Starting a website of your own is an important step to getting you recognized globally. A website gives the world access to what you want to say. It is a platform, but what really works is your ability. The ability to stand out from millions of users. The ability to add value to your viewers. The ability to fulfill the requirements of customers.
Websites are created for showcasing online presence, just for information, blogging, e-commerce, online courses, and social media platforms; basically, they can be categorized into entertainment, news, education, social networking, and commerce. The purpose of a website does not make a difference to how to really build a new website.
In 2023 a new website can be designed without having any coding knowledge with the help of tools available online easily for domain hosting and website registration. All you need to do is start and believe in yourself.
Here are the 5 steps to start your new website:
Step 1: Branding
The first step to actually building your new website, domain name search, and website registration is giving a name. This is the name by which you would be recognized. It is always best to exist on social networks by the same name. The branding will include a selection of a name, the creation of a logo (check out free logo maker online here), and domain hosting.
For example: If you choose your brand name as ‘Tommy Hilfiger’ you have to make sure the name is available in a domain name search, Facebook id, Instagram id, LinkedIn id, and many more. It is always suggested to use a term that is uncommon yet relatable to the industry of business or service.
Step 2: Domain Registration
About:
A domain name is the address of your online website. It is the domain name that is typed into the search box for looking at a website. Having domain name registration is compulsory through a third-party registrar. There are a large number of domains available on the web, and no two domain names can be exactly the same. Domain names can be migrated from one host to another domain hosting. A registrar maintains the log of domains which is linked to a unique number with the name.
Fees and Renewal:
A domain name is made available on payment of fees to the domain host. The fees are renewed in intervals of time and can be paid in advance for a maximum of 10 years. If a customer fails to pay a domain fee, the domain becomes inactive. If the renewal is not made within 30 days, the domain name will be permanently deleted and available for purchase by a third party. The prices of domain hosting vary from host to host and the period for which you renew.
Domain Name Search:
Domain name search is the first step to check if a particular domain name is available. The domain name search should also be checked for any trademark infringement.
It is crucial to choose a domain name carefully as it cannot be changed later; you will have to register a new domain name in case of any mistakes. For a domain name search, avoid using common terms, punctuation marks, or confusing words, as they increase the chances of misspellings. example: ‘bestrealtors.com’ is a common name, whereas ‘Dreamrealtorsflorida.com’ is more unique and identifiable.
(Click here for a quick domain name search.)
Extensions:
Domain name search comes with different extensions like .com, .net, .org, .info, .biz, or country-specific extensions like .IN, .CN, .UK, .DE, .US The domain extensions should be chosen keeping in mind the business and areas of operation. .com is the most common domain extension, .org is for organizations, .net is an open-source platform, and so on. All TLD (top-level domains) are the same from an SEO point of view.
Recommendation:
We personally recommend Hostinger Domain for Domain Registration Services as Hostinger provides the most reliable services of all the available options. Hostinger is the quickest Domain Name Search tool and is very easy to use. The extensions and related pricing is transparent, with no hidden costs and maximum options. Hostinger Domain also offers a lifetime of WHOIS privacy protection that protects domain data privacy for the lifetime of domain hosting, all for free. Hostinger Domain provides free domain name migration with their web hosting plans.
For a free domain name search on Hostinger, please click the link: Hostinger Domain
How to Conduct a Search and Register:
All you need to do is type your desired domain name in the domain name search bar to check the availability. Hostinger domains will additionally show you all the available domain extensions and the related pricing available with them. If your desired domain is available, you can immediately register it by creating an account and paying the value for a particular extension.
Step 3: Hosting Server
Hosting servers are third-party resource providers who maintain all the hardware and server for you so. This helps all businesses to register their website and applications on an outside host, thus reducing the need to develop and maintain their own complicated servers and hardware. To develop your own website, we need to choose a web host for our new website. Once the website is registered, the next step is buying the most appropriate host for our website.
There are multiple hosts offering services, such as Bluehost, Hostinger, Hostgator, Dreamhost, Liquidweb, Namecheap, and Scala hosting, which offer a different range of services as per their plan values. What matters to select between them is the storage, uptime, security, bandwidth, cost, and support services offered. Check our blog on the Top five website hosting platforms for a comparison of different levels of website registrations.
Type of hosting:
Hosting servers can be classified as shared hosting, dedicated hosting, VPS hosting, and cloud hosting, depending on the hardware and server backup of data.
Shared Hosting-
Multiple users share a server and resources to store all data. Check our detailed blog on hosting platforms of 2023 for shared hosting plans.
Dedicated Hosting-
An entire server is maintained by third-party hosting only for you. There is no sharing of resources. Check out our blog on the top ten dedicated servers hosting for plan details.
VPS Hosting-
VPN (Virtual Private Server) is a mix of shared and dedicated hosting. Here a demarcated part of the server is fixed for the host and rented out for hosting. They are like small portions of dedicated servers. Check Bluehost VPS hosting plans here.
Cloud Hosting-
In cloud hosting, the websites and applications are hosted on a cloud server. The cloud server is a network of several hardware and virtual servers. Check the Hostinger cloud hosting here.
Pricing:
The hosting services are generally charged monthly. Different hosts offer quarterly, yearly, or even 3-year plans and provide huge discounts for longer periods. Be careful to understand the terms of renewal of subscription while website registration, as most of the hosting companies provide a discounted rate only for the first period of subscription, and the renewal rates are more than double so after.
We advise trying a host for a single month, even if it means a high cost for a small period, to check the suitability and services of a particular host. Once you have found the perfect host for you, it is a good idea to choose a plan which is a minimum of one year, as it is smart to choose a discounted plan.
