Final verdict
Comparing WP Engine and Name.com highlights distinct strengths for different user needs.
-
WP Engine (Overall grade: 8.6)
excels in managed WordPress hosting with optimized performance, security, and developer tools. Its innovative EverCache® technology accelerates page load times, while advanced security features mitigate threats efficiently. WP Engine offers 24/7 support, ensuring minimal downtime and robust performance, although it lacks a built-in website builder and email hosting. It’s ideal for WordPress-centric websites, high-traffic sites, and agencies needing specialized tools and support for multiple clients.
Name.com (Overall grade: 7.3)
delivers reliable, affordable hosting options suited for small businesses and individuals. It offers cloud and VPS hosting powered by DigitalOcean, providing excellent CPU performance. Its straightforward cPanel interface and free SSL certificates simplify setup and management. While it includes secure email hosting and a website builder, Name.com’s support can be less responsive, and it doesn’t offer the same level of advanced WordPress optimization or automatic scalability as WP Engine.
 Overall grade:8.6 |
 Overall grade:7.3 |
|
|---|---|---|
| Uptime and Availability | 9.6 | 9.5 |
| Hosting Performance | 9.1 | 8.3 |
| Hosting Security | 9.4 | 8.2 |
| Price | 8.1 | 8.8 |
| Hosting Features | 6.8 | 7.4 |
| Ease Of Setup | 8.3 | 8.2 |
| User Management | 8.8 | 0.0 |
| Customer Support | 8.9 | 8.2 |
| User feedback | 4.6/5 | 2.7/5 |
Hosting Types Offered
Both platforms provide a variety of hosting types, each designed to meet the different needs of users.
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|---|---|---|
| Shared hosting | ||
| Cloud hosting | ||
| WordPress hosting | ||
| Ecommerce hosting | ||
| VPS hosting | ||
| Dedicated hosting |
Although both offer a variety of hosting plans tailored to different needs, in
certain cases, one platform may prove to be more suitable.
Detailed comparison
Uptime and availability
Evaluates the average uptime statistics, uptime guarantee and overall availability of the hosting
provider
Score Components:
- Uptime percentage (30%): evaluates the uptime statistics in given period of time
- Uptime guarantee (20%): Assesses if the platform offers an uptime guarantee and
whether the actual uptime matches the promised guarantee. - General performance (25%): Evaluates how fast is the average response time and overall
it’s stability. - Responsiveness (10%): Adaptability to different devices and screen sizes.
- Availability (25%): Reflects the total downtime and number of outages.
9.6
9.5
🏆 Winner WP Engine: Known for its managed WordPress hosting, WP Engine ensures exceptional uptime and availability.
WP Engine’s commitment to uptime is evident from its 24/7 monitoring and proactive maintenance. This hosting service has demonstrated outstanding uptime performance, maintaining 100% uptime over two months with a server response time of 489ms. A 99.99% SLA further guarantees minimal downtime, making it suitable for high-traffic websites. With global data centers and automated security measures, WP Engine provides reliable and secure hosting solutions.
Name.com offers excellent performance and reliability, showcasing a 99.99% uptime guarantee with a response time of 220ms. Its hosting plans include free automated backups and robust security options like server monitoring and spam protection. Though aimed at beginners, Name.com provides quality support, including 24/7 ticket assistance. With multiple data centers worldwide, it ensures good performance and accessibility for a diverse audience.
Hosting performance
Score Components:
- Hosting speed (30%): This includes SSD quality, Load times, PageSpeed score ranges,
additional information on website speed, built-in plugins for performance enhancement, available caching
methods, and CPU/RAM options - CDN (20%): Considers whether CDN is available or not, whether it’s free or paid, and
the quality of the CDN service - Available data centers (30%): Evaluates the number of data centers and their locations
globally. - Scalibility (20%): Looks at whether elastic scaling is available, the process required
to scale (manual upgrade vs. automatic scaling), the presence of dedicated servers, and the costs
associated with scaling.
