How to Host a Website (Full Tutorial for Beginners)

You created a great blog about Kenyan street food. You write clear posts, and your photos look very good. 

But there is one problem. The blog is still on your laptop. No one can see it. That can feel disappointing.

With over 27 million internet users in Kenya at the start of 2025, your blog could find a large audience online. 

But first, you must make your website live. So the big question is ‘how to host a website’. Many people think hosting a website is too hard or too technical. It does not have to be difficult.

At Truehost, we have helped many beginners in Kenya launch their first websites. 

This includes side hustles, portfolios, and blogs. You do not need any tech skills. 

This guide gives you a simple path. You will launch your site fast and at a low cost.

You will also learn about domains, M-Pesa payments, and local servers. 

We will discuss how hosting works, the main hosting plans, and how to choose the right one for your needs. 

By the end, you will feel ready to go and host a website on your own.

Here’s what we’ll cover:

1. What web hosting really means
   
2. The main types of hosting and how to pick one
   
3. Why hosting matters and what you lose if you skip it
   
4. Four simple steps to go live (with local details)
   
5. Smart tips on selecting a good host
   
6. Common mistakes to avoid
   
7. Quick FAQ wrap-up
   

What is Web Hosting?

Think of web hosting like renting a stall in a busy Nairobi market. 

Your website is your goods: images, text, videos. Hosting keeps your stall open 24/7. People can drop by anytime.

Then we have servers. So you have files stored on high-powered computers and thats what we call servers. 

These servers are connected to the internet. When someone types your website address, the server sends your page. 

Without hosting, your site cannot appear.

Important terms to know:

• Storage: How much space your site uses for files.
  
• Bandwidth: How much data moves when visitors browse your site.
  
• Uptime: How often your site stays online (not broken or offline).
  

In Kenya, reliable hosting means your site loads quickly even when data connections are weak. Truehost’s local servers help reduce wait times. Read more on web hosting.

Different Types of Web Hosting And Their Pricing

At Truehost Kenya, we make it easy to get your website online and keep it running smoothly. 

Our plans are affordable, and reliable. They also come packed with Kenyan-friendly features like cPanel, one-click installers, free SSL certificates, daily backups, unlimited email, and smooth migrations. 

Prices are in Kenyan Shillings (KES), exclude taxes, and offer flexible monthly or yearly payment options.

Here’s a simple guide to different hosting types.

1. Shared Hosting

This hosting is perfect for beginners or small websites. Your site shares server resources with other users. 

This keeps costs low but still gives good performance for everyday use. It is ideal for blogs, portfolios, or small businesses just starting.

Plans
We offer Starter, Pro, and Unlimited shared hosting. They grow with your needs without high costs.

Plan	Sites Supported	Monthly Price (KES)	Annual Price (KES)
Starter	Up to 10	500	2,500
Pro	Up to 30	840	5,250
Unlimited	Unlimited	3,480	21,750

Key Features: Free SSL, daily backups, unlimited email, one-click installer, easy migrations.

Start with Starter for basics and upgrade to Pro or Unlimited as your traffic grows. Every plan includes cPanel and website templates to make setup easy.

2. VPS Hosting

This plan gives dedicated resources like CPU and RAM on a shared server. 

You get more control and speed, ideal for growing websites or custom applications.

Plans
Our Cloud VPS plans are hosted in Europe and the USA, giving you full root access for complete customization.

Plan	RAM	Monthly Price (KES)	Annual Price (KES)
VPS 1	1 GB	699	7,560
VPS 2	2 GB	1,260	13,440
VPS 3	4 GB	3,800	42,000

Unmanaged plans let you control your setup. Great for developers and apps needing extra resources. Our support team can guide you if needed.

3. Dedicated Hosting

A Dedicated hosting gives you a full physical server. You get the best speed, security, and performance. 

Ideal for high-traffic sites, e-commerce stores, or heavy applications.

Plans
Our H1, H2, and H3 servers are located in Germany for fast global access.

