Thursday, December 26, 2019

The Epidemic Of Smallpox A Debate For Many Parents

The epidemic of smallpox is one of the most groundbreaking moments in medical history, It created the usage of vaccination to be extremely normal. Smallpox had managed to kill millions of people, which was a large part of the population at the time. Edward Jenner came up with a vaccine that could treat the illness and doctors were easily able to diagnose individuals. The process took a merely It only took around fourteen years to see that smallpox was no longer something people needed to fear. A vaccine is defined as any preparation used as a preventive inoculation to confer immunity against a specific disease, usually employing a harmless form of the disease agent, as killed or weakened bacteria or viruses, to stimulate antibody†¦show more content†¦The population of people were all over this vaccination. As time went on they began to realize that it was really working. Times went on and vaccines have become extremely common in America. Although some people view new medicin e negatively, we can not disregard the fact that it has the capability to heal people because over time as it has proven throughout history. Being educated to what is going in your body will not only save your family but help educate others. As a culture are we getting vaccines because they are mandatory and a part of the social norm or is it because they actually work? Many infants and children are dying around the world due to preventable diseases; Dr. Robert Pearl says, â€Å"There is nothing more disheartening for a physician than watching a patient die from a preventable cause. And, of course, the loss for the family involved is unimaginable† (Forbes). The parents of children in underdeveloped nations of the world are in need of vaccines. Vaccines are sent to these locations to help the people thrive. However, in the United States it is a different story, where parents demand their children not to be vaccinated. Vaccines are readily available to people, yet they refuse for many different reasons. Most of the reasons given for not vaccinating children are because of religious reasons, forgetfulness, moral beliefs, monetary issues and the theory that vaccines cause other health related issues, such

Wednesday, December 18, 2019

How Can Organizations Shape And Manage Relationship Inter...

IT-BASED VALUE CO-CREATION IN HUB-SPOKE DYADS IT-based value co-creation research is concerned with inter-organizational arrangements and processes in which two or more organizations leverage IT to form mutually beneficial partnerships or alliances (Grover et al. 2012). In such relationships, the partnering organizations seek to generate value that is greater than the value they could create independently by relying upon market mechanisms alone (Dyer et al. 1998). Based on these premises, IT-based value co-creation research seeks to understand and explain how IT can help organizations shape and manage relationship inter-dependencies and associated exchanges (e.g., information flows) to yield mutual benefits. As such, Kohli et al. (2008, p. 28) suggest â€Å"co-creation represents the idea that (a) IT value is increasingly being created and realized through actions of multiple parties, (b) value emanates from robust collaborative relationships among firms, and (c) structures and incentives for parties to partake in and equitably share emergent value are necessary to sustain co-creation.† Using IT-enabled organizational relationships as the unit of analysis, recent studies have empirically examined how such relationships can yield mutual benefits, especially in the business-to-business (B2B) context. Examples include IT-based value co-creation in supply chain relationships (Cederlund et al. 2007; Klein et al. 2009; Rai et al. 2012), between platform producers and developersShow MoreRelatedAramark Analysis8473 Words   |  34 PagesUnited Arab Emirates etc. Meanwhile, in order to gain visibility in the international market, Aramark also participated in providing premium food service for the Beijing Olympics in 2008 (Tschang 2008). As a sustainability and customer-oriented organization, ARAMARK thrives to responsibly address issues that matter to its customers, employees and communities by focusing on employee advocacy, health and safety, environmental management and social participation. 2. Highlights of ARAMARK’s History Read MoreRole of Communication Employee Involvement in the Process of an Organizational Change23165 Words   |  93 Pagesnecessitate change in organizations are broadly categorized into people, technology, information processing and communication, and competition. Some changes in the organization occur suddenly without the conscious efforts of the people. These are called unplanned changes. On the other hand, some changes are initiated by the management to accomplish certain goals and objectives. These are called planned changes. More often, change is met with resistance. The resistance can be implicit (or covert)Read MoreIssues in Business Management and Economics8619 Words   |  35 PagesPaper The adoption of mobile phone: How has it changed us socially? Accepted 7 July , 2013 Augustine Addo Institute of Entrepreneurship and Finance, Department of Entrepreneurship and Finance, Kumasi polytechnic, P. O. Box 