9.1
8.3
🏆 Winner WP Engine: Superior speed, reliability, and security for WordPress sites
When comparing the general performance of WP Engine and Name.com, several key factors stand out. WP Engine boasts fast page load times, thanks to its EverCache® technology, and provides a global CDN with over 200 points of presence. It also supports the latest PHP version and includes Core Web Vitals solutions. On the other hand, Name.com uses 2nd gen Intel Xeon Scalable processors and offers cloud hosting powered by DigitalOcean, which promises better CPU performance per dollar. While Name.com has a more varied range of hosting plans, WP Engine’s data centers are more globally dispersed, covering regions like the US, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and the Asia-Pacific area.
Website Speed
WP Engine leads in website speed by utilizing its proprietary EverCache® technology, which is engineered to handle large volumes of traffic efficiently. The free fully-managed CDN further boosts speed by minimizing latency across the globe. Name.com also offers excellent load times, supported by DigitalOcean’s cloud infrastructure and multiple global data centers. However, WP Engine’s comprehensive focus on WordPress optimization, including the latest PHP versions and Core Web Vitals, makes it superior in this category.
Scalability
In terms of scalability, WP Engine offers a scalable architecture designed to handle traffic spikes seamlessly. It provides isolated resources to optimize performance and reliability without needing to upgrade plans manually. The service ensures that your website remains responsive under varying levels of traffic. Name.com also offers excellent scalability options, allowing for straightforward upgrades in memory and disk space as your site grows. However, specific cost details and whether it is automatically elastic are not provided, making WP Engine’s approach more transparent and easier to evaluate.
Hosting security
and regulatory requirements
Score Components:
- Technical security measures (40%): This includes encryption, firewalls, DDoS
protection, secure configurations, server monitoring, access control and availability of security addons
(e.g Sitelock security). - Operational security measures (30%): Encompasses data privacy, backups and data
redundancy. - Compliance and certifications (20%): Adherence to legal and regulatory requirements
(e.g., GDPR, HIPAA) and possession of certifications (e.g., ISO 27001, SOC 2). - Business and reliability (10%): Factors in the provider’s reputation, uptime
guarantees, and customer support.
9.4
8.2
🏆 Winner WP Engine: Offers a comprehensive range of security features tailored to safeguard WordPress websites at an enterprise level.
Both WP Engine and Name.com have notable differences in their approaches to technical and operational
security, as well as in their compliance with regulations.
Technical security measures:
WP Engine blocks 72 million attacks daily and offers managed WAF, DDoS mitigation, and advanced edge protection through Argo Smart Routing. It uses daily backups, automatic updates, and SSL certificates. Name.com provides SSL certificates with varying levels of validation, automated backups, SSH and SFTP access, FTP/2 support, and spam protection. While both hostings offer PHP version support, WP Engine’s security is more robust with real-time threat detection and comprehensive protection layers.
Operational security measures:
WP Engine ensures continuous monitoring with proactive threat detection and updates, boasting a 24/7 global support team. It deploys proactive security alerts and maintains PCI compliance, though results may vary. Name.com regularly monitors network components and provides features like secure email encryption, spam protection, and a web-based file manager. Despite Name.com’s operational security measures, WP Engine’s global edge security and live monitoring make it superior in operations.
Compliance and certifications:
WP Engine is SOC-2 compliant and holds ISO 27001-2013 certification, demonstrating adherence to strict security and availability standards. It maintains compliance through regular updates and stringent security protocols. Name.com processes data in alignment with GDPR regulations but lacks specified HIPAA or PCI compliance details. WP Engine’s certifications and proactive compliance measures provide a higher assurance of regulatory adherence.
