Latest news with #LiquidWeb
Yahoo
12-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Liquid Web Releases Free Tech Habits Toolkit Backed by Study on the Digital Behaviors of High Performers
ATLANTA, June 12, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Liquid Web, a leader in VPS, WordPress, GPU, and dedicated hosting for small to midsize businesses (SMBs), today announced the launch of its free Tech Habits Toolkit, a powerful, research-backed daily tracking system to help entrepreneurs, digital professionals, and business owners improve focus, efficiency, and work–life balance. The toolkit is released alongside Liquid Web's exclusive study, The Tech Habits of Highly Successful People, which analyzed the daily digital routines of more than 1,000 professionals. The findings reveal that intentional, well-managed tech habits aren't just helpful, they're foundational to sustained success in fast-paced, screen-heavy work environments. Download the tech habits toolkit today > Built for Daily Impact The Tech Habits Toolkit is an interactive workbook that supports healthy digital behavior through daily structured planning, reflection, and end-of-day evaluation. It helps users: Define top priorities each morning. Set and track deep-work hours (without pings or distractions). Monitor app usage across productive vs. distracting categories. Reflect on wins, tech hurdles, and improvement strategies. The structure is grounded in behavioral science, breaking down habits into manageable routines that compound over time. "At Liquid Web, we've always believed that the right technology, or the right use of it, can make all the difference," says Carrie Wheeler, President of Liquid Web. "That's why we created the Tech Habits Toolkit. It's a natural extension of our commitment to empowering business owners to do more, scale faster, and achieve greater success. Just as we provide high-performance hosting and expert support, this toolkit gives professionals a way to optimize their digital routines and create the focus needed to fuel real growth." The Digital Behaviors That Set High Performers Apart The research uncovered strong correlations between tech discipline and performance outcomes Notable insights include: 84% of high performers silence notifications during deep work blocks. Those who block off two 90-minute focus sessions daily complete projects twice as fast as those working in scattered 15-minute chunks. 80% of top achievers begin their day with device-free time, gaining 15–20 minutes of calm, focused planning before checking email. Avoiding smartphones in the first 30 minutes of the day led to 15% faster decision-making. Professionals who rated their digital discipline a 4 or 5 out of 5 were 2.3× more likely to hit key business goals. 44% of highly-successful people take tech-free breaks each day. 18% use focus mode, 16% use app blockers, and 14% use screen time monitors. 66% use calendar and scheduling tools for time management. 40% leverage AI to boost productivity. Successful individuals were 32% more likely to use scheduling tools and 11% more likely to use AI to optimize their calendars and workflows. Integrating a 5-minute break every hour led to 10% higher productivity scores among users. These seemingly small actions create a snowball effect. Respondents who used daily reflection tools, like those featured in the toolkit, were 3× more likely to report lasting improvements in focus over 90 days. Why These Digital Habits Matter Americans are constantly inundated online, and it's impacting productivity. In fact, 41% of U.S. adults say they are online almost constantly, according to Pew Research Center. Deep work can help. Defined as focused, distraction-free time spent on cognitively demanding tasks, it's a cornerstone of high output. A McKinsey study found that it can boost productivity by as much as 500%, especially for roles that involve analysis, strategy, writing, or design. Liquid Web's own data echoes this. Participants who blocked off two 90-minute deep work sessions per day completed strategic projects twice as fast as those who worked in fragmented 15- to 20-minute blocks. The study also revealed morning routines as a differentiator. 80% of high achievers schedule device-free time first thing in the morning, giving themselves 15–20 minutes of uninterrupted mental clarity before opening email. Those who avoided smartphones for the first 30 minutes of the day reported 15% faster decision-making on early tasks. Liquid Web's free Tech Habits Toolkit makes it easy to start your day device-free, and build the kind of focused routines that top performers rely on to save time and think more clearly. Download the Toolkit Today Whether you're a freelancer juggling projects or a founder trying to reclaim focus from endless notifications, the Tech Habits Toolkit can help you build better digital routines and reclaim your attention. Download the free Tech Habits Toolkit and read the full study here: Liquid Web is committed to empowering professionals to reach their full potential with tools