845, Kumasi, Ghana. Author Email: augustine_addo@yahoo.co.uk Tel: +233263928024 Mobile phone use has changed from a percieved item of luxury to an every day necessity for many people. This study therefore examined how the adoption of mobile phones has impactedRead MoreProject on Risk Management46558 Words   |  187 Pagesbeing submitted for approval to the Indian Institute of Finance. I declare that the form and contents of the above mentioned project are original and have not been submitted in part or full for any other degree or diploma of this or any other Organization/Institute/University. Signature: Name: SUBODH AGARWAL Enrolment no.: 4108163163 Management of Business Finance Read MoreChange Management49917 Words   |  200 Pageswhich occurs in the overall work environment of an organization. When an organizational system is disturbed by some internal or external force, the change may occur. The change is modification of the structure or process of a system, that may be good or even bad. It disturbs the existing equilibrium or status quo in an organization. The change in any part of the organization may affect the whole of the organization, or various other parts of organization in varying degrees of speed and significance. ItRead MoreLogistics Management19517 Words   |  79 Pagesexecutive and managers find frighteningly unfamiliar. These forces are the 3 C’s, customer, competition and change. Customers: - Seller no longer has upper hand whereas customers do. A customer now tells the supplier what they want, when they want it, how they want it and what they will pay. Competition: - It used to be simple the company that could get the market with an acceptable product and service, at the best price could get the sale. Now, not only does the competition exist but also, it’s ofRead MoreUncertainty and Project Management: Beyond the Critical Path Mentality10543 Words   |  43 Pagesuncertainty requires another management approach. In this paper we categorize the different types of uncertainty with which a project manager can be confronted and we develop a list of tools and managerial approaches that can help the project manager to respond to the different types of uncertainty. 1. INTRODUCTION In executing operational activities, organizations often find it useful to make a distinction between processes, the systematic execution of repetitive activities, and projects, the one-timeRead MoreBackground Inditex, One of the Worlds Largest Fashion Distributors, Has Eight Major Sales Formats - Zara, Pull and Bear, Massimo Dutti, Bershka, Stradivarius, Oysho, Zara Home Y Kiddys Class- with 3.147 Stores in 70100262 Words   |  402 Pagesprogramme, and for providing the researchers within FLIPP with several valuable opportunities to discuss our research and exchange experiences with policy makers, corporate practitioners and other researchers along the way. I believe that it shows great foresight on behalf of the Swedish EPA that they recognise the need to explore new ways to address the environmental challenges associated with production and consumption through policy, and that they actively pursue this by committing funds to researchRead MoreOrganization Study @ Beml (Internship Report)11749 Words   |  47 Pageslike CNC machines, hi-tech welding equipment and flexible manufacturing systems to turn out cutting-edge technology products. All three manufacturing facilities are certified for ISO 9001-2000. BEML operates on three major business verticals for associated equipment manufacturing: ↠ Mining Construction ↠ Defence ↠ Rail Metro In addition to the above there are three Strategic Business Units (SBUs): ↠ Technology Division for providing end-to-end engineering solutions ↠ TradingRead MoreProject Mgmt296381 Words   |  1186 PagesLeadership Chapter 2 Organization Strategy and Project Selection 1.4 Projects and programs (.2) 1.4.1 Managing the portfolio 1.4.3 Strategy and projects 2.3 Stakeholders and review boards 12.1 RFP’s and vendor selection (.3.4.5) 11.2.2.6 SWAT analysis 6.5.2.7 Schedule compression 9.4.2.5 Leadership skills G.1 Project leadership 10.1 Stakeholder management Chapter 11 Teams Chapter 3 Organization: Structure and Culture 2.4.1 Organization cultures [G.7] 2.4.2 Organization structure [9.1

Tuesday, December 10, 2019

Business Model Analysis Canvas Business Model

Question: Discuss about theBusiness Model Analysis for Canvas Business Model. Answer: Introduction: Identification of the key Components of Canvas Business Model The canvas business model comprises of several crucial components which are required to run a business successfully. These key components can be further divided into several other categories such as infrastructure, offerings, customers, channels, relationship with the customers, finances and revenue streams (Adams, 2014). Considering these several features are of great importances as these components reveal the execution of the complete industry procedure in order to establish the pillars of the business within the concerned marketplaces (Van Hecke, 2010). It is evident to understand the desired wishes of the customers within the selected area of the markets as this will facilitate the offering provided to the respective clients. The adoption of the Canvas Business Model offers perfect direction for the execution of the completely new business