What is VPS Hosting?

September 18, 2017

How VPS Works A VPS (“Virtual Private Server”) is a physical server that is divided and sold as multiple virtual machines.Each virtual server has its own operating system and server software, allowing each division to operate like its own server. Every virtual server has its own provisioned resources, meaning that it is guaranteed a certain amount of RAM and processing power. It’s important to keep in mind that a section is still part of a bigger server that holds the hardware that is used. Each virtual server is programmed to think it only has its provisioned resources, and so cannot…

How to Put Varnish Cache on WordPress featured image

How To, Tutorials, WordPress

How to Put Varnish Cache on Your WordPress Site

September 8, 2017

What is Varnish Cache? Varnish Cache is a web accelerator, which is used to speed up site loading times. So, how does it work? Well, a web accelerator acts as a proxy server that reduces the time it takes to access a website. A proxy server operates as a go-between for requests to the server. When a computer wants to load a site, it will contact the server and request the site’s information and resources. A proxy server intercepts those requests and processes them according to its instructions. So, Varnish Cache is a proxy that processes requests in a way…

Design & Development, Security

An Introduction to SSL Certificates

September 5, 2017

An Introduction to Encryption Ever wonder how websites help keep hackers from stealing private information, like your credit card number or passwords? The answer: SSL. SSL, or Secure Sockets Layer, is a security protocol that protects the connection between your site and the visitor. When a visitor logs in or makes purchases on your site, the client (such as a browser) sends information to your website’s server. This information can be vulnerable while it’s traveling, making this the opportune time for hackers to strike. However, using SSL can secure the channel between client and server, making hacking much harder to pull…

Web Hosting

WordPress Hosting 101

August 31, 2017

So you want to start a WordPress site? Great! Now you have to decide how you want to host your new site. Figure Out What You’ll Be Doing Do you want your site to be a blog? An e-commerce site? A combination of both? The options are endless! Sit down and think about what you want to do with your site. Once you’ve decided, consider the design you’d like for your site. Do you prefer complex themes with lots of functionality or simple ones? Are you planning on using a lot of plugins or just one or two? These are…

how to start a podcast with wordpress and pair networks hosting

How To, Tutorials, WordPress

How to Launch Your First Podcast with WordPress

August 28, 2017

In 2017, 42 million Americans listen to podcasts weekly. With such a large variety of engaging, hands-free audio content, it’s not surprising that podcasts are growing more and more popular. You can take advantage of this fast-growing medium by learning how to start a podcast of your own with WordPress. Reaching this large audience of podcast listeners will not only expand your influence, but will also establish you as a thought leader and an authority in your area of focus. Whether your goals involve fame, fortune, or something less cliché, we can help you launch your first podcast with WordPress….

Web Hosting, WordPress

5 Ways to Improve Your eCommerce WordPress Site

August 22, 2017

Entrepreneurs frequently start selling their latest products or services online with a cool new business website instead of a store front. Without a physical location, you can reduce startup capital and reach a larger audience. Unfortunately, it’s not as simple as creating a new WordPress site and magically becoming a bestseller overnight. Even the most experienced entrepreneurs and business-savvy people may find the world of eCommerce websites difficult to navigate. Here are a few ways to increase traffic and drive revenue with your eCommerce WordPress site: 1. Start a Blog Blogging isn’t just for bloggers. You can blog too! You’ll…

How To, Tutorials

Setting Up an .htaccess Redirect

August 21, 2017

What is a 301 Redirect? A 301 redirect reroutes site traffic from one place to another. If example1.com has a 301 redirect setup to send people to example2.net, all the visitors who type in “example1.com” will end up at example2.net, instead. What are 301 Redirects Good For? 301 redirects are particularly useful for things like site maintenance and moving traffic to a new site. Using a 301 Redirect for Site Maintenance Using 301 redirects for site maintenance allows you to reroute traffic from all over the site to a “Sorry, our site is down for maintenance” page. 301…

Design & Development

Improving Accessibility on Your Site

August 21, 2017

When we’re creating for the web, it’s easy to forget about making our content accessible for all audience types. With more than 36 million adults in the United States being unable to read past a third-grade reading level and the growing usage of screen readers for the visually impaired, making your website accessible is more important than ever. Making Your Site Accessible When it comes to website structure, we often consider the website finished when the front-end is visually pleasing. However, screen readers use the website’s code to navigate. So if your code is messy, your website would appear to…

pair Spotlight

A Naturally Grown Awesome Charity

August 17, 2017

You bite into a sweet, juicy peach. For you food is preventative medicine. Paying the additional fifteen to twenty-five percent added to organic produce isn’t a problem, when you know the processes and systems are certified organic by an entity you trust. You read about the certification available through independent industry trusted charitable organizations like Certified Naturally Grown. Fraud by companies who sell organic fruits and vegetables almost gave you hesitation but because of companies like CNG, you’re not afraid anymore. Local farming communities rely on the integrity, trust and commitment to healthy growing practice organizations like Certified Naturally Grown….