Plan	RAM	Monthly Price (KES)	Annual Price (KES)
H1	16 GB	9,100	98,280
H2	32 GB	9,660	104,328
H3	64 GB	16,800	181,440

You get full control with root access. Perfect for large databases or enterprise workloads.

4. Cloud Hosting

This hosting spreads your website files across multiple servers. It gives 99.9% uptime and automatic scaling if traffic spikes. 

Great for growing websites and e-commerce stores.

Plans
Managed plans include support and a custom control panel.

Plan	RAM	Monthly Price (KES)	Annual Price (KES)
Starter	2 GB	1,120	11,760
Pro	4 GB	2,240	23,520
Business	8 GB	5,040	57,120

Key Features: Dedicated IP, unlimited sites and emails, auto-scaling.

We manage everything so your site runs smoothly. Focus on growth, we handle the tech.

5. WordPress Hosting

Optimized for WordPress. Comes with auto-updates, caching for speed, and top security. 

Perfect for bloggers, content creators, and WordPress professionals.

Plans
Starter, Pro, and Unlimited WordPress hosting give fast, secure performance.

Plan	Sites Supported	Monthly Price (KES)	Monthly Price (KES)
Starter	Up to 10	500	2,500
Pro	Up to 30	840	5,250
Unlimited	Unlimited	3,480	21,750

Key Features: One-click WordPress installer, free SSL, daily or auto backups.

Pro gives the best balance of price and performance. Unlimited email and free WordPress migrations make it easy to grow.

Why Do You Need Web Hosting?

Web hosting is important because it makes your website visible, trustworthy, and ready for business. 

Without hosting, your site remains private and no one can visit it. Here is why you need it:

1) Visibility

When people search online for things like “best ugali spots Nairobi”, Google only shows websites that are hosted on real servers.
If your site is not hosted:

• Search engines cannot find it
  
• Visitors cannot open it
  
• Your work stays on your laptop
  

Hosting gives your site a public address so anyone in Kenya or anywhere in the world can view it at any time.

2) Credibility

A hosted website with a clean domain name like .co.ke or .com makes you look real and reliable. Visitors trust websites that:

• Load fast
  
• Look professional
  
• Have a secure padlock (SSL certificate)
  

A trustworthy site keeps people longer and increases the chance they return. Slow or free sites with unwanted ads can make visitors leave fast.

3) Business Potential

If you want to sell products or services online, hosting is essential. A good host supports:

• Online payments (including M-Pesa)
  
• Safe customer data
  
• Shopping carts
  
• Email accounts for your business
  

Kenya’s digital market keeps growing every year, with millions using mobile money and online shops. 

Hosting gives you the tools to join that market and earn more.

4) Control and Growth

Free website platforms can remove your site at any time, place ads you do not want, or limit your features. With your own hosting:

• You control your files
  
• You own your data
  
• You choose your design
  
• You can upgrade when your site gets bigger
  

As your website grows, you can easily move from shared hosting to VPS or cloud hosting without starting over.

5) Hosting Is a Growing Global Need

The global web hosting industry is expected to reach US $192.85 billion in 2025, showing how much people depend on reliable hosting worldwide. 

A strong host gives you stability and long-term support.

4 Steps on How To Host a Website

Step 1: Choose a Hosting Plan

Before you start, you must decide how big your website will be and what tools you need.

How to pick the right plan

• If you are starting a small blog, school project, portfolio, or simple business site, choose Shared Hosting. It is cheap and easy for beginners.
  
• If your site will use WordPress, choose WordPress Hosting because it comes ready for WordPress themes and plugins.
  
• If you expect growth, more visitors, or plan to add many pages later, choose VPS Hosting.
  

Choosing your plan on Truehost

1. Go to the Truehost Hosting page.
   
2. Compare the plans and as a beginner you might consider looking for:
   
   • Free domain (but only on some hosting plans and typically when you pay annually.)
     