venture. The different key components of this model have been described below as to provide clear understanding regarding the Model. Description of Each Component Key Resources The collection of the preferred resources such as intellectual resources, physical resources, Human Resources and the customer relationship resources are crucial as this assists in enhancing the effectiveness of the complete business. The resources are considered to be the most significant assets of the particular firm. Key Partners For the proposed business, there are some of the vital partners as to execute the business they are Website developers, graphic designers, software developers and the web designers. The role of the key partners is to improve the overall performance of the firm and to increase the rate of productivity (Zheng and Xue, 2009). For this business, the role of graphic designers and the other web designers are very crucial as they help to increase the efficiency and reliability of the website which is going to be used for the business procedure. Value Propositions It refers to the particular collection of the services along with the products as per the satisfactory wishes of the clients. The clients need to be satisfied regarding the requirements as they facilitate the preferred growth and expensing of the firm. As per the well-known researchers, the value proposition is defined to be the desired offerings of the firm which distinguishes it from the other competitors within the targeted marketplaces. It includes the performance of the website, security of the website, cost saving, incentives for the use of the website and customer service. Customer Relationships The relationship with the customer needs to be improved as to completely satisfy them with the offerings of the products along with services (Spanyol, 2014). There is the vital scope for self-service to the entire customers particular with the use of this website. This will help in utilizing the time of the customers and will retain them towards the business. Setting up of the customer care will provide effective and reliable services to all of the customers. Customer Segments Identification of the different target market segments for the different clients are crucial as this will offer satisfactory services as peer the change in trend throughout the market segments (Safko, 2010). The customers can be reached through e-mail, channels, websites and social media to draw their attention towards the firm. This consists of the mass markets, segmented markets, niche markets, diversity and the multi-sided platforms. Cost Structure This includes the advertising marketing, up gradation of the system with the help of the graphic designers, web hosting, and website developers. The structure provides complete view regarding the costs involved in the full marketing and advertising activities and this is very crucial for a collection of the financial resources for the whole business processes (Ryall, 2010). Revenue Streams The revenue streams highlight particular way I which the income for the firm is received. There are several ways for generating the revenue for the company, such as the donation to the website, populated list which is generated after the listing of the advertisements, advertisements fee for the membership and membership advertising (McDonald, Mouncey, and Maklan, 2014). These ways increase the overall running of the business procedure. Reason for Choosing the Elements These elements provide the desired elevation in the enhancement of the business procedure starting from the collection of the resources to final advertising and promotion of the website concerned. The customer market segments are an important component as it provides the actual view regarding the needs and the demands of the clients within the targeted market segments (Kendrick, 2010). The customer relationship is another important component which has been selected in order to provide unmatched service to the clients for retaining them within the particular firm (Hox, 2010). The different resources such as the intellectual, Human Resource and the physical resources plays the major role in administrating the full business procedures. The Human Resources facilitates the growth of the firm by recruiting the most skilled developers and the graphic designers in order to increase the reliability and smoothness of the companys website. Starting from the development of the website to its run ning needs to be understood in an effective manner for this reason the key components have been selected. Key partners are of immense significance as they increase the growth of the concerned business to the larger extent and opt for more profits (Guide to the business analysis body of knowledge, 2015). It is vital to understand and recognize the characteristics of the cost involved within the business process with the help of the cost structure. The fixed costs, variable cost needs to be recognized in order to increase the effective business methods. Importance of Each Element to Business Each of the elements within the Canvas business model reflects its importance as to maybe the resources, customers and the entire technical requirements for perfect evaluation of the business methods. The key partners, key resources, and the key activities are the