Monthly Archives: February 2019

HostGator Launches a New Customer Portal

Posted on February 19, 2019 by Hosting

The post HostGator Launches a New Customer Portal appeared first on HostGator Blog . HostGator is excited to announce our new Customer Portal! We strive to empower our customers to grow their online presence and with this update, it will be easier than ever. The Portal has been completely redesigned for a better, more efficient hosting and account management integration. While all of the essential features of our Customer Portal are still available, the overall look and navigation has been streamlined for a better experience for our customers. Before we dive in, let’s clear up any confusion there might be about the differences between the Customer Portal and the Control Panel (cPanel). The Customer Portal allows you to pay your invoices, change your contact information, sign up for new hosting plans and manage all your billing related details. The Portal also gives you access to cPanel. The Control Panel (cPanel) is where you need to go if you’re looking to upload files to your website, check your email or add a domain to your hosting account. Luckily, with this updated Customer Portal, it will be simple to navigate between the two! Learn more about our simplified navigation and other new features below: Streamlined Account Management This version of the Customer Portal brings a modern user experience and a simplified navigation model together to provide seamless account management. Not only will your favorite tools be easier to find, but you’ll also have easier access to our 24/7 live chat and our other support options. You can also look forward to a smooth transition between the Customer Portal and your site’s cPanel account. This will give website first-timers easy access to make site changes while still allowing seasoned internet pros to explore the many features and tools our Customer Portal has. Mobile-Friendly Design Our new responsible interface allowed you to manage your website anytime, from any mobile device or tablet. This highly-requested feature will allow you to make both quick changes and site overhauls. Where will you work on your website now that our Customer Portal is responsive? Tweet us @hostgator and let us know! New Hosting Dashboard In this rendition of the Customer Portal, we’ve introduced several new pages to simplify your overall experience. The Portal will now feature a brand-new home page to give you an easy view of all your hosting plans. You will also have access to your own Hosting Dashboard. This dashboard will highlight your hosting plan’s details, display your server information and give you site recommendations. It will also link you to a few cPanel shortcuts – to make managing your domains and email effortless. Better Control Panel Integration Like we mentioned above, the Customer Portal and you cPanel account will be seamlessly integrated. The Customer Portal will also have Single Sign-On and Quick Launch features for faster access to your cPanel account, meaning you only have to log in once to access all of your site’s back-end resources. Whether you are a seasoned internet pro or just starting out with your first website, the new Customer Portal is a simple and powerful way to manage your domains, hosting, email, and websites. We’d love to know if you have questions – leave them in the comments below. Once you share this post using the tool above, a link will pop up. Copy and paste it into your browser window and fill out the form. We will then send you your shirt!  Find the post on the HostGator Blog Continue reading →

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5 Email List Building Mistakes That Kill Your Sales (and How to Avoid Them)