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|---|---|---|
SSL Certificate |
Free SSL certificates |
Various SSL certificates |
Additional Security Features |
Advanced DDoS Mitigation, Web Application Firewall, Edge Protection, Free SSL |
Automated backups, spam protection, secure email encryption |
PHP Versions |
Not specified |
PHP 7.0 to PHP 8.0+ |
GDPR Compliance |
Not specified |
Complies |
HIPAA Compliance |
Not specified |
Not specified |
PCI Compliance |
PCI inclusion scope |
Not specified |
Hosting features
Score Components:
- Domains (20%): Assesses the availability of a free domain, domain purchase options, and
pricing - Email (15%): Considers if the provider offers full email hosting, or is reselling
third-party service, and if the email is only transactional or not - Website builder (15%): Checks if website builder is available, and it’s user
friendliness and overall the level of customization allowed. - Staging environment (20%): Determines if a staging environment is available, allowing
for testing changes before going live. - FTP & SFTP accounts (10%): Evaluates if and how easily users can access FTP and
SFTP accounts - Git and SSH access (20%): Assess whether Git is integrated into the hosting service and
if SSH access is provided
6.8
7.4
🏆 Winner Name.com: The platform edges out as the winner due to its provision of a free domain for the first year.
Both WP Engine and Name.com offer robust hosting solutions catering to a variety of user needs. WP Engine specializes in managed WordPress hosting with a range of plans from basic to enterprise levels, emphasizing optimized performance, security, and support. Its features include EverCache® technology for speed, daily backups, free automated migration, and a suite of developer tools like GIT, SSH, and WP Engine Platform API. However, it lacks a native website builder, which might be a drawback for users looking for an all-in-one solution.
Name.com focuses on simplicity and reliability, offering automated backups, one-click WordPress setup, and unlimited storage and bandwidth. Users benefit from a straightforward cPanel interface, secure email encryption, and over 400 pre-installed scripts, making it easier to manage and customize their sites. One-click WordPress installation and free SSL certificates with unlimited FTP, SFTP, and SSH access enhance usability for beginners and advanced users alike. Unlike WP Engine, Name.com does not charge for basic services like backups and includes a website builder, making it an appealing choice for small businesses or individuals.
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Free domain |
No |
No |
Free SSL |
Yes |
Yes |
Email hosting |
No |
Yes, 100+ accounts |
Website builder |
No |
Yes |
Staging environment |
Yes |
No |
FTP & SFTP account |
Yes |
Yes |
Git and SSH access |
Yes |
Yes |
Free backup |
Yes |
Yes |
Money back guarantee |
No |
No |
a location.
As a result in rare cases the features mentioned here can differ from the ones you see on their websites.
Email services:
When it comes to email services, Name.com offers substantial benefits with secure email encryption, 100+ email accounts, unlimited forwarders, and auto-responders. These features make it convenient for users to manage their communications effortlessly. WP Engine, on the other hand, does not provide email hosting, focusing more on website performance and security. For robust email hosting and simple integration, Name.com stands out as the superior option.
Price
Score Components:
- Plan value (40%): What each pricing tier offers.
- Transparency and clarity (30%): Clearness of pricing structures.
- Flexibility of plans (20%): Range of options to suit different budgets.
- Hidden costs (10%): Additional expenses not included in the plan.
8.1
8.8
🏆 Winner Name.com: A hosting provider with diverse, affordable plans suitable for various levels of users.
Evaluating the pricing of plans among various hosting providers can be complex due to their differing pricing and renewal strategies. Additionally, certain plans require annual commitments, which adds to the difficulty of making comparisons. The prices listed are based on monthly commitments; plans requiring annual commitments are indicated. Additionally, although some providers offer identical plans for WordPress and shared hosting, we have created separate tables for each to enhance clarity.
WP Engine offers managed WordPress hosting with plans ranging from $20/month for a single site on the Startup Plan to $600/month for customizable enterprise solutions. Notable features include automated backups, 10 premium themes, high security, and performance guarantees. Meanwhile, Name.com provides highly diverse options spanning basic web hosting, scalable cloud hosting with Digital Ocean, and earth-shattering affordability starting at $6/month for personal web hosting. Each provider excels in its right, but Name.com delivers unmatched flexibility and affordability across various hosting needs.