essential key components which are required to develop the infrastructure in an effective way (Gallagher, 2009). The issues and the queries if the different customers related to the services provide to them with the help of the website needs to be solved by the customer care of the firm. The business model of a canvas is the preferred strategic management mainly for the development of the new or the existing business within the targeted market segments. It includes and describes the firm's value propositions, customer's relationships, finances and the infrastructure which are of great importance as to bring out the positive outcomes for the firm. Adaptation of this Current Business Model into Present Market Environment The canvas business model is particularly used by each and every of the business firms within the competitive market segments, which in turn increases the level of competition for the existing organizations. It provides the preferred structure or the template to execute the growth of the firms concerned within the concerned market segments. It has been the most effective tool for the new startup of business. It reflects the steps involved starting from the revenue streams to the achievement of the defined missions for the concerned organizations. It helps in reflecting and finding the issues which certainly comes while the running of the complete business procedures. In other words, the model proposes the crucial elements required to evaluate the growth or the expansion of the particular firm within the certain market areas (Fabozzi and Markowitz, 2011). The identification of the customer segments provides perfect idea for the development of the website of the firm as to assist the c lients with satisfactory services required by them. The key partners such as the developers, graphic designer play the major role in enhancing the reliability of the website so that more clients can be attracted to the business of the firm. The approach of the targeting, segmentation and positioning help to offer the wide variety of ideas for the expansion of the business as compared with that of the other firms (Davis, 2013). The customer segment as included within the canvas business model highlights the identification and selection of the market area of the customers so to assist them with the better or superior quality of the services. The adaption of this model increases the output of the enterprise as compared with that of other competitors in the market places (Desbordes, 2013). The value proposition reveals the offerings of the firm to the clients and the model also establishes the effectual relationship among the value propositions and the beneficiaries. The distribution ch annel is crucial in order to spread the offerings of the firm to the customers in a wide area within the targeted or selected marketplaces. Managing the relationship with the different consumers is one of the crucial responsibilities of the firm as it affects the mental level of the clients (Choudhry, 2010). The globalization has increased the demands of the best quality of services at the affordable price ranges and it is, therefore, much importance to assist the clients with the satisfactory services as this will bring out positive outcomes with great results for the association (Chapman, 2011). The clientele can be reached during e-mail, channels, and websites along with social media to draw their attention towards the firm. As per the changing trends all through the different areas of the market segments, the needs for the latest and innovative services have significantly increased and thus, the demands for the adaptation of this canvas business model has increased as it fulfill s the needs and the desired of the clients. References Adams, M. (2014). Latest Developments in Officers Duties of SMEs.Journal of Business Systems, Governance Ethics, 6(3). Chapman, R. (2011).Simple tools and techniques for enterprise risk management. Chichester, England: Wiley. Choudhry, M. (2010).Capital market instruments. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan. Davis, B. (2013).Managing business analysis services. Plantation, FL: J. Ross Publishing. Desbordes, M. (2013). Latest sponsorship strategies and the need for research.International Journal of Sports Marketing and Sponsorship, 14(3), pp.1-1. Fabozzi, F., and Markowitz, H. (2011). The theory and practice of investment management. Hoboken, N.J.: John Wiley Sons. Gallagher, R. (2009).How to tell anyone anything. New York: American Management Association. Guide to the business analysis body of knowledge. (2015). Toronto : Ontario: International Institute of Business Analysis. Hox, J. (2010).Multilevel analysis. New York: Routledge. Kendrick, R. (2010).Cyber Risks for Business Professionals. Ely: IT Governance Pub. McDonald, M., Mouncey, P. and Maklan, S. (2014).Marketing Value Metrics. London: Kogan Page. Ryall, M. (2010).Bridge management. Amsterdam: Elsevier/Butterworth-Heinemann. Safko, L. (2010).The social media bible. Hoboken, N.J.: Wiley. Spanyol, T. (2014). Nuisance calls latest.J Direct Data Digit Mark Pract, 15(4), pp.348-350. Van Hecke, M. (2010).The brain advantage. Amherst, N.Y.: Prometheus Books. Zheng, N. and Xue, J. (2009).Statistical learning and pattern analysis for image and video processing. New York: Springer.

