WordPress loves to be at the center stage of the CMS. And why not? It is the most used CMS out there. However, you might be thinking of moving to other content management system. There are also many content platforms such as Medium that can provide you better value for your content marketing efforts. However, there are many reasons you should stick with WordPress for better content marketing outreach.

Top Advantages of WordPress in 2018

In this article, we will discuss the top advantages of WordPress in 2018 and why you stick to it. So, without any wait, let’s get started.

1. Continuous Updates

WordPress is an old CMS. It has continuously improved from its first inception in 2001 with a major release every three to four months. Also, WordPress open source status helped it grow to new heights. Just like any other open source solution, WordPress is regularly updated with new features and bug fixes. At the time of writing, the latest version of WordPress that you can use is 4.9.4. Major releases are done almost every two or three months.

2. A great ecosystem with new themes to choose from.

WordPress ecosystem is what makes it a great CMS. It has a thriving community aimed to provide excellent themes, both free and paid. The theme collection for WordPress is full of options and surprises. If you have a relatively new business who are looking to build an online presence, WordPress is the best choice. WordPress has a lot of premium business themes to choose from. It also comes with important business plugins such as Contact Form 7, Sliders, and so on. There are also free themes that are available in the market that you can use.

3. The ability to choose new functionality thanks to plugins.

Plugins are also part of the WordPress ecosystem and help you add new functionality to your website. So, if you are looking to add a new feature to your website, you can just check the WordPress plugin repository and install the plugin. If for some reason, you need to add a feature that is unique and you cannot find any related plugin in the free or paid market, you can always hire WordPress plugin developer to built it for you. There are plenty of WordPress related talent available on the market.

4. It is still simple to use

Yes, you read it right. Even with a lot of updates and releases, it is still easy to use for both new and experienced users. Usability is a key factor that should never be ignored. WordPress was always simple to use from its inception, and the developers have kept it that way. It is still very easy to install WordPress and use it.

5. SEO compatible

SEO is important to improve online presence If your site is not SEO compatible, you will find it hard to reach your target audience. WordPress is a great CMS that is SEO compatible. Moreover, it also comes with great SEO plugins such as Yoast SEO that gives you the ability to make your website even more SEO-friendly.

Conclusion

WordPress is one of the best free-to-use and open source content management system. Its online presence is growing every year. The developers behind WordPress also care about the project and ensure that it gets regular updates and bug fixes. All-in-all, WordPress is still a great choice in 2018. It is still easy to use, offers a great ecosystem of themes and plugins, and so on.

So, what do you think about WordPress being relevant in 2018? Comment below and let us know.

Open source is not new. It has been changing the world for the past decade or so. However, we can easily say that it is the next “big thing.” This holds true for new advancement in open source technology. One such example is Microsoft’s renewed involvement in open source.

In this article, we will discuss the importance of open source and how it is going to impact our future.

Why Open Source Is The Next Big Thing

Open source cloud acceptance

The open source cloud platforms have always been at the top of its game. This can lead the change in 2018 and beyond. One prime example of open source cloud platform is “OpenStack.” It is used by businesses for implementing their cloud solution. With more and more enterprises moving towards open source solution, it is the only time, when we will see them adapt to OpenStack. However, implementing or using OpenStack requires skilled talent and staff.

In short, OpenStack can open the doors for mass adoption for open source cloud computing adoption. Big companies are already in favor of OpenStack, and it is only time when we will see it flourish.

Improved software solutions - no bugs

Bugs are the number one reason why software fail or misbehave. When software is developed in a closed environment, the code gets less attention due to a limited number of team members and testers. In case of open source, this doesn’t happen. The code is readily available for anyone to look and improve upon. And that can help open source solution to iron out the bugs and make it better than proprietary solutions.

Huge community involvement

Community involvement is important for the growth of the industry as a whole. With more open source solutions coming to market, it is common to see developers taking interest in the work they offer. Community involvement also mean innovation at a rapid pace where the best minds work towards a better future. The same community can also improve the rapid pace at which software evolve and implemented.

Open source can lead to blockchain revolution

The blockchain is already popular among the community of developers. The way cryptocurrency is being adopted by the normal people, it is easy to gauge that the blockchain revolution has just started. It can also be used to solve diverse problems including authentication, security, and privacy. Not only that it has its implementation in many different sectors such as finance, transport, education and many more!

Conclusion

Open source is already changing the world. It is only time we will see it being adopted by businesses and solution provides. Once it gets to that level, there is no turning back. Another great example is how web platforms are evolving. WordPress, for example, is powering most of the online platforms. Most of our hosting plans are also using WordPress to enable businesses to reach their target audience. Linux is also leading the open source revolution and it is also used heavily in our hosting plans.

