This blog is hosted by TypePad. One of the benefits is that I don't worry about who's going to host my blog on their server, let alone the design, setting up stats, etc. Everything comes in one very affordable package. That's why I recommend TypePad as a great way to go for beginning bloggers.
However, if you're serious about blogging, getting a self-hosted WordPress blog is a must. (And not WordPress.com, which is great for beginners, but has its limitations. If you're not sure, start at WordPress.com. Then you can always graduate to a self-hosted WP blog and easily move your content.)
Where do you start if you're serious about blogging, want to get a WordPress blog, and maybe do the installation yourself? Try doing some online research to find out what blog designers, like kaushal sheth, are recommending. After all, they're the people who have to use the hosting sites not just for themselves, but all their clients.
Go by kaushal sheth's blog to get his recommendation on the best web hosting company. Like many of us, he had to deal with a web host that had a black out. That meant that ALL his sites went down. Not only did it stress him out, but he lost valuable working time. And as we all know time is money. Plus if you're a work at home mom or dad, you only have so many hours in the day to work on your blogs or websites. Once those hours pass because of a downed web host, they are gone forever.
kaushal sheth believes that a good host should never be down, and that they should have a backup network. I agree. However, nothing is perfect. Once one of my sites went down because all the servers went down in Atlanta due to a fiber optic cable being spliced during construction. Not much you can do in that case.
Kaushal did his research, went through many Top 10 Hosting lists, read reviews, and asked his tech friends. His conclusion? He decided to go with Host Monster as his choice for web hosting. If you can't trust a professional for a best web hosting company recommendation, I don't know who you can.