Monday, December 2, 2019

WP Engine Review for WordPress Is It Worth the Money

There are plenty of cheap hosts available that provide a decent service. However, what if you’re looking for more of a performance-oriented, concierge service? In that case, you’ll want to check out our WP Engine review for WordPress.WP Engine is a WordPress-specific web host, offering managed plans that are fully optimized for the platform. Of course, when compared to many other WordPress hosts, WP Engine’s plans aren’t exactly cheap. Therefore, you’ll want to know whether this hosting service is worth the cost before making a purchase.To help you out, were going to conduct a thorough WP Engine review for WordPress. We’ll discuss its key features, support options, performance capabilities, and everything else you’ll need to know. Let’s get started! WP Engine is one of the top names.Its service offers quite a few WordPress-specific features, including:Quick and easy migrations from your old host.A free Secure Socket Layers (SSL) certificate, which is an important security measure.Support for setting up staging sites.Plenty of performance tracking and diagnostic options.Support optionsWP Engine plans come with plenty of support included. You’ll get 24/7 access to dedicated help, whether that’s via phone, email, or live chat. Support options are easy to access right from your user portal, once you’ve signed up.We took a test drive of the live chat to get a feel for the support staff:Agents were quick to respond, helpful, and seemed knowledgeable about the platform. They were able to answer our questions without any trouble. For even more assistance and information, there’s also a resource center and a comprehensive knowledge base with lots of well-written documentation and tutorials.PerformanceFeatures and support are important, but performance is what makes or breaks a web host. Fortunately, WP Engine offers plenty of performance-enhancing features, such as:A free Content Deliver y Network (CDN) service, included on all plans.A Page Performance  solution that  tests your site and helps you make improvements.An add-on called GeoTarget that optimizes your site for specific regions.What’s more, WP Engine offers a lot of server locations. We won’t list them all out (there are 19), but they include data centers in North America, Europe, Asia, and Australia.All of this should translate to excellent real-world performance. Let’s see if that’s the case!Page speed tests with PingdomFor the next phase of our WP Engine Review for WordPress, we set up a basic site and tested its loading speeds using Pingdom Tools  from various locations around the world. Here are our results:New York: 1.61 secondsMelbourne: 1.67 secondsSan Jose: 0.39 secondsStockholm: 1.60 secondsThese are remarkably consistent times (with the exception of San Jose, which is the clear stand-out). 1.6 seconds isn’t particularly impressive, but it’s a decent speed that remains below the all-important two-second mark.Page speed tests with Load ImpactIt’s always smart to test performance using multiple tools. So we also used Load Impact to simulate the effects of multiple simultaneous users on our WP Engine site. Here’s what we got:Load Generator: Ashburn, USATest Server: Ann Arbor, USAMinimum Response Time: 0.51 secondsMaximum Response Time: 0.59 secondsBasically, this chart shows that as the number of visitors increases (blue line), our test sites page load times remained consistent (green line). Thats a good thing because it means your site will load just quickly for the 1st visitor as it will for the 50th person visiting  at the same time.PricingWhile WP Engine only offers one type of service – its managed WordPress hosting – it also provides a number of tiered plans to choose from. These plans differ dramatically in how many resources they offer and the number of sites they cater for, which means youâ⠂¬â„¢re getting a very scalable service.Let’s run through each of the WP Engine plans quickly:Startup ($35 per month): With this entry-level tier, you get support for up to 25,000 visits per month, one website, 10GB of storage, and 50GB of bandwidth. You’ll also get an SSL certificate, access to a global CDN, and a few other key features.Growth ($115 per month): This plan increases your traffic support to 100,000 and provides you with five sites. In addition to more resources, you get access to 24/7 phone support and can import your own SSL certificates.Scale ($290 per month): This tier is largely identical to the last. It simply provides even more resources, bumps your site count up to 15, and supports up to 400,000 visits per month.Premium and Enterprise: These are custom plans, so pricing will vary. They provide lots of additional resources and support, and move your hosting up from a shared setup to dedicated servers.These plans aren’t cheap, but they do pro vide plenty of features and lots of room for your site to grow. If you’re looking to build one or more serious business or e-commerce sites, this service is worth a