that foster clarity, momentum, and performance. From daily digital discipline to enterprise-grade hosting solutions, Liquid Web is here to help you grow. For nearly 30 years, Liquid Web has helped businesses scale confidently with unmatched speed, reliability, and expert support. To learn more, visit About Liquid Web As a cornerstone of CloudOne Digital, Liquid Web leverages best-in-class infrastructure and cloud capabilities to provide unparalleled support and growth for businesses. Building on 25+ years of success, Liquid Web delivers industry-leading hosting for mission-critical sites, stores, and applications to SMBs and the designers, developers, and agencies who create for them. Liquid Web's expansive global reach and support for nearly 200,000 customers is a testament to its reliability and the trust it has garnered from its customers. Our foundation is built by a world-class team of technology and industry experts dedicated to delivering excellence 24/7/365. As a leader in customer service, the rapidly expanding brand has been recognized among INC. Magazine's 5000 Fastest-Growing Companies for 12 years. For media inquiries, please contact:Media Contact Name: Amanda ValleTitle: Global DirectorEmail: media@ View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Liquid Web Sign in to access your portfolio
Yahoo
09-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
The Best Web Hosting Services for 2025
PCMag editors select and review products independently. If you buy through affiliate links, we may earn commissions, which help support our testing. Grappling with the complexities of building a website is stressful enough without the added confusion that comes from choosing a web hosting service. We've tested web hosting services for more than 10 years, and can steer you in the right direction. For example, HostGator, an Editors' Choice winner, has excellent shared hosting plans that make it ideal for small projects. Larger businesses should consider Liquid Web, another Editors' Choice winner, for its robust VPS plans and managed hosting. We've selected 11 services for this list, all of which are excellent. Read on for our picks, followed by the key factors to consider when choosing the best web hosting service. Web hosting services offer varying amounts of monthly data transfers, storage, email, and other features. Even how you pay (month-to-month vs. annual vs. prorated payments) can be radically different, too. So, taking time to plot exactly what your company needs for online success is essential. Many of these companies also offer reseller hosting services that let you go into business by offering hosting without spinning up your own servers. You should also familiarize yourself with the many available web hosting tiers. In your research, you'll find shared, virtual private server (VPS), dedicated hosting, and WordPress hosting plans. Each tier offers different specs and features that you should take the time to analyze. We break them down below. Shared hosting is web hosting in which the provider houses multiple sites on a single server. For example, Site A shares the same server with Site B, Site C, Site D, and Site E. The upside is that the multiple sites share the server cost, so shared web hosting is generally very inexpensive. It's cheap web hosting. In fact, you can find an option for less than $10 per month. Free web hosting is an option if you're willing to make some functionality sacrifices. You could think of the sites that share your server as your roommates; there's really not that much separating you from them. Sure, you can close the bedroom door, but they can still cause nightmares for you in the kitchen and the bathroom. In web hosting terms, all the sites share a single server's resources, so huge traffic spikes on Site A may impact the neighboring sites' performances. It's even possible that another site could take down the shared server altogether if it crashed hard enough. VPS hosting is similar to shared hosting in that multiple sites share the same server, but the similarities end there. In housing terms, VPS hosting is like renting your own apartment in a larger building. You're much more isolated than in the roommate situation mentioned above; it's still possible that a neighboring apartment could annoy you, but far less likely. In web hosting terms, Site A's traffic surge won't impact Site B or Site C nearly as much. As you'd expect, VPS hosting costs more than shared hosting. Expect to pay roughly $20 to $60 per month, depending on the service. Dedicated hosting, on the other hand, is both powerful and pricey. It's reserved for sites that require an incredible amount of server resources. Unlike shared or VPS hosting, dedicated hosting makes your website the lone tenant on a server. To extend the housing metaphor, having a dedicated server is like owning your own home. This means that your website taps the server's full power and pays for the privilege. If you're looking for a high-powered site—an online mansion for your business—dedicated hosting is the way