Creating a website might not be as difficult or complicated as it seems at first glance. There’s no need to worry if you don't know what you're doing and there’s plenty of information out there about how to build websites (and even complete tutorials). However, this article aims to explain each individual step that goes into building a website so you can understand exactly what needs to happen next.
The steps we've outlined below aren't necessarily all inclusive, but they should give you enough to get started and hopefully inspire you to find more resources online. You may also want to check out our list of free tools to speed up your workflow too. If you have any questions after reading through the above content, feel free to leave them in the comments section and I'll try my best to answer them!
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1. Choose Your Domain Name – A domain name is basically where people go when they visit your site. It helps identify your company or brand. The easiest way to pick one is to search around until you find something unique and memorable. Once you’ve found a good idea, register it on a hosting provider. We recommend registering with Google Domains because their price is cheaper than most others and you can host multiple domains under their account.
2. Create an Account With Hosting Provider – Now that you’ve picked out a nice name, you’ll need somewhere to put it. Most hosts offer unlimited storage space, which means you won’t ever run out of room to store files. Make sure to choose a plan that allows you to upload lots of images, videos, etc. Also make sure your host offers cPanel, which is a great tool for managing everything else once you start adding things to your website.
3. Install Website Software - After choosing your domain name and signing up with a hosting solution, you’re ready to install software that makes it easier to manage every aspect of your website. For example, many hosts allow you to install WordPress, Joomla!, Squarespace, Wix, and other platforms to save time later on. These sites let you easily add pages and post articles without having to learn HTML code.
4. Set Up FTP Access – To move files between your computer and server, you’ll need access via FTP (File Transfer Protocol) to your hosting service. In general, you only need FTP access to transfer files back and forth during setup, but it’s always better to keep it enabled so that you can update your website whenever necessary.
5. Upload Files Using FTP Client - Next, connect to your hosting service using a standard FTP client, such as FileZilla or Cyberduck. When you arrive at the main page, click “Upload New Folder” and then browse to wherever you saved your website files.
6. Configure Database Settings – As mentioned before, you can customize your website pretty much however you want. However, you must configure database settings correctly before uploading anything to your website. On top of that, your website isn’t going to work properly unless you set up security and encryption.
7. Add Content From Computer Via FTP Client - Finally, copy and paste files directly onto your website using FTP. Don’t forget to change file permissions so everyone has full control over your website.
8. Test Everything Before Publishing – Once everything looks good, publish your website and test it thoroughly. Check spelling, grammar, layout, and functionality. If everything works well, congratulations — you just built your very own website!
This whole process probably sounds tedious and boring, right? But trust us, it gets faster with experience. So here are the final steps that bring your website together.
9. Optimize Images And Videos – One thing you shouldn’t overlook while setting up your website is optimizing images and video clips to display quickly. Use image optimization plugins like TinyPNG or ImageOptim, or download the source code yourself to optimize your own images.
10. Secure Your Site & Encrypt Data – While you’re working on your website, it’s important to secure it against hackers. Luckily, modern technology gives users several ways to protect themselves. For instance, SSL certificates encrypt data traffic and prevent unauthorized parties from accessing your sensitive details. You can buy these services at almost any digital shop.
11. Get Social Media Accounts Ready – Once you’ve finished creating your website, it’s time to get social media accounts ready. You’ll want a Facebook profile, Twitter handle, Instagram feed, YouTube channel, LinkedIn profile, Pintrest board, Pinterest account, Tumblr blog, Medium author platform, and maybe even a Snapchat username.
12. Start Building Links – Now that you have profiles set up, it’s time to start networking. Linkedin is currently the king of social networks, so focus on connecting with influencers who would benefit from knowing about your product or service. Then share relevant posts with your followers so they can see why you deserve authority status.
13. Post Regularly & Update Frequently – Just like you wouldn’t call someone and talk to them only twice a year, don’t expect visitors to return often either. Instead, post regularly and consistently throughout the week so people can follow along. Keep updating frequently so potential customers stay engaged.