Posted on February 15, 2019 by Hosting

The post 5 Email List Building Mistakes That Kill Your Sales (and How to Avoid Them) appeared first on HostGator Blog . Building your email list is the key to boosting your sales. Email marketing is an opportunity to directly engage with potential customers. With this communication channel, you become a trusted friend in your subscribers’ pursuit to find the right product solution. Entrepreneur VIP contributor Susan Gunelius offers her perspective: “Email marketing doesn’t work unless you build a list of people to send messages to who are interested in your products or services. If you’ve captured email addresses from your prior customers, then you have a great head start.” Steer clear of roadblocks when building your list. Here are five mistakes to avoid. Mistake #1: Buying Email Subscribers As a business, it’s tempting to take the easy route. You’re juggling multiple responsibilities, and a quick growth hack seems reliable. Most companies will attempt to buy their email subscribers . But honestly, that’s not a sound business idea. For starters, these subscribers didn’t sign up to receive messages from your brand. Sending unsolicited emails may result in legal violations, while annoying people. Subscribers who haven’t expressed interest in your products are less likely to engage with your messages. Everyone involved loses and lots of precious time gets wasted. So, what happens to your unsolicited messages? They end up in a person’s spam folder, never to be read. The result equals no sales for your business and a poor brand image. Rather than purchasing subscribers, work with your team to capture consumers when they visit your blog, exit a product page, or scroll down a sales page. Building a co-marketing campaign with another brand is also a creative way to cultivate your list. This strategy will introduce new buyers to your product offerings and get potential consumers excited to receive your emails. Are you seriously thinking about purchasing subscribers to build your list? Skip the hassle and grow your list in an organic way .   Mistake #2: Asking for Too Many Details List building is very much like a friendship. When you’re getting to know someone, you don’t bombard the individual with intimate questions. If that happens, you may startle the person and never hear from him or her again. In a similar manner, you can scare away potential subscribers by requesting too much information up front. It’s not necessary on the first encounter to ask for an individual’s mailing address or phone number. “It sounds counterintuitive, but more choices is not better for your users. In fact, the more choices you give people, the less likely they are to take action. And even if they do ultimately make a decision to take action, they will be less happy with that decision than if you had only given them one choice,” writes Mary Fernandez , a professional blogger. Moreover, you want to minimize the time it takes to subscribe. Requiring only a name and email address takes a few seconds, while a laundry list of form fields may take a few minutes. Progressive profiling is one solution to gaining more details about your subscribers. It’s the process of requesting additional information at specific points in the consumer relationship. For instance, you may send an email talking about the origin of your business, leading your brand to ask for the subscriber’s birthdate. Be mindful of when and how you ask for consumer information. Give the subscriber time to learn about your brand.   Mistake #3: Offering a Weak Incentive Nowadays, your consumers understand how marketing works. You can’t trick someone (nor should you) into being part of your mailing list. It will quickly damage your brand reputation. You can entice customers with an incentive. But if you’re wanting to give away a superficial trinket, your business should rethink that strategy. Competition is stiff across several industries. So, copying your competitors’ tactics will not work for your business either. To join your newsletter, consumers want more than empty promises. Instead, they desire information that will strengthen the brand-customer relationship. Your action plan may translate into offering offering 15% coupons, invitations to brand events, or even access to exclusive product launches. The goal is to give subscribers a compelling reason to sign up and stay on your list. Below is a pop-up box on the  Nike website . The footwear and apparel company tempts consumers with “exclusives, offers, and the latest” from the brand. Strong incentives will satisfy your subscribers and persuade them to buy from your business. Plus, your consumers will likely spread the word to their friends and family members, resulting in more sales. It’s time to drop any and all weak incentives. Do the research to learn what will attract consumers to join your brand family.   Mistake #4: Failing to Send a Welcome Email Once a consumer signs up, your team’s job isn’t over. You must follow through on your promise to send an incredible email marketing campaign. Let’s begin with the basics. You need a welcome email that will deliver your incentive and intrigue your new subscribers to not touch the delete button. Treat your welcome email as a greeting and as an add-on to the onboarding process. Subscribers should feel delighted to join your brand’s journey. Bria Sullivan , Constant Contact contributor, explains in more detail: “A welcome email is the perfect way to greet your new subscribers and ease them into your list before they start getting your regular communications. With a welcome email, you increase the likelihood that your subscriber stays engaged with your business and becomes a great, loyal customer.” A captivating welcome includes an engaging subject line, relevant visuals, concise copy, and a clear call to action. If you promised a $10 off promo code, be sure to add it to the message. Welcome emails serve a distinct purpose in email marketing. Use them to your advantage to connect with consumers and earn their trust for future sales.   Mistake #5: Forgetting to Ask for Feedback Your email list is only as valuable as the insight you receive from subscribers. Learning how and why they remain on your list and buy your products can help you make better business decisions. Feedback loops are an integral part of your marketing and sales funnel. It’s the cycle of asking for feedback and receiving it. When asking for feedback, stick to one topic. You don’t want to flood your consumers with various questions. Also, keep your feedback survey short. It should take less than 5 minutes to complete. Below is a feedback email  Little Black Bag   sent to its subscribers. It expresses how much the brand values the consumers’ thoughts. Learning about your flaws isn’t helpful to customers if you don’t take action. After you receive their suggestions, you’ll want to take steps to rectify their concerns. For instance, customers may demand your support team offer more ways to communicate. If your team adds a live chat feature as a response, you’ll want to notify your customers of the improvements. Feedback is a valuable asset for your brand. By learning from your subscribers, you walk the path to increasing your revenue.   Don’t Make the Same Mistake Twice Email marketing plays an essential role in growing your company’s sales. It’s your chance to connect with your target audience. Stay away from buying subscribers who will delete your emails anyway. Avoid offering a sign-up incentive that doesn’t correlate with the consumers’ needs. And always immediately send a welcome email. Build your email list, and boost your sales without the mistakes. Find the post on the HostGator Blog Continue reading →

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The Best Free WordPress Themes for Lifestyle Blogs Now

