Does creating a website intimidate you? Well, fear no more, we’re going to show you that building a website is a lot easier than it seems. In fact, creating a site and getting it online has never been faster. There are a variety of web building platforms that will get you up and running within hours. You just have to know where to look and what steps to take. Read on to learn how to build a website in four simple steps. You can also check out this website-building guide if you’re looking for more information on the topic.
Step One: Select A Platform
Choosing what platform your site is going to be built on is the first thing you need to do. There are a lot of content management systems (CMS) to choose from, and it’s essential to choose the right one. The last thing you want is to start creating your site and then discover that it’s not suited to your needs. So you need to do your research. For instance, some platforms require that you know a little bit of CSS or HTML or other coding languages. Therefore your technical ability will determine which platform you choose. For example, a good CMS for beginners is WordPress.org. WordPress is easy to use and suitable for both bloggers and people wanting to run a business.
Step Two: Choose A Domain Name
A domain name is an address that people will use to navigate to your site. It’s also how your website will be identified. It goes without saying that your domain name is a big part of your brand. There are several things you should keep in mind when choosing a domain name:
● Make It Simple To Type And Remember
Avoid using slang or words with multiple spellings. Also, keep it short. If it’s long and complex, you risk having people mistype or misspell it.
● Include Relevant Keywords
Consider what words people generally use to search for your business and services and include these in your domain name. For example, if you do eyeglass repair, you could make your domain EyeGlassRepair.com.
● Don’t Use Numbers And Hyphens
It’s easy to misunderstand numbers and hyphens. People can get confused about whether a number is a numeral or whether it’s spelled out. There’s also a good chance that people will forget or misplace a hyphen.
● Do Your Research
You must research your desired domain name to ensure it isn’t copyrighted, trademarked, or being used by someone else.
Step Three: Select A Hosting Plan
You need a hosting plan in order for your site to be accessible on the internet. There is a variety of hosting providers to choose from. Selecting a provider and a plan depends on the needs of your site.
There are three types of hosts, shared, VPS, and dedicated. Depending on your needs, you will choose one of these options.
Shared hosting provides users with a single physical server that hosts multiple sites. This is the most affordable option; however, because resources are shared, this option is not suitable for websites with high traffic or high volume.
VPS or virtual private server also involves sharing a server. However, the resources are segregated so that the performance of one site doesn’t affect the others.
Dedicated hosting is a single server that serves an individual client. Therefore all of the resources are at your disposal.
Step Four: Set Up Your Site, Customize It And Add Content
Depending on the platform you choose, you will either have the option of choosing from a selection of theme templates or designing your site from scratch. The easiest way to get your website set up is to select a theme template and then modify it. For example, if you choose a WordPress theme, you get a basic layout for your site. You can then change the colors, the font, widgets, and add plugins for increased functionality.
The next thing you’re going to want to do is to add content. This can be a blog, product pages, or explanations of your services.
And that’s it! You’re all set to build your first business website!