14. Promote Yourself Online – Remember those influencers you connected with earlier? Well now it’s time to promote yourself. Write guest posts and reach out to bloggers who could feature you or provide valuable insight. If you’re really lucky, they might write an entire article about you.
15. Build Relationships Offline – Speaking of relationships, you’ll need to develop genuine connections offline as well. Find local businesses that serve similar demographics and invite them to events. Offer discounts and giveaways in exchange for mentions on their social channels.
16. Be Patient – Finally, you’ve worked hard to create your website, so be patient as you grow it. It takes time for people to discover your business whether on social media or elsewhere, so don’t rush in expecting instant success. Focus instead on providing quality products or services, giving solid customer support, and staying consistent.
17. Measure Results – At some point down the line, you’ll likely notice that your efforts pay off. That doesn’t mean you should stop improving though. Track metrics like number of views per day, amount of signups, bounce rate, average session duration, and conversion rates. All of these numbers tell you what kind of user engagement you’re getting, which helps improve future strategies.
18. Repeat Steps 1–17 Until Successful – Yes, this is still a long road ahead. But remember, nothing worth achieving comes easy. Take small baby steps forward and eventually you’ll achieve big results.
19. Publish Updates & Celebrate Achievements – Every month or quarter, take some time to sit down and review your progress. Look at analytics reports to figure out what went wrong and what went right. Then celebrate your achievements with family, friends, and co-workers.
20. Continue Learning More About Websites – Now that you’ve successfully completed the 20 steps, it’s time to expand your knowledge. Read blogs written by experts and watch videos to learn everything possible. Also consider taking online classes to fill gaps in skillset.
21. Stay Ahead Of Technology Trends – Since there’s never a perfect moment to launch a website, it pays to constantly innovate. Try implementing new technologies like AI bots, chatbots, voice assistants, virtual reality, augmented reality, cryptocurrency, and more.
22. Maintain Integrity – Never lose sight of your vision or purpose. Always prioritize integrity above profits, especially when dealing with customers. Treat people fairly and ethically to avoid losing credibility.
23. Have Fun Doing Business Online – Lastly, remember to enjoy life outside of work. Whether you spend time outdoors hiking trails or hanging out with friends, be grateful for what you already have. Life is short, so appreciate what you have while you have it.
If you want to know how to create a website, then this article may be of interest to you. Here we’ll take a look at some of the most common ways that sites get made and what it takes to actually build one yourself. And there’s no need to pay thousands or tens of thousands of dollars to do so either!
Building a site can seem like a daunting task but if you break down each stage into smaller tasks, they aren't as scary anymore. We've put together a quick and simple overview of all six stages below which should give you a good idea of where to start when learning more about building a website.
So here goes...
1) What type of design do I want my site to have?
2) How much content am I willing to write myself?
3) Where does my site fit in relation to other sites out there?
4) Is it going to be static (e.g., just text based), dynamic (e.g., user generated data, such as comments), or both?
5) Do I plan on monetizing any of my traffic? If yes, how many times per day/week would I expect people to click through to my affiliate links?
6) How fast do I want the site to load?
We'll talk more about these next before taking a deeper dive into the process of setting up your very first website. But now let’s take a closer look at them…
The following list gives us a handy summary of the eleven main steps involved in creating a new website, along with their associated costs and benefits. For simplicity purposes only, we're assuming that you already have a domain name registered somewhere else (such as with 1&1). So even though our examples will show you doing things online with tools like Google Docs, Blogger, etc., you don't necessarily need those services to set up a website. You could use Microsoft Word instead, for example. The important thing is that whatever method you choose, you must follow these guidelines.
Let's review them briefly before getting started.