look.Overall pros and consFor the final step in our WP Engine review for WordPress, let’s sum up the key pros and cons of this hosting provider.ProsWell-optimized for WordPress users.Simplifies the process of managing your website.Provides solid, consistent performance.Offers plenty of dedicated and expert support.ConsWon’t fit into everyone’s budget.Only offers managed hosting on shared servers (or dedicated servers on the custom plans).Alternatives to WP Engine hostingWP Engine is a solid hosting choice if you have a decent budget. However, it’s fairly expensive (especially on the higher tiers).If you like WP Engine in theory, but it just isnt in your price range, there are some alternatives you can check out. SiteGround is a great WordPress-specific provider, for example, and DreamHo st offers managed hosting that’s pretty affordable. For more information, you can take a look at our full article on alternatives to WP Engine.ConclusionWP Engine plans don’t come cheap – there’s no sugar-coating that fact. However, you’ll get a quality managed hosting service in exchange for your investment. This provider offers lots of vital WordPress-specific features, solid performance, and reliable support. If WP Engine does fit your budget, it’s worth serious consideration.If not, we mentioned a few alternatives above. For even more hosting options, you can check out some of our previous reviews:A2 Hosting Review for WordPress: Fastest Hosting You’ve Heard Of?HostGator WordPress Hosting Review: A Surprise TurnaroundInMotion Review for WordPress Hosting: A Dark Horse Among the Pack?Do you concur with the findings of our WP Engine review for WordPress? Share your thoughts with us in the comments section below! Considering @WPEngin e to host your #WordPress site? Read this detailed #review WP Engine $35.00 9.4 USER RATING 8.8/10 RELIABILITY 9.6/10 PERFORMANCE 9.8/10 SUPPORT 9.4/10 ProsPlenty of WordPress-specific featuresSolid performanceExpert support ConsPlans are priceyMost plans use shared hosting Go to WP Engine {"@context":"http:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"Product","name":"WP Engine","image":"https:\/\/mllj2j8xvfl0.i.optimole.com\/w:auto\/h:auto\/q:auto\/https:\/\/s15165.pcdn.co\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/wpengine-150x150.jpg","description":"There are plenty of cheap hosts available that provide a decent service. However, what if you\u2019re looking for more of a performance-oriented, concierge service? In that case, you\u2019ll want to check out our WP Engine review for WordPress. WP Engine is a WordPress-specific web host, offering managed plans that are fully optimized for the platform....","offers":{"@type":"Offer","price":"35.00","priceCurrency":"USD","seller":{"@type":"Person","name":" John Hughes"}},"review":{"@type":"Review","reviewRating":{"@type":"Rating","bestRating":"10","worstRating":"0","ratingValue":"9.40"},"name":"WP Engine","reviewBody":"There are plenty of cheap hosts available that provide a decent service. However, what if you\u2019re looking for more of a performance-oriented, concierge service? In that case, you\u2019ll want to check out our WP Engine review for WordPress.\r\n\r\nWP Engine is a WordPress-specific web host, offering managed plans that are fully optimized for the platform. Of course, when compared to many other WordPress hosts, WP Engine\u2019s plans aren\u2019t exactly cheap. Therefore, you\u2019ll want to know whether this hosting service is worth the cost before making a purchase.\r\n\r\n\r\nWP Engine review for WordPress \u2013 specific features\r\n\r\n\r\nIts service offers quite a few WordPress-specific features, including:\r\n\r\n \tQuick and easy migrations from your old host.\r\n \tA free Secure Socket Layers (SSL) certifica te, which is an important security measure.\r\n \tSupport for setting up staging sites.\r\n \tPlenty of performance tracking and diagnostic options.\r\n\r\nSupport options\r\nWP Engine plans come with plenty of support included. You\u2019ll get 24\/7 access to dedicated help, whether that\u2019s via phone, email, or live chat. Support options are easy to access right from your user portal, once you\u2019ve signed up.\r\n\r\nWe took a test drive of the live chat to get a feel for the support staff:\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nAgents were quick to respond, helpful, and seemed knowledgeable about the platform. They were able to answer our questions without any trouble. For even more assistance and information, there\u2019s also a resource center and a comprehensive knowledge base with lots of well-written documentation and tutorials.\r\nPerformance\r\nFeatures and support are important, but performance is what makes or breaks a web host. Fortunately, WP Engine offers plenty of performance-enhancing features, such as:\r\n\r\n \tA free Content Delivery Network (CDN) service, included on all plans.\r\n \tA Page Performance\u00a0solution that\u00a0tests your site and helps you make improvements.\r\n \tAn add-on called GeoTarget that optimizes your site for specific regions.