   • Free SSL certificate
     
   • Unmetered bandwidth
     
   • M-Pesa payment support
     
   • Local servers in Kenya for fast loading
     
3. Choose a plan that fits your budget, starting from KSh 500/month for our Starter plan, with cheaper rates if you pay annually
   

Create your account

1. Create your account, click Get Started, enter name, email and details.
2. Choose billing cycle (monthly or yearly).
3. Pay using M-Pesa, card, or bank.
4. After successful payment your hosting is activated and you get the space for your website.

Clarifications you should know:

• Free domain is usually only included on eligible annual plans, not always on monthly signups.
• Free Let’s Encrypt SSL is normally issued automatically after activation, but DNS or nameserver changes can delay it.
• M-Pesa payments are generally instant, card and bank transfers may take a little longer depending on the method.
• Some orders may require email verification or review before final activation, so activation is usually immediate, sometimes a short verification step is needed.
• You’ll get an email with client area login and service details, check the client area at https://truehost.co.ke/cloud/ when ready.
  

Now you have the space where your website will live.

Step 2: Register a Domain

Your domain is your website’s name. It is what people type to reach you, like ugalihub.co.ke.

How to choose a good domain

1. Keep it short and easy to spell
   
2. Use simple words
   
3. Avoid hyphens or numbers
   
4. Make it related to your business or idea
   
5. Choose .co.ke if you want strong local presence
   

How to register your domain

1. Go to the domain search tool on Truehost.
   
2. Type the name you want.
   
3. If it is free, you will see a “Available” message.
   
4. Add it to your cart.
   

Costs

• A .co.ke domain usually costs KSh 1,000–1,600/year.
  
• Some Truehost hosting plans include a free domain for the first year, so you save money.
  

Connect your domain to hosting

After you complete payment:

• Truehost will link the domain to your hosting automatically if bought together.
  
• If you bought the domain somewhere else, you can update the nameservers in your domain dashboard.
  
• Once pointed correctly, your domain will lead people to your site.
  

Step 3: Install WordPress or Upload Your Site Files

Now you add the actual content of your site. You can choose WordPress or upload your own design.

If using WordPress

1. Log in to your Truehost account.
   
2. Open cPanel (your website control panel).
   
3. Look for the WordPress installer. It usually says “One-Click Install”.
   
4. Click Install.
   
5. Choose:
   
   • Site title
     
   • Admin username
     
   • Password
     
6. Finish setup.
   
7. Pick a theme and start editing pages.
   

WordPress is easy because you don’t need coding. You can drag and drop blocks, add images, write posts, and install plugins.

If uploading your own site

1. Open cPanel.
   
2. Go to File Manager.
   
3. Open the public_html folder (this is where your website files go).
   
4. Upload your site files (HTML, CSS, images, etc.)
   
5. Or use an FTP client like FileZilla for large uploads.
   

Test everything

• Open your site in a new tab.
  
• Check if pages load fast.
  
• Make sure links work.
  
• Check if images appear correctly.
  
• Test forms, buttons, and menus.
  

Truehost’s local servers help Kenyan users load your site faster, even on mobile data.

Step 4: Preview and Launch Your Website

You are almost done. This step makes your website live for everyone.

Preview your site

Open your site on:

• A laptop
  
• A phone
  
• A tablet
  

Check:

• Text spacing
  
• Image size
  
• Buttons
  
• Page speed
  
• Any spelling issues
  

Update DNS settings

If Truehost is your domain and host, this is done automatically.
If your domain is from another company:

• Open the domain dashboard.
  
• Update the nameservers to the ones given by Truehost.
  
• Wait for 5–30 minutes for changes to take effect.
  

Go live

When your domain shows your website:

• Your site is officially live.
  
• Share your link on WhatsApp, social media, posters, or business cards.
  
• Tell your friends and customers.
  

Your website is now online and ready for visitors.

Tips for Choosing a Web Host

1) Performance and Uptime

Performance is how fast your site loads. Uptime is how often your site stays online.

Look for 99.9% uptime or higher. This means your site will be available almost all the time.

