors who is behind the organization that owns the domain.   3. Extended Validation Certificates This level of SSL certificate requires the most extensive form of validation. For this level of certificate, you’ll have to verify ownership of a given domain, plus go through a thorough vetting process. You’ll have to provide proper documentation to verify things like: The physical and legal existence of your business The organizational identity can be proven through official records The organization has the right to a given domain name For most website owners a Domain Validated Certificate will be enough. This is the most common type of certificate that will be provided by your web host. However, some websites that process transactions, or need to better secure user data might need to upgrade to a higher level of SSL certificate.   Why is SSL Used? Today SSL is commonly used to help secure any credit card data, personal information, or any other kind of information that’s exchanged between a user and a website. However, a recent Google Chrome update has made SSL certificates a necessity. Per this update, without an SSL certificate installed on your site, there’s a chance it could show up as insecure when a user lands on your site. So, instead of viewing your actual site they’ll get an error message. If a visitor is greeted with this message, instead of your actual site, the chances are high they won’t come back to your website again. There’s a good chance that other web browsers will start to implement these standards as well. So, it’s not a question of do I need an SSL certificate? It’s how do I install an SSL certificate on my site? Beyond an SSL certificate slowly becoming a necessity there are two big reasons why they’re used.   1. Securing Data Between a Browser and Server Hacking and cyber crimes are on the rise. Thousands of sites are hacked every single month. For this reason, you should do everything in your power to protect your website. There are various ways to secure your website from hackers , but one of the first things you can do is install an SSL certificate on your site. This will immediately add a layer of security and encryption between a visitor’s browser and your server. This will help to prevent any data theft when your visitors are entering information on your site. Helping to protect information like, their credit card details, personal email address, home address, and more. Basically, any data that they enter on your website will be encrypted and secured.   2. Building Customer Trust If you run an eCommerce store, or are collecting your visitors information in any way they’ll want to now that their information will be protected. Have you ever landed on a website and were ready to buy, but you didn’t fully trust the website? Trust is the backbone of any successful website. Without actively building visitor trust, you’re going to have a hard time turning visitors into subscribers or customers. One of the easiest ways to start building trust is to actively secure your site with an SSL certificate. Of course, there are additional steps you’ll need to take. But, by installing an SSL certificate your users will now that your site is legit and that you actually care about their data. As consumers grow more educated about the importance of protecting themselves online, the security of your website will only grow in importance. Adding an SSL certificate to your site is a great place to start.   Dedicated IP Address and SSL: The History To install an SSL certificate on your site a dedicated IP address used to be a requirement. But, if SSL certificates could only be installed on dedicated IPs a lot of website owners would be out of luck—especially with the growing importance of SSL certificates today. Luckily, there’s a technology known as Server Name Indicator (SNI) which makes it possible to install an SSL certificate on a shared server. SNI allows a web server to use a single IP address to create thousands of virtual host environments, these individual virtual environments can then host their own SSL certificates. The SNI will indicate the hostname for a given site and refer to that instead of the shared IP address. However, not every host will support SNI. So, there’s a chance you still might need to use a dedicated IP if you want to install an SSL certificate. Reach out to your hosting provider to see if a dedicated IP is a necessity for an SSL certificate, or if they support SNI instead. The type of SSL certificate you require can also influence, whether or not you’ll need a dedicated IP address for SSL. For example, Domain Validated certificates are much easier to issue and install, while higher level certificates require additional steps, one of which might be securing a dedicated IP address.   Why Else You Might Want a Dedicated IP Address Even though a dedicated IP address is no longer an absolute necessity for an SSL certificate there are still some other reasons you might want to upgrade to a dedicated IP address. Beyond upgrading to a dedicated IP for the benefits highlighted below, you might also want to consider upgrading your web hosting with a dedicated IP . This will not only provide you with a highly customizable server environment that’s optimized for performance, speed, and security, but you’ll also get a bundled dedicated IP address. Regardless of the type of web hosting you decide upon, here are some of the other benefits of using a dedicated IP address :   Compatibility With Older Browsers In some cases using SNI to install an SSL certificate won’t be a perfect solution. Some older browsers have technical issues that won’t display your site properly. This might not be a deal breaker, but if you analyzed your traffic and found that you have a lot of users who prefer older browsers, then you might need to use a dedicated IP address.   