1) Choose a Domain Name & Hosting Plan
This is probably the biggest decision you’re making right off the bat and the costliest too. There are plenty of domain registrars available to you, including big names like Godaddy, Bluehost, and 123reg.com among others. Each offers different hosting packages, pricing structures, and features. It’s best to shop around to see what works best for you and your budget. When choosing a host, make sure to read reviews and compare prices since not all hosts offer the same level of service. In addition, make sure to check whether your chosen host supports SSL certificates (which adds security to your site). If unsure, ask the support team or go ahead and sign up for a trial period.
2) Create Your Site Template
You can easily find templates that come preloaded with software designed to make it easier to design a basic HTML page. These include Wix, Squarespace, and Weebly, to name a few. All three are great options because you won’t have to worry about having to figure out CSS code or anything technical like that. They also automatically generate pages full of SEO optimized tags. However, keep in mind that while the templates themselves are generally pretty decent, they often lack customization capabilities, and they might require additional payments for certain features. Depending on your needs, you may opt to skip the template altogether and customize everything yourself. Or maybe you prefer to hire someone to do it for you. Either way, once you decide on a template, you’ll need to install and configure it properly. That means installing plugins, uploading files, and configuring settings according to its instructions. Keep in mind that most of the time, you’ll still end up writing your own code behind the scenes anyway. The point being that it doesn’t really matter if you start off with a template or not, as long as you understand the basics of coding.
3) Upload Files
Once you’ve got your template installed, you’ll need to upload various files onto it. Some of these are images, videos, audio clips, logos, fonts, and graphics. Others include JavaScript scripts, PHP programs, and Flash animations. To save time, you can usually find readymade stock photo libraries that provide royalty-free photos and illustrations for virtually every conceivable purpose. A word of caution though - these resources tend to expire quickly, so make sure you grab them as soon as possible. As for video and audio files, you can always record them yourself or use YouTube or SoundCloud accounts. Once uploaded, you can edit them as necessary. Again, depending upon your skill level, you might consider hiring someone to do this part for you. Otherwise, you can try to figure it out yourself. Just remember that editing image files requires special knowledge.
4) Set Up Email Accounts
Email addresses are vital for connecting visitors to your website. Many sites allow users to register for free but if you want to collect email subscribers, you’ll likely need to buy a license key for a popular provider, such as Mailchimp, Constant Contact, Campaign Monitor, GetResponse, etc. While many providers charge monthly fees, they typically offer introductory deals that lower rates over longer periods of time. Be aware that you won’t be able to send emails without buying a license, so make sure you pick one that suits your specific needs.
5) Add Content
Next comes adding actual content to your site. You can add posts, blogs, galleries, polls, forums, social media widgets, eBooks, PDF documents, slide shows, quizzes, surveys, forms, contact information, RSS feeds, and so forth. Whatever you decide to add, ensure that it follows the rules of proper formatting and that it makes sense within the context of your site overall. Then again, you might just want to stick to posting blog entries for starters. After all, it’s hard enough to attract readers without spending hours trying to figure out how to make something cool happen.
6) Optimize Your Website for Search Engines
Now comes the fun part: optimizing your website for search engines. This involves tweaking titles, meta descriptions, keywords, alt attributes, headings, body copy, sitemaps, robots.txt file, and 404 errors. Basically, it boils down to figuring out exactly what your target audience wants to find and ensuring that your site has all of the relevant information needed to meet their expectations. The good news is that most of the work is automated nowadays thanks to platforms like Yoast, Screaming Frog, and MajesticSEO. On top of that, you can use keyword research tools like Ahrefs, Moz, SEMRush, and Market Samurai to discover high volume terms related to your niche market.
7) Make Sure Everything Works Properly
After completing the above steps, you’ll need to test everything thoroughly. First, visit your site via a browser on multiple devices. Does everything display correctly? Are all navigation buttons accessible and responsive? Can users scroll easily through menus? Next, run a series of tests to confirm that your site loads consistently across browsers and operating systems. Finally, conduct another round of testing to make sure that your site functions well under stress conditions. Remember, no one likes waiting for pages to load for ages. So make sure to set realistic loading speeds and avoid excessive redirections. Also, verify that your site handles broken connections gracefully.