So, what do you thinking about open source and its impact on our future? Comment below and let us know!

Backups are important. It doesn’t matter if it is your computer or your online website, backups can help you stay at peace. WordPress ecosystem works well with backups. You can also do manual backups or ask your website hosting company to provide backups for you.

However, there is one more way you can backup your WordPress website, i.e., by using backup plugins. In this article, we will go through the five best WordPress backup plugins. All the plugins are top-notch and will help you backup your website in the best possible way.

So, without any delay, let’s get started.

5 Best WordPress Backup Plugins

BackUpWordPress

Our first plugin on the list is the BackUpWordPress. With this plugin, you can backup your watch with a simple process. It comes in both free and premium version. The plugin helps you to set proper schedule to backup your website and it is compatible with the latest version of WordPress.

If you are looking for more features, it is advised to go for the PRO version as it will give you more control over the whole backup process.

BackupBuddy

If you are looking for the best possible backup plugin out there, don’t look further than BackupBuddy. So, what makes it so special? Firstly, it doesn’t come with a subscription model, like the other paid plugins. Secondly, it comes with tons of features!

By using BackupBuddy, you can schedule your website backup the way you want. It can be daily, weekly or monthly. It also provides an easy way to monitor your backup using their Stash service. Also, you can save backups to popular online cloud storage services such as Rackspace cloud, Dropbox or Amazon S3. It also supports FTP backup. The plugin has great documentation and regular updates as well.

BackWPUp

BackWPup is easy to use backup plugin. It comes with all features that you would need. Moreover, it is a free plugin. To use the plugin, you just need to set it up once.

The plugin can be used to store backups either in the cloud or your computer. The cloud platforms that are currently supported is Amazon S3, Rackspace, Dropbox, etc. For desktop, it supports email and FTP. You can also schedule backups

UdraftPlus

Just like all the other plugins on the list, UdraftPlus offers both free and paid version. With this plugin, you can easily backup your WordPress powered website. It can also be used to backup on cloud or computer. All you need to do is schedule the backups and set the desired location. You can store backups on Google Drive, Rackspace, Dropbox, and so on.

It also offers backup to work through FTP and SFTP. If your website is not big, you can also try the email backup option. Overall, the plugin is a great pick as it offers excellent features with decent support.

VaultPress

VaultPress is a paid backup service offered by the creator of WordPress itself, Matt Mullenweg. It comes preloaded with one of the most popular WordPress plugin, JetPack. However, it stays disabled by default. To use it, you need to buy subscription plan which starts at just $3.50 per month.

VaultPress provides a one-click backup solution. Monitoring your website is also easy. Overall, VaultPress is a great choice if you want the best possible backup solution. However, it does come with some drawbacks such as limited archive period of 30 days.

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This brings us to the end of our article. Our hosting services come with automatic backups. Still, it is a good idea to backup your website regularly using backup plugins that we have mentioned in the post. Do let us know which plugin you are thinking to use!

Pro Tip: Check out our WordPress hosting plans which already include automatic backups!

Linux is an open source operating system. If you are a student or a working professional, learning Linux can open doors to the new opportunities. Linux is also popular as a hosting solution as it gives complete control!

In this article, we will list the best Linux blogs for beginners. These blogs will help you understand everything about Linux that a beginner should know!

So, why Linux?

Linux is open source, fast, and powerful operating system. Linux also offers great development platform. There are many distros you can choose to learn from. For example, Ubuntu, RHEL, Debian, Archi Linux, etc. However, we will recommend picking up Ubuntu for learning purposes and then slowly moving to other distros as you become comfortable.

Let’s get started with the best Linux blogs for beginners.

5 Best Linux Blogs For Beginners To Follow

GeekStuff

GeekStuff is one of the best Linux blogs out there. It is the work of Ramesh Natarajan who is an expert in Linux. You can get started with Linux beginners guide and later move on to learn more advanced techniques. Not only that, you can learn about other topics such as hardware, security, web and database! You might also want to try out the free ebooks about Linux and hacks related to it. Overall, GeekStuff is a great place to learn Linux as it offers simple How-to, guides, tips and tricks for Linux.

nixCraft

nixCrafti is an excellent platform for not only for Linux beginners but also for Linux enthusiasts. It is also one of the oldest Linux blogs out there. It covers almost every aspect of Linux including hacks, tips, ideas and tutorials. So, what makes the blog unique? The first thing that you notice about the blog is good user experience. The blog also covers tons of other topics including cloud computing, security, desktop Linux and much more. The blog also covers the latest news related to Linux.