to go. That said, many dedicated web hosting services task you with handling backend technical issues, much as homeowners have to manage maintenance that renters generally leave to their landlords. Dedicated hosting will set you back close to $100 per month, and that number skyrockets if you opt for high-speed servers and huge RAM and storage totals. Many web hosting services also offer managed hosting. In this type of hosting, the web host acts as your IT department, handling a server's maintenance and upkeep. This hosting option is typically found with dedicated servers, so it's a business-centric addition. Naturally, it adds a few bucks to the hosting cost, but nothing that should break the bank if you have the resources for a dedicated server. WordPress hosting is for people who want to build their sites on the back of the popular WordPress content management system (CMS) from This free, open-source blogging and site-building platform has multiple ways to set up shop. You gain the most web-building functionality if you create a self-hosted site. This typically involves transferring the free WordPress CMS to the server or signing up for a web host's optimized WordPress plan. With an optimized plan, the host automatically handles backend stuff, so you don't have to worry about updating the plug-ins and CMS, and enabling automatic backups. In these instances, the WordPress environment typically comes preinstalled on the server. In most cases, this shouldn't cost much more money than a web host's shared or VPS hosting plans. You can also host your website on but that's different from the kind of hosting mentioned above. uses the same code from but hides the server code and handles the hosting for you. In that sense, it resembles website builders. It's a simpler but less flexible and customizable way to approach WordPress hosting. Cloud hosting services use a network of virtual and physical servers to store and maintain your website. This means that your site is hosted across a multitude of servers, potentially located worldwide. As a result, cloud hosting is generally much more flexible than traditional hosting, which is limited to physical servers rented via data centers. Cloud hosting has numerous benefits, including impressive scalability with storage and RAM resources. Speed and performance are excellent as well because cloud hosting distributes workloads across several servers. Cloud hosting services are extremely reliable, and they can provide fantastic data backup and recovery for the same reason. Cloud hosting is all over the map in terms of pricing, with some companies offering prorated payment options. If you're a web hosting novice, there are several key factors to consider when committing to a web hosting service. Many web hosts offer limited features in their starter packages and then expand the offerings (sometimes tremendously) for higher-tier plans. However, a few services, such as Bluehost and HostGator, are the best web hosting services for beginners due to their prices, feature sets, and ease of use. Read the small print to ensure the plan you select offers what you need. If you don't want to code the site yourself, make sure that the web host you pick comes with a website builder. Many require you to pay for the builder as a separate add-on. Website builders usually don't cost a lot of money, but if you can find a web host that includes one for free, that's money in your pocket. And if it's integrated with your hosting service, you're more likely to have a smooth, supported experience. Remember, you want a web host with 24/7 customer support—if not by phone, then at least by chat. Forums, knowledge bases, and help tickets are useful, but sometimes, you just need to communicate with another human to get things ironed out as quickly as possible. That said, not all 24/7 customer support teams are equal, which we confirmed in our in-depth web hosting reviews. Ease of use and strong uptime are important, too. If you're unsure of the hosting type your business needs, you might want to start with low-cost shared or WordPress hosting. You can always graduate to a more robust, feature-rich package like VPS hosting or dedicated hosting in the future. Unfortunately, some hosts don't offer all hosting types. Consider how much you expect your website to grow and how soon before you commit to anything longer than a one-year plan. It's worth spending the time up-front to ensure that the host you select can provide the growth you envision for your site, as switching web hosting providers midstream is not a trivial undertaking. Once you decide your price range, you need to consider how long you'll need web hosting. If it's a short-term project—say, less than a month or two—you can typically receive a refund if you cancel your hosting within 60 days. Some companies offer 30-day money-back guarantees, and others offer 90-day guarantees. Once again, it's beneficial to do your homework. You've come to the wrong place if you're looking for free web hosting. Our list here includes the best web