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Startup Plan $20:
1 website, 10 GB storage, 50 GB bandwidth, chat support, SSL, backups, performance and security scans. Value for price:8.0
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WordPress Hosting $2.50:
1 website, unlimited storage, unlimited bandwidth, backup, SSL. Value for price:8.5
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Professional Plan $40:
3 websites, 15 GB storage, 125 GB bandwidth, chat & phone support, SSL, backups, performance and security scans. Value for price:8.2
|
N/A
Value for price:N/A
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Growth Plan $77:
10 websites, 20 GB storage, 200 GB bandwidth, priority support, SSL, backups, performance and security scans. Value for price:8.4
|
N/A
Value for price:N/A
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Scale Plan $194:
30 websites, 50 GB storage, 500 GB bandwidth, priority support, SSL, backups, performance and security scans. Value for price:8.0
|
N/A
Value for price:N/A
|
|
Custom Plan $600:
Contact Sales for sites, storage, bandwidth, priority support, SSL, backups, security options. Value for price:7.8
|
N/A
Value for price:N/A
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|---|---|
|
N/A
Value for price:N/A
|
Personal Plan $7:
1 website, 10 GB storage, 100 email accounts, 10 MySql DB, Free SSL. Value for price:8.0
|
|
N/A
Value for price:N/A
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Premium Plan $11:
25 websites, 100 GB storage, unlimited email accounts, 50 MySql DB, Free SSL. Value for price:8.4
|
|
N/A
Value for price:N/A
|
Business Plan $18:
Unlimited websites, unlimited storage, unlimited email accounts, unlimited MySql DB, Free SSL. Value for price:8.8
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|---|---|
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N/A
Value for price:N/A
|
Digital Ocean 25GB Droplet $6:
1 website, 25 GB SSD, 1 GB memory, 1000 GB transfer. Value for price:8.2
|
|
N/A
Value for price:N/A
|
Digital Ocean 50GB Droplet $12:
1 website, 50 GB SSD, 2 GB memory, 2 TB transfer. Value for price:8.4
|
|
N/A
Value for price:N/A
|
Digital Ocean 60GB Droplet $18:
1 website, 60 GB SSD, 2 GB memory, extended CPU. Value for price:8.6
|
|
N/A
Value for price:N/A
|
Digital Ocean 80GB Droplet $24:
1 website, 80 GB SSD, 4 GB memory, 3 VCPUS, 4 TB transfer. Value for price:8.3
|
|
N/A
Value for price:N/A
|
Digital Ocean 160GB Droplet $48:
1 website, 160 GB SSD, 8 GB memory, 4 VCPUS, 5 TB transfer. Value for price:8.6
|
|
N/A
Value for price:N/A
|
Digital Ocean 320GB Droplet $96:
1 website, 320 GB SSD, 16 GB memory, 8 VCPUS, 6 TB transfer. Value for price:8.7
|
As a result in rare cases the prices displayed here can differ from the ones you see on their websites.
Enterprise plans
For enterprises, WP Engine’s Custom Plan starting at $600/month offers a robust suite of managed WordPress services, including priority support, security features, and dedicated technical account management. Name.com does not explicitly list an enterprise solution but offers scalable cloud hosting options with their highest-tier Digital Ocean Droplet plans, such as the 320GB plan at $96/month. This plan provides significant storage capacity and high memory, making it a potential choice for enterprises seeking budget-friendly, scalable solutions.
Ease of setup
platform.
Score Components:
- Site migration (25%): Assesses whether the provider offers tools for site migration,
either automated or manual, and whether these services are free or require a fee. - Admin panel usability (35%): Evaluates the type of admin panel provided, such as the
standard cPanel or a custom solution, focusing on its accessibility and user-friendliness for both
technical and non-technical users. - Setup features (20%): Examines the availability and ease of use of various setup
features, including FTP accounts, file managers, email account setup, PHPMyAdmin, and easy CDN
configuration. - Help center quality (20%): Measures the quality and accessibility of the provider’s
help center resources, including articles and tutorials.
8.3
8.2
🏆 Winner WP Engine: An easy-to-setup and WordPress-optimized hosting service.
WP Engine uses a custom-built admin panel specifically designed to cater to WordPress users. It is tailored to offer various features such as site migration, performance metrics, and security settings, all in an intuitive layout that both beginners and seasoned developers will find accessible. The panel is designed to be user-friendly, providing clear navigation and straightforward options, making site management efficient and less complicated.
