If you're not technical enough to know what a VPS (dedicated server) is, you're not technical enough to run and maintain one. Important software updates need to

If you're not technical enough to know what a VPS (dedicated server) is, you're not technical enough to run and maintain one. Important software updates need to be done, backups might now be your responsibility and whereas your shared hosting has monitoring and teams to keep it up, that team is now you (oh by the way, you'll need monitoring too). You need to split the two components, as other HN readers have said. There are lots of reasons to use something like MailChimp (I use them) and only financial reasons not to. Find a mail provider for your marketing, and use shared hosting for your website - unless it's really popular - then either approach a customer friendly company (MediaTemple have been good to my previous non-tech clients) or be prepared to pay a contractor. I'm guessing the fact you have an in-demand site and a 15k subscription list means your earning at least something, so think of this as investing. Trying to host/maintain the technology that underpins your business is like using discount supermarket oil in your sports car.