Period of hosting:
A hosting platform may go out of service, and you may lose your domain and website. Site migrations are always available hence it is better to go for plans that are between the range of one to three years rather than opting for plans for a period offering lifetime or 10-year services.
Combination of services:
The domain name and website hosting are two separate services, and it is not compulsory to buy them together from the same company. It is necessary to change the DNS setting and inform the domain name to the web hosting company. Most often, they are maintained by the same company for the sake of convenience.
To check out the latest offers from the top website hosting companies, please click on the name links provided below:
Step 4: Build The Website
Building is the most interesting part of bringing your own website to life. It is a stage where you get to control things as and how you want them to be. Until recently, a person had to understand coding to be able to build any website, but that is no more the case. Today you can easily build your own new website by just following simple logic and a little help from support in case you get stuck.
WordPress:
There are various website builders, plugins, applications, and tools to enhance the website experience, which are all add-ons. WordPress is the most popular content management system that is used by 40% of websites for website building. WordPress is the tool that allows you the freedom to build a website without having to put in any coding languages.
At this stage, the steps for E-Commerce websites and other websites differ somewhat.
Continuing our example, we have used Hostinger as Domain hosting and Website host for the explanation. Here are the basic operations one needs to design a working website:
Operation1: Install WordPress On A Hosting Platform
Once you log in to the host dashboard, you can install wordpress from the auto-installer of the menu. (Hostinger offers different CMS such as WordPress, Joomla, Drupal, Magento, etc., for well-known users of them.) You must fill in the necessary details, such as the URL, Language, Administrative names, Website Title, and Tagline, and then click Install.
Operation 2: Select A Theme
A theme gives an entire website layout. Importing a theme makes building a website easier as you can make as many edits on the theme. The theme forms the base of the website. For an E-commerce website, the themes are complex and must be selected carefully.
You can attach the desired plugins example Elementor to your website for better features. Some plugins may be free, whereas most of them require payment.
Operation 3: Create Pages
Pages are what the user actually views on websites. You need to create basic pages such as Homepage, Media page, Contact page, Product/Service page, Blog page, and Terms of Service/Privacy Policy page as per the business you need to showcase.
The page layout is available, or you can design it independently.
You have to add or delete blocks as per every field you want to add. The panel on the right allows you to select the functions of an entire page or particular block to make customizations.
Once you have designed all the pages and inserted all the information, you just have to update all the pages and launch your website from home tab.
Operation 4: Setup Payment Options
If your website requires a payment gateway, you need to set up the same. You can set up the payment page through Stripe, Kevin, or Paypal on Hostinger. In the store management area, you must go to store settings, payments, and then connect. You must add your bank details and follow the steps to set up the payments.
You can always edit and change the website elements from the backend by logging in to the wordpress site.
Step 5: Promotion
It is just enough to launch your website if it is for information only. But if you intend to launch a website for a specific purpose, such as blogging, online business sale, advertisement, broadcast, news, and others, you need the website to reach people. For this, you need to promote your new website on all the platforms possible. It is all interlinked, where you create social profiles to promote the website and the website to promote your business. You can let the world know through Email, Whatsapp, Stories, Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, Snapchat, Twitter, Pinterest, Youtube, TikTok, Reddit, Quora, etc. Promotion will help your new website grow faster.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Q1. Can you create a website for free?
If you are building a website for a formal purpose, it is advisable to buy a domain and web hosting to start a website. There is no free website as such, but some software like WordPress allows you to create free sites with wordpress.com as a domain extension. This is the best option for learners or trial websites.
Q2. What is website registration?
Website registration is the process of registering a domain name and a web host for a website to go live. It is the basis of every website to exist and follow the protocols.
Q3. Is it compulsory to make abundant pages for a website?
It is absolutely not required to add extra pages to your website. The website only should have the necessary information having correct data. Ideally having pages for Home, About, Contact, Product/Service, Feedback, Blog are enough for a functional website.
Q4. Can I change the domain name of my website?
Domain names cannot be edited. A new domain will have to be purchased, but this new domain can be attached to web hosting in replacement of your old domain name. Changing domain names causes loss of identity and loss of business.
Q5. Can I host more than one website on a single hosting plan?
The number of websites that can be hosted on a single plan depends on your chosen plan. Most website hosts offer only one website on the base plan but might offer up to 100 websites on their premium plans.
Q6. What happens when the value of an already existing plan changes from the providers?
If the hosting company changes its plan offers, discounts, or introduces premium charges, it remains unaffected by your existing plan until the subscription lasts. The renewal will be charged at the rates existing at the time of renewal.
Q7. Does Hostinger provide Free Domain Name?
Hostinger does not provide a free domain, but it is got the best services and security when it comes to domain hosting. Most other web hosts might offer free domain registration, although it is only for the first year, and from there onwards, they charge huge sums for domain hosting renewals.
Q8. Do I compulsory need to install wordpress on my website?
WordPress is only recommended but is optional. Some other beginner-friendly CMS work similarly to wordpress, such as an inbuilt website builder of hosts such as Hostinger, Wix, Squarespace, and Shopify other CMS such as Drupal, Joomla, Weebly, Blogger, Ghost, and many more. You can also build a website in a traditional way using codes and coding language.
Q9. How do I secure my new website?
Website security is very important to keep your website live. Firstly installation of an SSL certificate is a must for website security. Apart from this, taking regular back-ups, applying layered protection, applying strong passwords, and frequent updation help maintain website security.
Q.10 How often can I change my website data?
Websites edits are free and can be made as many times as required. Edits do not affect the website’s health in any way. The only thing to remember is that change in the URL shall alter the page view statistics completely.