Posted on February 14, 2019 by Hosting

The post The Best Free WordPress Themes for Lifestyle Blogs Now appeared first on HostGator Blog . Lifestyle blogging is a popular hobby and it’s easy to get started. Earning an income from a lifestyle blog ? You’ll need more than good writing and images to make that happen. You’ll need technical tools to give your blog a fresh and appealing look, make it easy to find, and help you earn money through advertising, an online store, affiliate marketing , or a combination of those income streams. A good WordPress theme is the key to creating the right look, getting found, and making money from the content you to create. Here are a few lifestyle blog themes we like for their features, looks, and free versions. Fashion Lifestyle This mobile-friendly theme from Blossom Themes is tailored for fashion but can be altered to suit any type of lifestyle blog, thanks to its customizable elements and mobile-friendly design. The basic layout includes an image slider above the fold, image-based menu categories, an understated but impossible-to-miss newsletter opt-in box (so you can start sending your blog email campaigns ), and merchandise displays. Fashion Lifestyle is built to work with the WooCommerce plugin for WordPress so you can set up an online store . There’s also a built-in Instagram section to make social media marketing easier, and schema.org compatibility means it’s easier to format rich content that performs well in Google search results . The Pro version of Fashion Lifestyle ($49) gives you the ability to change the color of your blog’s header, footer, and buttons. It also adds more header, homepage, banner, and slider layout options, and includes AdSense-optimized spots and affiliate marketing capabilities.   Travel Lifestyle This free lifestyle theme from The Bootstrap Themes loads fast and displays cleanly on a variety of devices. Travel Lifestyle’s image-centric layout is ideal for travel photos and features as well as other types of photography, special events, destinations, and décor. Like Fashion Lifestyle, Travel Lifestyle has a built-in Instagram section and other social media integration tools and it’s WooCommerce compatible. The layout and customization options are more limited in the free version of Travel Lifestyle than Fashion Lifestyle—one layout, banner slider, and header option, plus a limited menu of Google Fonts. The premium version ($49) adds theme and menu color options, ad management and ad-blocker bypass capabilities, and more layout choices. Premium users have the option of a right sidebar, left sidebar, or full-width single column layout in desktop mode, and a full-width column or left sidebar below the fold on mobile.   Chic Lifestyle If you’re the kind of blogger who likes to feature snappy headlines with your posts’ featured images, Chic Lifestyle is a theme worth exploring. The image-grid layout leaves room for short blocks of text under each image, to encourage viewers to click through and read your posts. Like Travel Lifestyle, Chic Lifestyle is published by The Bootstrap, and it has the same free and premium features and pricing.   WP Mint Magazine Bloggers who want a clean, tech-oriented look and who update their content frequently may like WP Mint Magazine . This free lifestyle theme from ProDesigns looks somewhat similar to Chic Lifestyle  at the top of the page, with a row of images coupled with blocks of text and a full-width newsletter opt-in section. But there’s a more complex category-based image hierarchy further down on the page, so you can display lots of content to encourage your visitors to stick around and explore. Like the other themes in this list, WP Mint Magazine is responsive so it displays well on mobile. There’s no paid-upgrade version, so you get this theme’s multiple layout and widget options for free.   Savona Savona from Optima themes is a theme with classic style. Its layout is similar to Fashion Lifestyle – banner slider, category images, and a sidebar with room for a bio and photo, Instagram, and recent posts. But Savona has a more traditional range of fonts than Fashion Lifestyle, and the free theme is available in several variations: Savona Classic, Blog, Bold, Lite, and Minimal. Each Savona theme has a free version that’s WooCommerce compatible, optimized for search engines, and responsive for display on mobile and desktop screens.   Online Blog Online Blog from Thememattic is for bloggers who have big personalities and want to stand out from the lifestyle blogging crowd with unique web design . Bold, animated splashes of color add movement and visual interest to your pull quotes and images and they keep the reader’s eye moving down the page for more of your content. Three featured post images and headlines make up the eye-catching banner slider, giving visitors a quick glance at several of your posts at once, even before they click the slide arrow. The free version of Online Blog gives you live editing previews in Customizer, an author bio sidebar, WooCommerce compatibility, SEO-ready structure, and support for some social media content. The pro version of Online Blog ($49) adds the ability to change fonts and theme colors, an Instagram slider, more social media options, and logo and title customization tools.   Choosing Your Lifestyle Blog Theme Each theme publisher offers a live demo on their site, but it’s a good idea to try out the themes you like with your content to make sure they look good before you commit. Things to think about as you decide: What type of content do you feature the most, images, text, or videos? You’ll want a theme that puts the most emphasis on what you do best. How do you plan to monetize your blog ? Your plans can affect your theme choice, especially if you want to have ads or sell merchandise in a store on your site. How will your audience view your blog? Do they read it at their desks on coffee breaks, or on their phones while they’re in the carpool line? Choose a theme that makes it easy for them. Once you set up your theme, keep tabs on metrics like your traffic, bounce rate, and conversions. If, after a few weeks or months you’re not seeing growth, you may want to try a different theme—and there are plenty to choose from. Check out this blog post for more tips on selecting a WordPress theme for your blog .  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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Top 5 Dedicated IP Benefits