hosting services overall, and they're not free. Check out for our top picks in the category. When it comes to server operating systems, Linux is typically the default option. Still, some hosts offer a choice of Linux or Windows. Don't let the idea of a Linux host intimidate you. Nowadays, most web hosts offer a graphical interface or a control panel to simplify server administration and website management; you click easily identifiable icons instead of tinkering with the command line. If you have specific server-side applications requiring Windows, such as SQL Server or a custom application written in .NET, you must make sure that your potential web host offers Windows hosting. Windows hosting is often more expensive than Linux hosting, especially in the dedicated server area (you'll typically see the price difference as you explore the options before checkout). While that's not always the case, you should be aware of it as you shop around. There are many reasons to use managed hosting services, but convenience is at the top of the list. Managed hosting providers handle server monitoring, security, and website backups, giving your site vital firewalls, intrusion detection, and file-scanning functionality to keep it safe and up to date without your input. Managed hosting usually comes with extensive technical support, so you can contact your provider whenever you encounter a website problem. On the other hand, unmanaged web hosting is a great option if you're comfortable handling server management duties. With unmanaged hosting, you are entirely responsible for server administration, including the initial setup, ongoing maintenance, and security. This may be a tall order if you're unfamiliar with these tasks. However, if you have a strong technical background, these responsibilities also come with great flexibility. You can customize the hosting environment, such as installing a preferred control panel or security tools. When it's time to set up shop, look for a web host that offers the aforementioned dedicated servers, advanced cloud server platforms (such as Amazon Web Services or Google Cloud), custom server builds should you need them, and 24/7 customer support. Depending on your focus, you may want a web host that can handle pageviews or visitors that rank in the thousands or millions. Many busy hosting plans also offer an onboarding specialist who can help you get started. If you're planning on selling a product, look for a web host that offers a Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) certificate because it encrypts the data between the customer's browser and web host to safeguard purchasing information. You're probably familiar with SSL; the green padlock appears in your web browser's address bar as you visit an online financial institution or retail outlet. A few companies toss in an SSL certificate free of charge; others may charge you roughly $100 per year for that extra security layer. If you aim to have a web presence, you must have email. It's a convenient way for potential customers and clients to send you a message, Word document, or other files. Thankfully, most web hosts include email in their hosting plans. Some web hosts offer unlimited email account creation (which is great for future growth), while others offer a finite amount. You, naturally, should want unlimited email. That said, not all web hosts offer email. WP Engine, for example, does not. In such instances, you must sign up for email accounts from a company other than your web host. GoDaddy, for instance, sells email packages starting at $5.99 per user per month. That might sound like a hassle and just one more thing to keep track of, but some webmasters feel that separating your email hosting and web hosting services is smart. That way, one provider going offline won't completely bork your business. All the aforementioned features are valuable to the web hosting experience, but none match the importance of site uptime. If your site is down, clients or customers cannot find you or access your products or services. That can cost you money. No matter how good a service's pricing, specs, and features are, it can't score well overall if it doesn't have rock-solid uptime. Accordingly, we compare each web host's uptime guarantee so you can understand what to expect before signing up. In reviewing the services listed here (and many more), we learned that even though the packages are similar, they are not identical. Some are more security-focused than others, offering anti-spam and anti-malware tools at every price tier. Others offer a variety of email marketing tools. While most of the hosts we've reviewed have built-in e-commerce tools, you may want to consider using a more robust, third-party e-commerce platform, such as our Editors' Choice winners, Shopify and Wix Stores. Finally, if you're just getting started in web hosting, make sure to check out our primers, six essential tips for building an online presence and how to register a domain name for your website. Jeffrey L. Wilson contributed to this article.