A slow or often-offline site pushes visitors away. In fact, most people leave a site if it takes more than three seconds to load.

2) Strong Security Features

Security protects your site from hackers, viruses, and data loss.
Your host should offer:

• Free SSL certificate (shows the lock icon and keeps data safe)
  
• Firewalls (blocks attacks)
  
• Malware scans (checks for harmful files)
  
• Automatic backups (keeps copies of your site in case something breaks)
  

3) Useful Features

Good hosting includes many tools that make your work easier. Look for:

• Email hosting (your own email like info@yourname.co.ke)
  
• Control panel (organized place to manage everything)
  
• One-click installers (install WordPress or other apps fast)
  
• Website templates or builders (help you create pages without coding)
  

4) Easy-to-Use Dashboard

Your hosting dashboard is where you manage your site.

A simple dashboard, like cPanel, is easy to understand even for beginners.
You should be able to:

• Upload files
  
• Manage domains
  
• Install apps
  
• Check emails
  
• See your site stats
  

5) Good Value for Money

Do not choose a host only because it is cheap.
Instead, compare:

• Price
  
• Features
  
• Security
  
• Support
  
• Storage
  
• Speed

A slightly higher price can give you better speed, better tools, and fewer problems.

Choose the plan where the benefits match the cost.

6) 24/7 Customer Support

You may face problems at any time. That is why you need support that works day and night.
Good support should offer:

• Live chat
  
• Email
  
• Phone
  
• Fast response times

7) Scalability

Your site may be small today but bigger tomorrow.
A good host should allow you to upgrade easily from: Shared hosting to
VPS hosting to Cloud or Dedicated hosting.

Common Website Hosting Mistakes to Avoid

i) Choosing the Wrong Hosting Type

This happens when someone picks a hosting plan that does not match their needs.

For example, some beginners choose dedicated hosting, which is built for very large websites with thousands of visitors per day. 

But if you only want a small blog or business site, this level of power is not needed. 

You end up paying too much and dealing with features you do not need.

The right choice is to start with shared hosting or WordPress hosting. You can upgrade later when your website grows.

ii) Ignoring Speed and Uptime

Speed and uptime are two of the most important things in hosting.

If your site loads slowly, people leave. Studies show that many users leave if a site takes longer than 3 seconds to load.

If your website goes offline often, you lose trust and sales. Good hosts promise at least 99.9% uptime.

Ignoring these two things can make even a good website fail.

iii) Paying for Features You Don’t Need

Some hosts offer many extra tools, such as advanced backups, premium email, or huge storage. 

These sound nice, but you may not need them when starting.

Paying for these extras increases your monthly cost without giving real value.

Beginners should focus on simple features:

• Free SSL
  
• Good storage
  
• Basic email
  
• Easy WordPress install
  Upgrade only when your website traffic grows.
  

iv) Choosing a Host With Poor Support

Good support matters more than most people think.

Sometimes things break, your site may go offline, a plugin might fail, or you may not understand a setting.

If your host takes too long to reply or offers confusing answers, your website stays down longer. 

This can affect your reputation, especially if you run a shop or business.
Choose a host with 24/7 support, fast replies, and clear guidance.

v) Not Planning for Future Growth

Some people choose a cheap plan without checking if they can upgrade later.

As your site grows, you may need more space, more speed, or stronger security. 

If your host cannot upgrade you smoothly, you may need to move your entire site. This can be stressful and risky.

A good host should let you move from shared hosting to VPS or cloud hosting easily.

Always think ahead: your website today might be small, but in a few months it may grow fast.

Final Thoughts

You now have a detailed, easy-to-understand guide to hosting your website. 

From understanding what hosting is, to choosing the right kind, to launching your site, you’ve got everything you need.

Kenya’s online space is growing. With around 48 % internet penetration, your website can reach many people. Hosting makes it possible.

Truehost offers local support, M-Pesa payments, free domains and SSL certificates. You can start small and grow later.