Posted on February 12, 2019 by Hosting

The post Top 5 Dedicated IP Benefits appeared first on HostGator Blog . When the time comes to choosing a hosting provider you’re going to have a lot of decisions to make. Finding the right type of hosting and a quality hosting provider along will take a lot of work. As you’re sorting through different hosts there are a lot of different features you’ll come across. One of those that bring about the most confusion is a dedicated IP address. You’re probably wondering what is a dedicated IP address? And will using one actually benefit my website? Learn what a dedicated IP address actually is, the dedicated IP hosting benefits , and how it relates to dedicated server hosting , so you can make the best decision for your new website. What Is an IP Address? Before we jump into dedicated IP addresses, it’s important to understand what an IP address actually is. You’re probably already familiar with what a domain name is, but IP addresses, not so much. An IP address is a unique string of numbers that are used to identify a computer that’s connected to the internet. In the case of an online IP address, this computer is a server provided by your hosting company. You can think of your domain name as the address of your website, while an IP address identifies the location and type of device that’s being used to access the internet. IP addresses are part of the Domain Name System (DNS). How domain names work is they are mapped out to various IP addresses. When a domain name is typed into an address bar your ISP will look up the associated IP addresses and display the correct website. In the case of a shared IP address, the web host will forward the domain request to the proper site. While if your web hosting is with a dedicated IP address you can literally input the IP address into your web browser and you’ll be taken to the correct site. The IP address and associated domain are synonymous.   What is a Dedicated IP Address? A dedicated IP address is an IP address that you have sole access to. Since IP addresses are tied to a specific physical server and you have sole ownership of that server, then the IP address is yours to do whatever you wish. In some cases, you can have a dedicated IP address and shared hosting on the same account. This is rarer as the hosting provider will have to configure certain software, but it is possible. This will enable you to take advantage of the benefits of having a dedicated IP address while remaining on a cheaper hosting plan. While there are cheap dedicated server hosting plans available, it’s still wise to do extensive research before settling on a specific one. However, the most common usage of a dedicated IP address is being paired with a dedicated server. With a dedicated server, you have complete control over your server environment. Typically, when you have a dedicated server you’ll have an associated IP address. This can be used for a single website or multiple sites that you’re hosting on a single dedicated server. Your web hosting provider might also be able to configure multiple dedicated IP addresses on a single dedicated server as well.   How Do Dedicated and Shared IP Address Differ? The most common type of IP address is a shared IP address. In this section, we will answer the question what is shared hosting and discuss how these two differ. This is mostly because shared hosting is the most commonly used type of web hosting . With shared hosting you’re sharing server space with a multitude of different users. This helps to keep costs low, while still offering you enough server resources for your site to run. When defining dedicated hosting , you have access to the resources of an entire physical server. You won’t be sharing these server resources with any other users. This includes your IP address. On a shared hosting environment you’re also sharing your IP address with any other websites on the same server. Depending on your host this could end up being hundreds or even thousands of other sites. With a shared host your host has certain forwarding technology in place that ensures the user will be able to access the correct site. Like a dedicated server, with a dedicated IP address you’re the only person using this IP address.   Dedicated IP Benefits A dedicated IP address usually won’t make or break the success of your site. However, it can offer some advantages to certain kinds of website owners. Here are some of the biggest benefits you’ll receive when using a dedicated IP:   1. Improve Email Deliverability If you’re like most website owners, you’re probably sending emails with a branded email address . Instead of using a classic Gmail address your email address will look something like james@newdomain.com. If you’re a business owner this can help to create a higher level of credibility. However, if you’re using a shared IP address, then you could run into email issues. The biggest one being deliverability issues. This means that when you send an email you can’t be sure that it’ll actually end up in the recipient’s inbox. If another user on the same shared IP address is sending a high volume of emails that get classified as spam, then you’ll get this same classification. Instead of landing in the inbox, your messages will get sent straight to spam. With a dedicated IP, you’re the only user who will be sending emails via this IP address. This can be a great way to protect your reputation while ensuring that your emails go where they’re supposed to go. If you’re sending a very high volume of emails, then you might want to use a third-party email provider from the start. These services are set up in a way that will support you in sending massive quantities of emails while ensuring a high level of deliverability, and protection against IP blacklisting.     