Fast Company
25-05-2025
- Fast Company
4 ways high-achievers use tech to get more done
BY Technology can be a double-edged sword. The right amount can fuel productivity, but too much can become a time waste. As with most things, the key is striking a healthy balance. Unfortunately, the deck is stacked against you. Apps and websites are designed to grab and hold your attention. So, how do successful people resist? 'High-achievers use technology as a tool, not a distraction,' says Sachin Puri, chief growth officer at the web-hosting provider Liquid Web. 'They make productivity apps their first priority, plan for intentional screen time, and select platforms intentionally. They may spend lots of time on screens, but they set boundaries where they need to, so that technology enhances their performance, rather than slowing it down.' To determine how high-achievers leverage tech, Liquid Web surveyed six-figure earners who excel in their careers to discover the habits and strategies they use to maximize productivity and minimize time wasting. Here's what they found: They Are Intentional with Screen Time High-achievers spend an average of seven hours a day on their computers, which is a good chunk of time. However, they are primarily focused on activities that fall under the 'productivity' umbrella, choosing sites that enhance and not hinder their career growth.
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Liquid Web Study: AI Side Hustles Are Booming -- Free Kit Helps Entrepreneurs Launch in 7 Days
ATLANTA, May 21, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Liquid Web, a leader in VPS, WordPress, GPU, and dedicated hosting for small to midsize businesses (SMBs), has released new research showing the explosive rise of AI-powered side hustles. Based on a survey of over 1,000 active entrepreneurs and side hustlers, the data reveals that artificial intelligence is dramatically accelerating how quickly new businesses launch — and how fast they start earning. To empower more entrepreneurs to take advantage of this shift, Liquid Web is offering a free AI Side Hustle Starter Kit that includes tools, checklists, and templates to go from idea to income in just seven days. Download the free AI side hustle starter kit now to turn your idea into income, faster. Study Highlights: AI is Reshaping the Entrepreneurial Landscape According to the Liquid Web AI Side Hustle Boom Study: Nearly 2 in 5 entrepreneurs launched their side hustle in under a week using AI tools. 1 in 5 started earning income within that first week, with average early earnings exceeding $200. 3 in 5 used ChatGPT to enhance brand visibility, create content, and develop digital products. 40% of Gen Z entrepreneurs launched in under a week and began earning immediately. Respondents reported high satisfaction across metrics like time saved (83%), cost-effectiveness (80%), and ease of learning (80%). "These numbers reflect a clear shift in how entrepreneurs work," says Carrie Wheeler, President at Liquid Web. "AI is no longer a future tool — it's a launchpad for real revenue and business growth, right now." Introducing the Free AI Side Hustle Starter Kit To support entrepreneurs looking to harness AI's full potential, Liquid Web created the AI Side Hustle Starter Kit to accompany the study and provide a practical launch pad for anyone ready to harness AI and build a profitable side hustle. The kit features: A 7-day quick-launch checklist A curated list of essential AI tools Proven $200+ earning blueprints Easy, AI-friendly side hustle ideas Website and outreach templates Social media prompts and branding guidance Whether you're building a business from scratch or exploring AI to boost freelance income, this kit is designed to get users earning faster with less guesswork and more confidence. Why It Matters: AI Lowers the Barrier to Entry For many entrepreneurs, especially those limited by time, funds, or technical know-how, AI offers a fast, accessible way to launch and scale new ventures. From automating content creation to optimizing outreach, the tools included in the starter kit address the biggest challenges solo entrepreneurs face. "This kit is a launchpad," says Wheeler. "We've taken insights from our study and built something actionable. It's not just information, it's a step-by-step system to help entrepreneurs start, earn, and grow smarter." AI Adoption is Booming, and It's Just the Beginning The rise of AI isn't limited to side hustlers. From solo creators to global enterprises, AI is streamlining workflows, boosting productivity, and fueling innovation across industries. Generative AI tools like ChatGPT, Midjourney, and Copilot are now mainstream. According to Grand View Research, the global AI market, currently valued at $279 billion, is projected to grow at a 35.9% CAGR through 2030. With