How To Start A Website in 10 Easy Steps

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Creating your very first website is an adventure full of challenges. Luckily, any beginner today can rely on the help of tips platforms such as HowToHosting.Guide. If you are wondering how to start a site, you have concrete steps to follow to create your site structure and set your goals.

So, what are the essential steps needed to start your first website or blog?

10 Actionable Steps To Start A Website

How To Start A Website

1. Define Your Goals

Before starting, you should set your goals. Why are you creating it? Do you want to make money with it, or simply share your hobby with the world? Or maybe both? You should choose a category for your project and start from there.

And keep in mind that you should be passionate about the thing you are about to start. Having experience in the field is also essential, as it will make you sound professional.

2. Choose Your Brand Name (Domain)

The domain name of your project is how the world will perceive your website. You may even think of a brandable domain.

If you aim to start a personal blog, why not use your name? If your project’s purpose is different, then think of an easy-to-remember name. Other tips in selecting the best domain include:

  • The domain name should be short;
  • Go for a catchy one consisting of words that are easy to spell;
  • It can be related to the niche of your blog;
  • Consider performing a domain history check.

3. Pick the ideal web hosting plan for you

Once you have a domain name, you should proceed with choosing your hosting company. This choice is critical to your project’s overall success, as the hosting directly affects your website’s performance. A good provider ensures that your website is accessible at all times.

It is noteworthy that most host companies provide a free domain registration service. Whether you want to keep it with the registrar company, it is up to you, meaning that it will not be part of your host account. It may be easier to keep everything together in one account, as it is easier to manage and maintain.

As a beginner, you can start with a shared hosting plan. If you’re running your project on WordPress.org, you can start looking for a WordPress shared plan. Such a plan means that a single server hosts many websites, making the costs quite acceptable. These plans are perfect for beginners.

Remember that if you choose to build your blog with shared hosting, your site’s files will be stored on the same server as many other sites’ files. In other words, the same server is serving up the data of all sites hosted on it. Once your project starts growing, you may want to move to another (dedicated, VPS) plan.

4. Install CMS (such as WordPress)

If you have decided to get a shared WordPress plan, then we have great news for you. The installation of the content management system should be available as an automatic option.

Nearly all hosting companies offer this service now. Note that the set-up and install instructions, and system configuration will vary for each provider.

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5. Secure Your Site With HTTPS

You need an SSL certificate for security and trustworthiness. Check with your hosting provider, as your plan may include one for free. Your visitors will be happy to see that your site is safe with the “HTTPS,” so don’t underestimate its importance.

6. Design your website

Think of choosing a WordPress theme, which can later be customized according to your brand’s needs. You can select one of the many premium themes available on the market.

They come in a wide price range and offer many features. It is better to invest a small amount of money than to decide to use a free theme.

If you have a bigger budget, you can hire a developer to create a custom theme or customize the one you have. Also, think of the colors and fonts you will use. You should make a unique and user-friendly design.

7. Create Site Structure

This step refers to how your content will be organized. Your website will likely contain content on various topics grouped in posts and pages.

Your site structure is responsible for how everything is arranged, linked, and offered to your users. It is also crucial to SEO (search engine optimization).

8. Implement Google scripts & Google Search Console

Your website needs Google Analytics and Search Console so that it can compete for positions in search engines. Adding your website to the Search Console is not that difficult.

You should log into your Google account and select Google Webmaster Tools. Then, you should click on the “Add a property” button. Once you’ve done that, select “website” from the drop-down menu and type in your site’s URL address.

9. Create an About Us page

This page is needed so that your visitors know who you are and that you’re a real person. This page should outline the purpose of your project and provide valuable information about you and your team. Add links to your social profiles.

10. Create a Contact us page

This step is self-explanatory. This page is essential because your visitors may have questions for you. Make sure that you create a specific page for your visitors to leave their questions and opinions.

Once you’ve covered all these steps, create content and create your brand pages on social media platforms. So, are you ready to start your online adventure?

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Author: Anna Melnikova

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