8) Promote Your Site Online
In order to drive traffic to your site, you’ll need to promote it using several channels ranging from paid advertising to organic SEO strategies. Paid ads are relatively cheap compared to organic marketing efforts, but they’re definitely worth considering. Social networking sites are particularly effective for promoting your site, especially Facebook and Twitter. Of course, you can also rely on PPC campaigns and press releases distributed via traditional outlets such as newspapers, magazines, radio stations, TV networks, trade associations, bloggers, and so forth. Other less expensive methods include distributing flyers, direct mailers, brochures, banner ads, infographics, and newsletters, among others.
9) Monetize Your Traffic
Finally, after years of running your site, you’ll eventually realize that you want to turn it into income generating machine. One option is to sell advertisements directly on your site. Another, perhaps better approach, is to partner with affiliates who market products and services related to yours. Affiliate marketing allows you to earn commissions whenever someone buys a product or service recommended by your site. There are tons of companies offering these kinds of opportunities, so you should seriously think about partnering up with one.
Creating your own website can be daunting at first and it’s not always clear where to begin. A lot of people want to know “How do I create my own website?” or “I want to start building a website but don't really know what to do next. How does one go about doing this?” Well, there are many different ways that you can approach this task. As long as you have access to the internet (which most everyone has these days), you should be able to find information online that might answer some of those questions for you. However, if you're still looking for more details on the topic, here we'll explain how websites are made and how they work in general terms, then give you tips on how to get started yourself.
If you've ever heard someone say something like "Oh man! My friend just built his own website!" -- well, he didn't actually build anything himself. He bought a domain name and paid a hosting company to host it for him. That's pretty much all there was to it. Now, while that may sound simple enough, you'd be surprised at just how complicated things can become once you take them into account. For example, when you buy a domain name, which domain registrar would you use? If you were going to purchase hosting services, which ones would you choose? What kind of content management system are you planning on using? Is it possible to set up your site without any technical knowledge whatsoever? These are only a few of the countless questions that need answering before anyone can even attempt to build their dream site. And that's why so many people simply decide against trying to create their own website. It seems overwhelming and impossible, right? But it doesn't have to be. In fact, there's no reason you shouldn't try to create your very own website. You can do it. Here are some helpful hints that will hopefully show you the way.
Websites are created using HTML code. They aren't written out word by word, sentence by sentence, paragraph by paragraph. Instead, each page is composed of several lines of HTML code. The easiest way to think of this is as though you had a blank sheet of paper and you wanted to write down instructions for a person who isn't familiar with computers. So instead of writing each individual letter of text, you'd rather draw them. Each line represents a single command that tells the computer exactly what to do. By typing commands together in order, you can tell the browser exactly what to display on the screen.
The most common type of programming language used to create websites is called HyperText Markup Language (HTML). There are other languages that you could potentially use, such as PHP, ASP.NET, etc., but HTML is considered the simplest option because it's relatively straightforward to understand. And since HTML is based around drawing letters and numbers onto a piece of paper, it makes sense why it's been referred to as the standard markup language.
You can also create websites using Flash and Adobe Dreamweaver. While both of these programs allow users to drag images and objects through menus and windows to place them precisely where they want them, neither of these options offer nearly the level of control that HTML provides. Even so, learning how to use one of these tools takes time and practice.
Although HTML is typically associated with coding websites, it can also be used to design graphics and logos too. Many professional designers use Photoshop or Illustrator to manipulate photos and designs to produce stunning results. Once you master the basics of HTML, you can easily incorporate graphics into your pages.
Another popular method for creating sites involves CSS. With CSS, you can add custom styles to elements within your website. Elements are basically blocks of text, images, videos, audio files, etc., that appear in sequence on every page. Using CSS, you can change the appearance of entire sections of your site without having to touch a single line of code.