pair Spotlight

Urban Innovation 21 is Effecting Innovative Change in Pittsburgh

August 17, 2017

We’re known in Pittsburgh for saying y’inz and unparalleled support for our teams. (Way to PENGUINS!) We’re also the home of Urban Innovation 21, one of the first US based charitable organizations to implement an “inclusive innovation” program. Previously known as the “Pittsburgh Central Keystone Innovation Zone” we’re excited to spotlight Urban Innovation 21 as local trailblazers in the nonprofit sector. Collaborative initiatives launch with the support of several Pittsburgh private sector stalwarts, injected with 21st century ingenuity, creativity, talent from a diverse board of directors and life changing funders. Entrepreneurs in underserved Pittsburgh areas have received an injection of…

Design & Development, How To, SEO, Tutorials

8 Tips for Building Your Nonprofit Website

August 16, 2017

You don’t need a huge budget to have an engaging website for your nonprofit organization. Having an online presence will help your organization achieve success whether you define success as awareness, donations, or something else entirely. With a well-designed and thoughtfully-created website, you can accomplish more than you thought possible. Are you ready to get started on your nonprofit website? 1. Choose a Website Builder First, as the official web builder for your nonprofit, find an easy-to-use website builder tool. With so many different content creation services, you don’t need to learn to code to create a decent website. Just…

How To, Tutorials

MySQL Basics: How to Create a MySQL Database

July 31, 2017

What is SQL? SQL, or Structured Query Language, is a language that helps you interact with databases. Using SQL, you can set up databases, tear them down, fill them up with data, create inter-database relationships, and much, much more. What are Databases? Databases are virtual structures that hold data. They are very efficient for data storage and retrieval. When a computer needs certain information, it will send a question to the database. This question is called a query. The database will search internally and give the computer the data that fits the query’s conditions. Ever wonder how a website…

Email

5 Advantages to Having a Custom Email Address

July 26, 2017

When you launch a website, you want people to visit, check out your content, and engage with the site. In addition to social media and commenting, people also like to communicate and engage via email. When you have an email address that’s not associated with your web domain, people are less likely to email you. It can also look unprofessional when you use email addresses like @gmail.com or @yahoo.com. Fortunately, you have another option, custom domain email. Here are a few of the advantages that come with having a custom email address: 1. Simplicity When you have a custom domain…

choosing your domain name, tattoo artist, domain registration

How To

How to Choose the Perfect Name for Your Domain

July 25, 2017

Have you ever considered getting a tattoo? It’s a pretty big decision. You have to live with it for a long time and it becomes a part of your identity. You can think of your domain name in a similar way. It’s your website’s virtual ink attracting attention and informing everyone about the identity of your site. Just as a good tattoo that represents you well requires some forethought, so does your domain name. Before you decide, here are a few tips to help you choose the perfect name for your domain: 1. Keep It Simple Keep your domain simple…

seo, infographic, search ranking and your web host

Web Hosting

Is Your Web Host Hurting Your Search Ranking?

July 20, 2017

Search engine optimization or SEO plays a huge role in how search engines like Google and Bing rank your website. Adding elements like page titles, meta descriptions, alt text, and keywords helps search engines find your site and display it to people who search relevant terms. Search engines also grant higher ranking to high-performing websites with fast page load times and little or no downtime. So, what does your web host have to do with search rankings? The quality of your web host can affect SEO by hurting your page load times, server quality, database connection, and general accessibility of…

business website, computer, website builer

How To

Get the Most out of Your Business Website

July 18, 2017

After you’ve selected and registered your domain name, the real work begins for your new business website. There are several components to a good website including design, web copy, images, and more. Here’s a quick, six-step guide to help you get the most out of your site: Step 1: Define your website goals Why are you creating a website for your business? To increase online sales? Improve your reach and influence? Get more email subscribers? Whatever your goals, make sure you keep them in mind as you go. Use your goals to shape the content and design of your site….