Name.com, on the other hand, utilizes the standard cPanel, a widely recognized user interface in the web hosting industry. The familiar layout of cPanel helps users easily manage various aspects of their hosting environment, such as emails, databases, and file transfers, through a graphical interface. While it may not offer the same level of specialized WordPress tools as WP Engine, its broad compatibility and user-friendly design make it a reliable choice for both novice and experienced users.
WP Engine offers both automated and manual migration tools, providing a free Automated Migration plugin that simplifies the entire process. Their support team is readily available 24/7 to assist with any complications. Name.com focuses on ease of setup with a one-click WordPress installation feature but lacks a dedicated migration tool. Users may need to resort to manual migration methods, which can be supported by their knowledge base articles but may not be as straightforward as WP Engine’s migration options.
WP Engine’s support center is comprehensive, including articles, tutorials, and guides covering a broad range of hosting and WordPress-related topics. They offer 24/7 technical support via phone and chat. Name.com also provides a detailed knowledge base with various categories addressing common issues and step-by-step guides. Live chat support is available daily during specified hours, and users can also open support tickets for more personalized assistance.
User management
accessibility.
Score Components:
- Role customization (40%): Flexibility in creating and defining user roles and
permissions. - Ease of management (30%): User interface and tools for managing users.
- Access control (20%): Effectiveness of access control measures for different user
levels. - Scalability (10%): Ability to manage a growing number of users efficiently.
8.8
0.0
🏆 Winner: WP Engine: A comprehensive solution for user management with detailed roles and permissions.
When comparing WP Engine and Name.com in terms of user role management, WP Engine clearly stands out. WP Engine offers a structured and detailed approach to user roles and permissions, allowing administrators to define specific access levels for different types of users. This flexibility ensures that users can be assigned roles that fit their exact responsibilities. With roles such as Owner, Full (with billing), Full (no billing), and multiple Partial user roles, each with distinct permissions, WP Engine offers a granular approach to user management. On the other hand, Name.com lacks detailed information on user management and roles, which can make it challenging to provide the same level of personalized and secure user access.
WP Engine provides a user-friendly and detailed interface for managing users through its User Portal. Administrators can easily add, edit, and remove users with specific roles. The portal includes clear navigation and a step-by-step process for assigning roles and permissions, making it intuitive even for those new to hosting management. This streamlined approach is contrasted by Name.com, which does not provide sufficient information on the tools or interfaces it offers for user management, limiting the ability to make an informed comparison.
In terms of access control, WP Engine excels in ensuring effective management of user permissions and scalability. The User Portal includes comprehensive options for managing technical contacts, SFTP users, and environment-specific settings. This high level of control is crucial for growing teams and complex hosting setups. WP Engine’s detailed activity logs and filtering options further enhance its ability to monitor and manage user activities. Without comparable information from Name.com, it is difficult to ascertain how well it handles similar access control and scalability requirements.
WP Engine user roles table:
| Role | Description | Access highlights |
|---|---|---|
| Owner | Full control over the account and all its environments. | Can delete sites, manage users, transfer sites, purchase add-ons, and make billing changes. |
| Full (with billing) | Comprehensive access with the ability to manage billing. | Can access billing information, initiate site transfers, and manage Smart Plugin Manager, but cannot delete sites or users. |
| Full (no billing) | Full access without billing permissions. | Can accept transferable sites and manage Smart Plugin Manager but cannot initiate site transfers or make billing changes. |
| Partial (with billing) | Limited to specific environments with billing access. | Can copy and restore between environments, initiate site transfers, but cannot manage Smart Plugin Manager or create/delete sites. |
| Partial (no billing) | Limited to specific environments without billing access. | Can copy and restore between environments designated by the owner, cannot initiate site transfers, manage the Smart Plugin Manager, or access billing information. |
WP Engine’s structured and detailed approach to user management, combined with its intuitive user interface and robust access control measures, clearly positions it as the superior choice for hosting providers in terms of user management.
Customer support
hosting provider.