While creating websites manually sounds incredibly tedious, it turns out that there are plenty of automated methods available today that let you create a fully functional website in less than five minutes. One of the biggest advantages to using prewritten software over manual creation is speed. Prebuilt templates save tons of time when compared to hand crafting everything from scratch. Of course, the tradeoff is that you lose complete control of your site.
A great number of companies provide premade templates for sale. Some examples include Wix, Weebly, Squarespace, and HubSpot. All of these platforms let you pick a template that matches your needs and customize it however you see fit. However, there's another solution that allows you to skip the whole process altogether. Namely, buying a domain name and paying a hosting service to host it for you. Not only will you end up saving money, but you won't have to worry about choosing a template or designing your logo either.
There are two main types of sites you can build: personal and commercial. Personal sites tend to focus on personal interests, whereas commercial sites cater to businesses and organizations. Both kinds of sites require similar basic components, including a home page, contact form, blog, gallery, store, ecommerce section, etc. Regardless of whether you plan to sell products directly from your site or simply share opinions and ideas via social media, everything else follows suit. When it comes to deciding how to build your site, consider what kind of audience you expect to attract. Do you want to target individuals or large groups? Are you interested in selling goods or providing valuable insights? Will you be posting regularly or infrequently? Think about what you want your site to look like and what features you want included. Then narrow your choices down until you come across a platform that fits perfectly.
Once you determine what you want your site to accomplish, it's time to figure out how to put it together. If you've never done anything remotely related to web development, you should probably seek out a mentor or join a community forum dedicated to helping beginners in your field. If you feel confident that you already possess adequate skills, there are still a couple of good resources available to help you along your journey.
WordPress is a powerful tool that lets you easily manage your content and integrate third party plugins to enhance functionality. Wordpress' popularity stems largely from its ease of use and flexibility. Other platforms often lack these qualities. On top of this, WordPress offers plenty of tutorials and support forums to assist newbies.
GoDaddy is known for offering low cost domains and affordable hosting solutions. Although GoDaddy offers a wide range of useful applications and features, you should avoid registering with them unless absolutely necessary. Their customer support tends to be terrible. Plus, they charge exorbitant fees for certain functions.
These three platforms are among the best places to get started. After picking a platform, you can download a ready-to-use theme or start from scratch. Either way, it's important to remember that all of these sites use the same core foundation. At the bare minimum, you must install a Content Management System (CMS) to upload and edit static text and images. You'll also want to select a blogging engine, shopping cart application, search feature, email provider, and/or analytics package. Depending upon your goals, you may wish to expand beyond these initial requirements.
Before proceeding further, you should read our article titled How To Create Your Own Website From Scratch To Learn More About Getting Started With Building Websites.
Now that you know the basics behind how websites are constructed, it's time to talk actual steps. Below are four distinct stages that you'll encounter throughout the process of building a website. Keep in mind that none of these tasks are particularly difficult, although depending upon your skill level and experience, some may seem easier than others. Just keep working toward success.
1. Registering a Domain Name - Before you can start building your website, you'll need to acquire a domain name. This is usually accomplished by purchasing a specific URL from a reputable domain registry.
2. Hosting Services - After acquiring your desired domain, you'll need to register with a hosting service to store your website files. Most hosts will ask you to pay monthly dues, but there are certain exceptions such as Bluehost.com.
3. Setting Up CMS Software - Next you'll need to install software capable of storing and managing your data. Popular choices include WordPress, Joomla!, Drupal, Shopify, Magento, PrestaShop, and SquareSpace.
4. Designing & Creating Pages - Finally, after installing the proper software, you'll need to create and modify various pages. This stage requires familiarity with HTML and CSS codes, which are essentially sets of instructions that describe how to arrange items on a webpage.
Depending upon your circumstances, you'll likely spend anywhere between six months to a year developing your site. Don't hesitate to reach out to experts if you feel stuck during this phase and need assistance.
Just follow our battle-tested guidelines and rake in the profits.