\r\n\r\nWhat\u2019s more, WP Engine offers a lot of server locations. We won\u2019t list them all out (there are 19), but they include data centers in North America, Europe, Asia, and Australia.\r\n\r\nAll of this should translate to excellent real-world performance. Let\u2019s see if that\u2019s the case!\r\nPage speed tests with Pingdom\r\nFor the next phase of our WP Engine Review for WordPress, we set up a basic site and tested its loading speeds using Pingdom Tools\u00a0from various locations around the world. Here are our results:\r\n\r\n \tNew York: 1.61 seconds\r\n \tMelbourne: 1.67 seconds\r\n \tSan Jose: 0.39 seconds\r\n \tStockholm: 1.60 seconds\r\n\r\nThese are remarkably consistent times (with the exception of San Jose, which is the clear stand-out). 1.6 seconds isn\u2019t particularly impressive, but it\u2019s a decent speed that remains below the all-important two-second mark.\r\nPage speed tests with Load Impact\r\nIt\u2019s always smart to test performance using multiple tools. So we also used Load Impact to simulate the effects of multiple simultaneous users on our WP Engine site. Here\u2019s what we got:\r\n\r\n \tLoad Generator: Ashburn, USA\r\n \tTest Server: Ann Arbor, USA\r\n \tMinimum Response Time: 0.51 seconds\r\n \tMaximum Response Time: 0.59 seconds\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nBasically, this chart shows that as the number of visitors increases (blue line), our test site's page load times remained consistent (green line). That's a good thing because it means your site will load just quickly for the 1st visitor as it will for the 50th person visiting\u00a0at the same time.\r\nPricing\r\nWhile WP Engine only offers one type of service \u2013 its managed WordPress hosting \u20 13 it also provides a number of tiered plans to choose from. These plans differ dramatically in how many resources they offer and the number of sites they cater for, which means you\u2019re getting a very scalable service.\r\n\r\nLet\u2019s run through each of the WP Engine plans quickly:\r\n\r\n \tStartup ($35 per month): With this entry-level tier, you get support for up to 25,000 visits per month, one website, 10GB of storage, and 50GB of bandwidth. You\u2019ll also get an SSL certificate, access to a global CDN, and a few other key features.\r\n \tGrowth ($115 per month): This plan increases your traffic support to 100,000 and provides you with five sites. In addition to more resources, you get access to 24\/7 phone support and can import your own SSL certificates.\r\n \tScale ($290 per month): This tier is largely identical to the last. It simply provides even more resources, bumps your site count up to 15, and supports up to 400,000 visits per month.\r\n \tPremium and Enterpri se: These are custom plans, so pricing will vary. They provide lots of additional resources and support, and move your hosting up from a shared setup to dedicated servers.\r\n\r\nThese plans aren\u2019t cheap, but they do provide plenty of features and lots of room for your site to grow. If you\u2019re looking to build one or more serious business or e-commerce sites, this service is worth a look.\r\nOverall pros and cons\r\nFor the final step in our WP Engine review for WordPress, let\u2019s sum up the key pros and cons of this hosting provider.\r\nPros\r\n\r\n \tWell-optimized for WordPress users.\r\n \tSimplifies the process of managing your website.\r\n \tProvides solid, consistent performance.\r\n \tOffers plenty of dedicated and expert support.\r\n\r\nCons\r\n\r\n \tWon\u2019t fit into everyone\u2019s budget.\r\n \tOnly offers managed hosting on shared servers (or dedicated servers on the custom plans).\r\n\r\nAlternatives to WP Engine hosting\r\nWP Engine is a solid hosting c hoice if you have a decent budget. However, it\u2019s fairly expensive (especially on the higher tiers).\r\n\r\nIf you like WP Engine in theory, but it just isn't in your price range, there are some alternatives you can check out. SiteGround is a great WordPress-specific provider, for example, and DreamHost offers managed hosting that\u2019s pretty affordable. For more information, you can take a look at our full article on alternatives to WP Engine.\r\nConclusion\r\nWP Engine plans don\u2019t come cheap \u2013 there\u2019s no sugar-coating that fact. However, you\u2019ll get a quality managed hosting service in exchange for your investment. This provider offers lots of vital WordPress-specific features, solid performance, and reliable support. If WP Engine does fit your budget, it\u2019s worth serious consideration.\r\n\r\nIf not, we mentioned a few alternatives above. For even more hosting options, you can check out some of our previous reviews:\r\n\r\n \tA2 Hosting Review for Wor dPress: Fastest Hosting You\u2019ve Heard Of?\r\n \tHostGator WordPress Hosting Review: A Surprise Turnaround\r\n \tInMotion Review for WordPress Hosting: A Dark Horse Among the Pack?","author":{"@type":"Person","name":"John Hughes"},"datePublished":"2018-06-13"}}