I’ll be moving this blog to an Optimized WordPress account later tonight (just switching my nameservers to point at a new HostGator location) and want to give all a heads up. The main reason of the heads up here is that the blog could look different – as per HostGator’s migration rules they don’t transfer premium themes (though this migration from a Baby plan to a OWP plan is free) so I’ll have to do some reinstalling, but the overall effects could be ground-breaking. Here’s why.
What is Optimized WordPress?
If this is the first you’re hearing of it, Optimized WordPress is HostGator’s new managed WordPress hosting environment where HostGator has decided to help beginners by automatically installing helpful plugins and other goodies:
Some reasons I like OWP for WordPress blog/website beginners:
- It includes specific plugins designed to speed up page load times (thru caching) and reach global audiences more quickly wherever they may be (thru a “CDN”).
- Google Analytics comes preinstalled within the WordPress dashboard!
- Custom email accounts will be easier to add (though I cover the old method in my latest YouTube tut).
There are also features like increased security, as HostGator will be updating both WordPress software and plugins as soon as updates are available. If you didn’t know already, most WordPress hacks like mine came thru outdated plugins we all forget to update. This could change in a really good way!
Opt into Optimized
That all said, there are plenty of ways you can get involved with Optimized WordPress whether you have a blog / website already – or are new to the WordPress community.
- Grab your own copy thru a new HostGator account here – they recently added the OWP option to the homepage and it’s quite easy to setup.
- Speaking of easy setup, I’ll have a new suite of tutorials coming out soon on youtube.com/narayguy which will cover how to use OWP and how to create a totally new site thru OWP. There might even be some exclusive deal bundles! 🙂
- If you’re the kind of person who reads all the facts before diving in, here’s the new OWP HostGator support article. Already read it of course over here.
As I hinted at above, this new software will be great for all sorts of blogs and websites where you want maximum confidence things are working properly in a less hands-on setting. HostGator has even removed the need to access cPanel – a step I’ve come to like but in reality an environment developers are more keen to.
Cya on The Other Side
That’s about all for this announcement-style post! Please let me know any general or more specific questions you have in the comments and please pardon any design changes you see here – it will hopefully be for the better and I can always switch back!
I migrated to OWP yesterday. They seem to have been able to migrate my premium theme without problem but so far I have not seen any increase in speed. I’m struggling to find information on if I need to install any plug-ins or do anything to take advantage of the managed Caching / CDN. Most of Hostgator’s help files regarding optimizing wordpress are based on their old shared server systems.
When I run my site through Google Insights it recommends that I enable compression (Gzip) and leverage browser caching which I was led to believe happened automatically under Optimized Hosting.
I am not that technical but so far I have not seen any benefit to moving to OWP.
p.s. So we’re not moving Dear Blogger to OWP because the premium theme I use (Daily, Theme Junkie) could not transfer entirely.
I’ll be trying OWP on this website instead: http://www.madetoblog.com/
Come join in when you are able!
Video demos here
http://www.youtube.com/narayguy