Visit Your Site by IP Address With a dedicated IP address, you can access your website without a domain name. This can be very useful if your domain name hasn’t propagated yet, or you want to start building out your website, but you haven’t decided on a domain name . Having the ability to access your site via IP isn’t a common need, but you might fall into the small group where it’s a requirement.   Run a Gaming Server If you’re interested in running your own gaming server for your favorite online game, then you’ll probably also need a dedicated server for games . This will help you hurdle common issues like gameplay lag and lack of bandwidth and memory.   Reduce the Chances of IP Blacklisting IP blacklisting is rare, but it’s something that could happen to your site if you’re using a shared IP address. IP blacklisting occurs when someone else on your shared IP is undertaking activities that could be classified as spam. This often occurs when people are sending emails through the host. All it would take is a single user on the same shared IP to affect your website and email abilities.   Run an FTP Server Running an FTP server can be a great way to share files with team members, clients, family, and friends. But, it can be difficult to run your own FTP server without a dedicated IP address. You probably won’t be using FTP if you have a small and simple website, but as your site grows, it might be something you’ll want to add to your overall workflow. As you can see there are a variety of reasons to consider using a dedicated IP address, along with dedicated hosting , even if an SSL certificate isn’t the main deciding factor.   Closing Thoughts Dedicated IP addresses used to be a necessity if you wanted to install an SSL certificate on your site. But, with changing technology it’s no longer a requirement. Typically, if you are using a dedicated IP address this will be because you’re using a dedicated web server. However, some hosts might not support SNI, so you’ll need to utilize a dedicated IP address if you want to install an SSL certificate. It all comes down to the dedicated hosting you’re using and the technology they support. Most users today will end up upgrading to a dedicated IP address, because they want the other features a dedicated IP offers, not simply for SSL compatibility. Hopefully, you have a better understanding of how dedicated IP addresses and SSL certificates are related, along with the history they share. Learn more about how to compare cheap dedicated server hosting plans from the experts at Hostgator today. Find the post on the HostGator Blog Continue reading →

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10 Reasons to Love HostGator’s New Gator Website Builder

Posted on February 12, 2019 by Hosting

The post 10 Reasons to Love HostGator’s New Gator Website Builder appeared first on HostGator Blog . HostGator is pleased to announce our new website builder, Gator Website Builder . Gator was created for anyone who has an idea for a website and wants a frustration-free solution to build and launch a website with ease.   Gator is a full-featured website building and hosting tool with an easy to understand, drag-and-drop page builder so you can get started quickly. In addition, Gator comes with some of the basics you need such as free website hosting , security basics like an SSL certificate, and a free domain name. Unlike other website builders, the Gator Website Builder offers a breadth of tools to fit every need. No more shopping around for a site builder that has either blog or eCommerce functionalities, Gator has it all. Plus, it’s backed by HostGator’s powerful website hosting, so you can upgrade your website as your online business grows.   Unlike other website builders, Gator by HostGator offers a breadth of tools to fit every need. No more shopping around for a site builder that has either blog or eCommerce functionalities, Gator has it all. Plus, it’s backed by HostGator’s powerful website hosting, so you can upgrade your website as your online business grows.   10 reasons to love Gator Website Builder by HostGator:   1. Drag-and-drop elements   Using Gator, you can add dynamic elements to your site, without the help of a professional designer. Some of the things you can add to your website with our easy website builder are buttons, images, maps, text blocks, videos and more! When you set up your account, the first thing you’ll see is a quick, interactive tour that shows you how to add sections and make revisions  to your site. Follow these instructions and you’ll be designing a website in no time! 2. More than 200 professional design templates to choose from.  These design templates are so good that you might wonder why they’re free. Where other website builders limit your options, Gator comes with more than 200 professional design themes, all of which are scalable to fit your business. When you set up your account, scroll through all the options available and choose the one that best fits your business. The templates are organized by category so you can quickly find find a theme that is suitable for your type of business. There’s even a full screen preview so it’s easy to see all the theme’s features. Plus, the designs are fully customizable – you can quickly change the color scheme, fonts, or text style to match your business. 