Score Components:
- Support communication channels (30%): Measures the variety of customer support types
provided (live chat, chatbot, email, phone, etc.) - Availability (20%): Assesses the availability hours for each channel, including 24/7
support options. - Technical support quality (30%): Assesses whether the provider offers comprehensive
technical support, including hardware upgrades (e.g., HDD to SSD), software installations, and web
server configuration changes. - Enterprise support (20%): Checks if there are dedicated or priority support services
for enterprise-level customers.
8.9
8.2
🏆 Winner WP Engine: Offers extensive 24/7 support with multiple support channels and a high customer satisfaction score.
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Phone support |
||
Live chat support |
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Chatbot |
||
Email/ticket support |
||
Enterprise support (dedicated agent, priority support) |
WP Engine stands out with its round-the-clock support available 24/7, 365 days a year, through both phone and live chat. Customers also have access to WordPress experts for technical assistance and a comprehensive knowledge base. The user portal makes it easy for clients to manage their accounts, including billing and plan changes. Premium support options are also available for users needing more experienced assistance.
In contrast, Name.com provides decent support with live chat and ticket systems, but their phone support is limited to specified hours. They offer comprehensive articles in their knowledge base and a live virtual bot for off-hours support. While Name.com provides good reliability and a 30-day money-back guarantee, the limited support hours can be a drawback for customers seeking assistance outside of standard times.
User feedback
WP Engine exudes excellence in managed WordPress hosting, boasting top-notch technical support that’s often highlighted as a standout feature. Users appreciate the user-friendly dashboard, seamless migration tools, daily backups, and solid security measures, all of which contribute to high performance and reliability. However, the service does come at a higher price point, which some users find steep, especially for entry-level plans or smaller projects. Despite occasional concerns about costs and some technical nuances, WP Engine’s premium service quality justifies the expense for many, making it a highly recommended solution for businesses and developers alike.
User feedback for the hosting provider reveals a mixed bag of experiences. While many users appreciate the straightforward domain registration process, easy-to-use interface, and competitive pricing, there are significant concerns regarding customer service. Negative reviews often highlight slow response times, unhelpful support, and issues with account management. Users also express dissatisfaction with hosting services, citing technical difficulties and a lack of advanced features. However, some long-term users remain loyal, finding the platform reliable for domain-related solutions despite its shortcomings in customer support.
FAQ
Which platform is better suited for hosting WordPress websites?
WP Engine is specifically designed for managed WordPress hosting with enhanced performance, security, and developer tools, making it ideal for WordPress-centric sites. Name.com also offers WordPress hosting; however, it does not provide the same level of specialized optimization and advanced features as WP Engine. Therefore, WP Engine is better suited for hosting WordPress websites, especially for those seeking optimized performance.
Which hosting service offers better security features?
WP Engine provides superior security features tailored for WordPress, including advanced DDoS mitigation, a managed Web Application Firewall (WAF), and real-time threat detection. It also offers automatic updates, daily backups, and comprehensive SSL certificates. While Name.com includes SSL certificates, automated backups, and spam protection, WP Engine’s robust security measures make it the better option for security-focused users.
Which platform offers better customer support?
WP Engine offers extensive 24/7 support through phone and live chat, as well as access to WordPress experts and a comprehensive knowledge base. Name.com provides live chat and ticket support but is limited to specified hours for phone support. Given the round-the-clock availability and specialized WordPress assistance, WP Engine offers better customer support.
Which hosting service offers more scalability options for growing websites?
WP Engine provides a scalable architecture with isolated resources that handle traffic spikes seamlessly and automatically, ensuring reliability without manual upgrades. Name.com allows for straightforward upgrades in memory and disk space, but the specifics of automatic elastic scaling are not clear. This makes WP Engine’s approach to scalability more transparent and reliable for growing websites.
How do the providers handle email hosting and what features are included?
Name.com excels in email hosting, offering secure email encryption, 100+ email accounts, and advanced features like auto-responders and unlimited forwarders. WP Engine does not include email hosting, focusing instead on website performance and security. For users needing robust email functionalities, Name.com is the better choice.
The making of this blog
We followed a clear, step-by-step process to write and research this article.
