{"id":10485,"date":"2023-03-14T09:20:37","date_gmt":"2023-03-14T13:20:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wordpress-715453-3009179.cloudwaysapps.com\/?p=10485"},"modified":"2023-12-21T13:40:19","modified_gmt":"2023-12-21T18:40:19","slug":"how-to-make-your-own-website","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wordpress-715453-3009179.cloudwaysapps.com\/blog\/how-to-make-your-own-website\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Make A Website in 2024: A Comprehensive 9-Step Guide"},"content":{"rendered":"
Learning how to make your own website from scratch can feel like an enormous task, especially if you have limited technical knowledge. But don\u2019t skip it! A website is your digital storefront, a central place for people to learn about your offerings, get acquainted with your brand, and contact you.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n Whether you sell services or physical products, a website is a prime place to communicate and show what you have to offer.<\/p>\n Your website doesn\u2019t have to be perfect when you launch it (hint: it won\u2019t be!). But if you spend the time making it look legitimate while answering your customer\u2019s most pressing questions, it\u2019ll set you up for success.\u00a0Remember, a website is different from a Facebook page. A website gives you full control over the content on your pages.<\/p>\n Here are nine steps to show you how to make your own website for a new business or project.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n Let\u2019s get into the easiest 9-step process to making your own website. We cover the costs involved and all the various options depending on your needs.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Assuming you know your business name<\/a>, it\u2019s time to buy a domain! A free domain won’t look trustworthy or professional, so it’s worth the investment!<\/p>\n Get a leg-up on search engine optimization by including the full name of your business in your website URL, ideally with the .com extension. So if your business name is Yummm Catering, look for yummmcatering.com.<\/p>\n Expect to pay approximately $20+ for a simple domain that may or may not have the .com extension. Costs go up if the name is shorter and snappier!<\/p>\n NameMesh is an excellent tool for checking your custom domain. Type in your company name and see if the .com address is available. If it is and doesn\u2019t cost a fortune, you can purchase it from GoDaddy or another web host. Web hosting prices vary, but there are many affordable hosting options<\/a> to explore.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n If it isn\u2019t available, don\u2019t worry \u2014 you still have options. The first step is to go to the .com address and see what\u2019s there. If it\u2019s a company that would be in direct competition with your business, you probably want to rethink your name.<\/p>\n But if it\u2019s a parked address or something unrelated to what you\u2019re doing, you can:<\/p>\n If you opt to use a website builder (more on that in Step 2), you could buy your custom domain directly from them. If you buy a domain somewhere else first, you can still connect it to website builders or a WordPress site.<\/p>\n Even if you\u2019re not 100% ready to create a website, we recommend securing the domain if it\u2019s available \u2014 it\u2019s one less thing to worry about.<\/p>\n Got it? Onward.<\/p>\n Once you\u2019ve picked your business name and secured an available domain, you have three main options for building your website:<\/p>\n Using a content management system (CMS) like WordPress<\/a> is usually the cheapest DIY option, but often requires more setup<\/strong> than a website builder. You\u2019ll have to purchase a domain and hosting provider separately (these will renew monthly or annually) and then connect them with WordPress dashboard to install a template, add content, and manage your site.<\/p>\n Cost to create a website:<\/strong> From $5 Basic to $59 Commerce priced monthly, billed annually.\u00a0 WordPress also has a free website option<\/strong> but doesn’t include your own domain name or premium templates and functionality. It’s a good option to test out a WordPress website!<\/p>\n Using a platform like Squarespace<\/a>, Shopify<\/a>, Wix<\/a>, or Looka\u2019s website builder will cost a bit more than Option 1, but you get hosting, security, and more in one place for a monthly or annual fee.<\/p>\n A website builder usually provides a \u201cdrag-and-drop\u201d editor, so you don\u2019t have to write any code (phew!), and you get more customization options, including different templates and add-ons for functionality (more on that later).<\/p>\n Cost to create a website:\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n Don\u2019t feel confident creating a website on your own? You can hire a freelancer on platforms like Upwork<\/a>. This will be a more expensive option than DIY but it can save you time and hassle. If you choose this option, you should still learn the basics of the platform your website is built on so you can make updates yourself.<\/p>\n The more you know, the easier it\u2019ll be to tweak and optimize your site as your business grows.<\/p>\n Cost to create a website:<\/strong> From $5,000 to $10,000 in the first year for a simple professional website.<\/p>\n In terms of money and time cost, here\u2019s what you\u2019re looking at:<\/p>\n WordPress DIY<\/strong> – $5 to $59 for a domain, hosting service, and maintenance Decide on the next step and move forward \u2014 it\u2019ll feel good!<\/p>\n <\/p>\n After you\u2019ve done your research, it\u2019s time to structure your website pages. Below we\u2019ll cover the design for a service-based and a product-based website. Think about the most essential information your potential customers are looking for and make sure that information is easy to find.<\/p>\n Kick off your website planning process by looking at the types of websites<\/a> in your industry to see how their information is organized. You\u2019ll see patterns in what content is included and what makes a good or not-so-good customer experience.<\/p>\n\n
\n9 steps to making your own website<\/h2>\n
Step 1: Choose a business name and buy a domain<\/h2>\n
How much does a domain cost?<\/h3>\n
\n
\nStep 2: Decide how you\u2019re going to create a website<\/h2>\n
DIY WordPress<\/h3>\n
Use a website builder<\/h3>\n
\n
Hire someone<\/h3>\n
How much does it cost to create a website?<\/h2>\n
\nWebsite Builder<\/strong> – $5 to $299 for a Domain, monthly\/annual fees, and plugins
\nWeb Designer<\/strong> – $5,000 to $10,000 in the first year for a simple and professional website<\/p>\n
\nStep 3: Plan your site structure<\/h2>\n