3. Mobile-friendly design templates.  Search engines give a boost to rankings of mobile-friendly sites and can penalize websites that are only optimized for desktop computers. Since so many people are browsing websites on their phones, in the long run, you’re hurting your business if you don’t have a mobile-friendly version. With Gator Website Builder, all of the professional design templates come with a mobile-friendly version. You can view the desktop and mobile version of your site individually to be sure the necessary information is correct and looks great no matter which device your site visitors use. In addition, you can make changes in the mobile editor that won’t affect your main website. This is handy if you want to reduce some content for mobile website visitors.   4. Stock photo library included and integrated.  No more searching for stock photos, downloading, and then uploading to your website. Gator Website Builder comes with an integrated library of high-quality stock photos courtesy of Unsplash. These photos are available in all Gator packages at no charge and are license free, meaning you can use them however you want. Best part? The photos are searchable and sorted by category to make it easier to find what you need. If you have your own photos, that’s great! You can upload and store them in your Gator “my images” library. 5. Integrated website analytics and tracking.  Analytics can be intimidating, but with Gator, you can keep on eye on the backend of your website right within the platform! Easily keep track of pageviews, bounce rate and visitor demographics with a few clicks of your mouse. This detailed data about your website visitors will help you make informed decisions about what to do with your website and how to promote your business. But, of course, if you’re already using Google Analytics, Gator has an easy way to insert your tracking code in the “manage site” section. 6. Easy blogging feature.  Some website builders give you the choice of either a basic website or a blogging platform. However, Gator Website Builder gives you both options on the same website. If you’re ready to start a blog , Gator has blog templates that seamlessly integrate with the design of the rest of your website. The “blog” tab allows you to easily organize your blog posts into one place so you can create, edit, and schedule your posts with confidence. If you’d rather start a blog later, the blog feature comes with all Gator packages so you can easily add a blog as your business grows. 7. Build an online store with eCommerce plans. Our special eCommerce Plan has all the functionality you need to sell your products or services in a professionally designed, mobile-friendly store. Simply choose your favorite eCommerce template then add your product images and details. Gator includes inventory management and coupon features to help you run your business efficiently. The eCommerce store also comes with our integrated statistics feature. Using this feature you can explore which products are your top performers so you can continue to drive more sales, more revenue, and more growth. 8. Add and manage all your social media accounts.  Quickly and easily communicate with your customers by cross-promoting your social media accounts from your website homepage. This drag-and-drop feature allows you to seamlessly connect your live-feeds from popular social networks like Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter. Additionally, Gator has a social media productivity tool, My Social Suite, that allows you to seamlessly engage and communicate with your customers as you make updates to your website. My Social Suite is an add-on product that makes social media marketing easier than ever by allowing you to manage multiple social media profiles from one dashboard. 9. Website Security.  HostGator offers free SSL certificates for all of our customers!  An SSL certificate shows website visitors that your site is secure and that they can shop or browse confidently knowing that their personal information will be protected. 10. No ads.  Some website builders promise that your website will be free, only for you to later find out they will add advertisements to your site. With Gator Website Builder, you don’t need to worry about unwanted ads on your site because all Gator plans have zero ads. After all, we know that your customers should focus on your business, nothing else. Ready to get started? No matter what type of website your business needs, Gator Website Builder has you covered. Gator gives you access to customizable design templates, image libraries, live social feeds, and integrated analytics to help you keep tabs on your website performance. The frustration-free, drag-and-drop website means that creating and editing your website requires no prior website building or coding experience. Simply choose a template for blogs, business sites, or eCommerce sites from a category that aligns with your goal, and get online fast. Choose your Gator package and get online today. Find the post on the HostGator Blog Continue reading →

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