OMG! Ubuntu!

As we already mentioned, it is always a good idea to start with Ubuntu. OMG! Ubuntu! is one website that is completely dedicated to Ubuntu. It is a news website and also reports on other Linux topics as well. The site might not give you new things to learn, but it will keep you up to date on what is happening in the Ubuntu/Linux world.

Linux Scoop

Not everyone loves to read. LinuxScoop is for those people who want to get information using videos. LinuxScoop also provides context to the videos with text as a form of an article so you will not miss anything if you decide to use the site. The site covers diverse Linux topics including how-to, guides, news and listicles!

Kernal Newbies

Linux is all about its kernel. If you really want to learn Linux, you must learn about the engine behind it. Thankfully, Kernal Newbies is one of those sites that lets you do so. It provides excellent resources for Linux fundamentals. The site also offers a great Linux community!

Conclusion

If you follow all the above mentioned sites, you are good to go. However, there are many other amazing Linux blogs that you can find online. If you find them, don’t forget to comment the links below! Let’s share knowledge and information.

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If you are curious about how Linux hosting works, keep following the blog as we will discuss Linux tips, tricks and guide!

If you are operating an online business, you already know how important it is to have a website that reflects your business. Creating one, however, means investing a huge amount of money and time. Thankfully, we have WordPress. WordPress ecosystem is known for offering great themes and plugins.

In this article, we will list the five best WordPress business themes. All these themes are handpicked and offer great features and design. All the themes are apt for promoting your business online and will always give a lasting impression on the audience.

5 Best WordPress Business Themes

Divi

Divi is a complete WordPress theme with a focus on innovation. It is termed as the “Ultimate” theme and also comes with a visual page builder. The biggest selling point of this theme is that it comes with 20+ layout templates. All these templates are customizable to the core, with real time design.

Divi is also an excellent choice for new businesses as it supports drag and drop builder. This means that you don’t have to hire a developer to do all the work. If you can use the builder effectively, you can create a professional website in a span of few hours.

Key Features

• SEO Friendly
• Completely responsive design
• 46 content elements
• Premade layouts

Demo

TheGem

The Gem is an excellent theme that is modern, elegant and offers high performance. The theme is designed for creatives. That’s why the theme offers 70+ creative concepts which can be used by individuals, agencies, hotels, bloggers, business and many more! At the time of writing, the theme is also going for only $39 which is a steal deal in itself.

The Gem is also one of the cleanest theme out there. It offers unlimited creativity with the help of 150+ pre-made creative demo pages. Each demo page can further be adjusted with 250+ styles.

Key Features

• WooCommerce support
• Comes with Visual Composer
• Premium sliders
• SEO friendly and mobile responsive

Demos

ZerifPro

It is common to see one-page layout themes used by businesses. ZerifPro is one such theme that offers one-page layout and flexible interface. It also comes with drag and drop builder so that you can shape your website the way you like.

So, what makes ZerifPro amazing? First, it is compatible with page builders. So, if you like a particular page builder, you can go with it and customize it!

Key Features

• Great support
• Optimized for speed
• Supports Translation and it is RTL ready
• SEO friendly

Demos

Studio8

Studio8 is a premium modern website aimed at Creative Professionals, Photographs, Web Designers, Filmmakers, Agencies, Photographs, and Architects. The theme is visually appealing and offers great features and functionality. Its modern outlook enables business owners to create sites that can appeal a modern audience with a great user experience.

The theme is built on latest WordPress practice and hence have clean code. This also makes it SEO friendly and fast.

Key Features

• WooCommerce support
• Responsive design
• Advance theme options
• Multilingual ready

Demo

X-Theme

X-Theme is one of the most selling themes with over 170,613 copies sold at the time of writing. It is dubbed  as the “last theme you will have to buy.” As you might have guessed by now, it is a fully functional theme with tons of templates, elements and plugins to play with. It also comes with a front-end page builder.  

The theme can be a little bulky and you might want to get rid of extra plugins that you don’t need. However, the theme is SEO friendly and loads fast if done right.

Key Features

• Live editing
• Stacks which help you get started.
• Cornerstone page builder

Conclusion

Business themes make it easy for anyone to set up their online business. So, what do you think about the themes listed above? Comment below and let us know.

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To stay afloat, business needs not only to have a great website but also require a good hosting. At FastWebHost, we understand businesses and their requirements. Get a hosting now according to your budget and make the most out of your online presence.