rising demand for automation and intelligent tools, the message is clear: those who embrace AI now are positioning themselves for long-term success. Start Your AI Side Hustle Today Explore the full report and download the free AI side hustle starter kit at: Liquid Web is committed to empowering entrepreneurs, from AI-powered side hustlers to fast-growing enterprises, with lightning-fast, scalable hosting and the tools to succeed online. With unmatched performance, expert support, and flexible infrastructure, Liquid Web helps founders launch smarter, earn faster, and scale confidently. To learn more about AI-driven business growth and how our hosting fuels it, visit About Liquid Web As a cornerstone of CloudOne Digital, Liquid Web provides an award-winning, flexible hosting platform designed to scale with SMBs and the designers, developers, and agencies that power them, delivering mission-critical performance for sites, stores, and applications. With over 25 years of innovation, Liquid Web goes beyond traditional hosting by offering seamless, best-in-class experiences where users aren't confined to rigid plans or fixed resources. Liquid Web is built on industry-leading infrastructure and is trusted by nearly 200,000 customers worldwide, with an unwavering commitment to reliability and a world-class team of experts dedicated to delivering excellence 24/7/365. Recognized among INC. Magazine's 5000 Fastest-Growing Companies for 12 years, they empower businesses with a hosting experience as dynamic as their ambitions. For media inquiries, please contact: Media Contact Name: Amanda Valle Title: Global Director Email: media@ View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Liquid Web Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
01-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
3 Smart Ways Side Hustlers Are Using AI To Build Wealth
The rise of artificial intelligence (AI) is reshaping entrepreneurship, giving individuals the tools to launch businesses faster than ever. According to DollarSprout's 2024 Side Hustle Report, 70% of Americans report having a side hustle, with over a quarter depending on that income for everyday expenses. While AI can't replace real human vision, strategy and the hustle it takes to build lasting wealth, it seems to be helping more people get a faster, leaner start. For You: Try This: In a survey of 1,000 active side hustlers and entrepreneurs, Liquid Web uncovered how AI is helping them to launch faster, earn quicker and grow smarter. Here's how AI is fueling real momentum for side hustlers right now. Speed matters, with the Liquid Web research sharing how ChatGPT and other tools helped side hustlers quickly build websites, create content and grow a digital presence without massive startup costs. While the average launch time was just 17 days, a lucky few got their businesses up in as little as two. With faster launches, more side hustlers are making money quicker than ever. Read Next: Three in five side hustlers used ChatGPT to level up their online presence. Website improvements (such as Chatbot integration and FAQ identification) and social media presence were among the top tasks AI tackled. About one in five side hustlers started earning within a week, pulling in an average of $200 or more. The combination of quick setup and strong digital visibility seems to have given these entrepreneurs an early advantage. Investing in your business is vital. Two in five side hustlers plan to reinvest their early earnings into even more advanced AI tools. Among Gen Z, that number climbs to 45%. The payoff is clear in terms of reinvestment, with AI tools scoring high for cost-effectiveness, ease of learning, quality of output and the time savings they delivered. Even with AI on deck, people looking to start up a side gig are still facing common hurdles. The biggest obstacles side hustlers reported were limited time (37 percent) and limited funds (30 percent), with others pointing to challenges with marketing skills, technical know-how and tool access. As profits grow and confidence builds, many will shift gears and rely less on AI, instead outsourcing higher-level tasks and bringing in other professional support where it counts. AI gets them started and will support them on their way, but for many side hustlers, strategy and expertise are what's needed to scale. More From GOBankingRates 6 Used Luxury SUVs That Are a Good Investment for Retirees How Far $750K Plus Social Security Goes in Retirement in Every US Region 7 Overpriced Grocery Items Frugal People Should Quit Buying in 2025 12 SUVs With the Most Reliable Engines Sources DollarSprout, 'Side Hustle Report 2024.' Liquid Web, 'AI side hustles are booming.' This article originally appeared on 3 Smart Ways Side Hustlers Are Using AI To Build Wealth Sign in to access your portfolio