2. Greater Server Control With a dedicated IP address, you have a much higher level of server access. Instead of simply relying on a tool like cPanel to manage your server, you’ll be able to remotely manage your server, upload files, create a file sharing server, and a lot more. You’ll also be able to do things like creating your own dedicated gaming server . If you want to host your own online games, create custom gaming environments, or have the ability to play games with a very high level of performance, then a dedicated server for games is the way to go. Usually, if you want this level of server control and customization you’ll also be pairing your dedicated IP address with a dedicated server as well. To get the most from your server environment you’ll want to be using a dedicated server as well. It’ll be very difficult to unlock this level of customization while using a shared server environment.   3. View Website Via IP Alone A dedicated IP address gives you the ability to access your website via IP address. This means you could technically build out and view your website without even purchasing and setting up a domain name. This can be useful if you can’t decide on a domain name registration , but want to start building a website . Or, you don’t want to wait for the domain to propagate before you start building out your website. Not every user will demand a feature like this, but it can offer you more flexibility, especially if you’re running into issues with your domain name.   4. Potential SSL Requirement Installing an SSL certificate on your site is now becoming a requirement. Browsers like Google Chrome are now marking sites as insecure if they don’t have the encrypted HTTPS connection, which can be enabled by installing an SSL certificate. An SSL certificate will elevate the level of security across your site by encrypting any information that’s exchanged between a user’s web browser and a your server. This is a must-have for sites that exchange sensitive information, like for those building an eCommerce site . You used to need a dedicated IP address for an SSL certificate. However, today there’s a technology called Server Name Identification (SNI), which allows those who are using a shared IP to install an SSL certificate. However, not every host will support this technology, so you still might need to upgrade to a dedicated IP address. For higher level SSL certificates , you still might need to use a dedicated IP address.   5. Potential Application Requirement If you’re running any custom software on your server then you might require a dedicated IP address. Some types of server software will require a dedicated IP in order to function properly. If you’re using a shared IP address the page might re-load while the script is still running. This will cause the script to malfunction and your website or server might not function properly. If your website requires a custom server setup in order to function properly, then you might need a dedicated IP to aid in this functionality.   6. Direct FTP Access Some users might require a greater level of website access. Instead of having to log in via cPanel, you can remotely access your server via FTP. If you need to do this on a regular basis, you’ll quickly realize the benefit of having direct FTP access. You can also create an FTP server that lets your users download files anonymously. This can allow you to quickly share files with friends, family, or even site visitors. Most website owners won’t really need to run an IP-based FTP server. But, for users who demand this feature, a dedicated IP is a must-have.   Do You Need a Dedicated IP Address? Not every type of website owner will benefit from using a dedicated IP address. Here are the biggest reasons you’ll want to upgrade to a dedicated IP address: You want to view your website by IP address alone Your host requires a dedicated IP to install an SSL certificate You want to regularly access your site via FTP You want to customize your server environment, like a gaming server Using a dedicated IP address doesn’t automatically mean you’re using a dedicated host. You can still have a dedicated IP address while using a shared server, or you can have an IP address you’re sharing between a few of your own sites while using a dedicated server too. Overall, the biggest reason you’ll probably want a dedicated IP address is to install an SSL certificate. Your hosting provider might not require it, but if they do, then it’s worth the upgrade.   What is Dedicated IP Hosting? Dedicated IP hosting is any form of hosting that utilizes a dedicated IP address. This can be either a shared hosting environment with a dedicated IP address, a dedicated IP server with a dedicated IP address, or even something like cloud or VPS hosting with a dedicated IP address. You’ll typically find a dedicated IP address as a feature that’s bundled with most dedicated hosting packages. The chances are high that if you’re thinking about upgrading to a dedicated IP for the advantages highlighted above, then you can also benefit from using dedicated hosting as well. By using the combination of a dedicated server and a dedicated IP address you’ll get the most benefits for your site. A dedicated server can offer you very high levels of performance, security, control, and customization. However, a dedicated server will require a higher level of technical proficiency in order to setup, optimize, and maintain the server properly. Your host might be able to add a dedicated IP address to a shared hosting package, but it does require certain software and technology that your host might not support.   Is a Dedicated IP Right for You? Hopefully, you have a better understanding of what a dedicated IP address is, how it can benefit your website, and how it relates to dedicated IP hosting. Most website owners probably won’t need to upgrade to a dedicated IP address, at least right away. As your site grows and you demand higher performance from your host, along with more niche features, then it might be a worthwhile add-on. If you’re looking to get the most out of your site, then you’ll probably get the most value in upgrading to a dedicated server that comes equipped with single or multiple dedicated IP addresses. Find the post on the HostGator Blog Continue reading →

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