How To, Tutorials, Web Hosting

Password Protect Your Site: Two Different Methods with Examples

July 17, 2017

Password Protect Your Site Whether the reason is to restrict access to your team, protect sensitive content, keep your in-progress content hidden, or all of the above, a password can go a long way to ease the process (and your mind). The nifty thing about password protecting your website is that it gives you control of the users. You can control who accesses what pages, what their passwords are, and, if the need arises, you can delete users completely so that they no longer have access to anything related to your site. .htaccess: What is it? .htaccess…

Web Hosting, WordPress

Getting Started with WordPress

May 5, 2017

What is WordPress? WordPress is the World’s most popular blogging software. WordPress software is free and open-source, features lots of themes, plugins, a visual editor, and an active and supportive user and developer community. CMS vs. Blog WordPress is best known as a blogging tool, but technically it’s a CMS, or content management system. A CMS is more than just a blog, and in fact, it doesn’t have to be used for blogging at all. A CMS is primarily a tool for managing the files, media, and code that make up a website. As such, it offers…

Web Hosting

What is Web Hosting and How is it Different from a Domain Name?

April 25, 2017

When thinking about web hosting vs. domain names, it can help to think of the internet as a virtual world full of virtual places. Just like the real world, virtual places exist in certain spaces and are called by certain place names. The spaces that websites, blogs, databases, and online apps or games occupy — the servers — are the basis of web hosting and are akin to virtual property. Buying web hosting is a lot like buying a real estate lot, and registering a domain name is a lot like coming up with a name for your business or…

Web Hosting

Should I Use IMAP or POP For Email?

April 4, 2017

If you’re used to free third party services, you might not have considered the question of IMAP vs. POP email before. One of the most common questions we get is which email protocol to use. Most of the time, the answer is simple: use IMAP. Why then does POP exist and when should you use it? What advantages does it have over IMAP? In-Depth Comparison IMAP, the “Internet Message Access Protocol” has its main advantage right in its name: IMAP is all about access. Email is stored on a central server, and access is granted to all of your devices….

Security, SEO, Web Hosting

All About SSL Certificates

February 15, 2016

What is An SSL Certificate? At pair Networks, we are often asked, “what is an SSL Certificate and why do I need one?” An SSL, or Secure Socket Layer, Certificate encrypts information moving between your web server and internet browser. You can think of it like this –

Geek Out, Security, Web Hosting

Top 5 Most Infamous Hackers of All Time

February 1, 2016

Who are these Infamous Hackers? And what do they want? When you think of a hacker, most people imagine a lonesome figure aglow by a single computer screen, frantically typing some matrix-like script in an anonymous subterranean basement. But Hackers and their motives are as varied and broad as ‘hacking’ itself.

Security, WordPress

Don’t Panic! What to do if WordPress is Hacked

January 18, 2016

Realizing that your WordPress Site has been hacked can be very upsetting. Your site was working well and then all of a sudden it disappeared. During this distressing time it’s important to keep in mind that hacks rarely equal a total loss.

Security, Web Hosting

Know Your MalWare: Your Field Guide to Malicious Software

January 4, 2016

Help prevent malware from messing with your computer by understanding how different types work. What is MalWare? “Malicious” + “Software” = Malware You can think of Malware much like a human virus. Malware is an umbrella term for hostile or intrusive software that a computer can catch from an outside source.

Geek Out

Happy Holidays from our Galaxy to Yours

December 17, 2015

A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away (if far, far away is in Pittsburgh and long time ago is 1996), new Internets arrived. One rebellious company thought using the Internets should be seamless. That company was pair…

Design & Development, Web Hosting, WordPress

Ubuntu vs FreeBSD Hosting: Is There A Difference?

December 17, 2015

Choosing an Operating System for your account can feel a bit daunting. When first setting up a Hosting Account, many worry which OS is right for their needs. What’s the difference between FreeBSD and Ubuntu? Which one is right for me?

Design & Development, Security

ICANN Domain Verification Policy

December 14, 2015

The Internet Corporation For Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) is the board that oversees all domain name registrars and sets policies that registrars must follow. ICANN has always required accurate contact information for domain names, but the requirement was rarely enforced.

Geek Out, pair Spotlight

Spotlight: The Fred Rogers Company

December 8, 2015

pair: The Power Behind The Fred Rogers Company Fred Rogers dedicated his life to educating children, addressing social issues, and providing a reliable presence on television. Today, pair Networks is proud to power The Fred Rogers Company, a non-profit production studio that is expanding the potential of educational programming.

Shared, Dedicated, and Public IP Addresses

Design & Development, Security, SEO

Public, Private, Shared, & Dedicated IP Addresses

September 29, 2015

What are IP Addresses? Also known as Internet Protocol Addresses, IP Addresses are used to identify different computers and devices on the Internet. You can think of it like a home return address on a mailing envelope, only used in numbers and periods.

Security, WordPress

Securing WordPress Sites

September 29, 2015

When performing a self-installation of WordPress, there are easy steps that can be taken to help protect against an attack. Many of the cases our Abuse Department deals with on a daily basis are the result of malicious WordPress attacks. Securing WordPress will make it much harder for malware to gain access.