Many are mistaken about what needs to be done first as they decide to build a website for themselves. It’s a common belief that one should begin by selecting a platform and proceed to building the site. The guide below is not an exhaustive one, but is meant to guide you through the main stages to be completed first:
1. Domain registration
First of all, you have to be clear about what the address will be (example.com, where ‘example’ is your chosen, unique address for the website). This may or may not be identical to the actual name of your site or business you’re representing. However, it always needs to be a unique name. No two addresses are the same. You must also select the domain extension (.com, .org, .net, .me and so on).
Once you have these details clear in your mind and the web doesn’t return any duplicate, you should register your domain. Do this as soon as you check it online, otherwise the site you’re checking it on may buy it so that you re-purchase it from them.
2. Finding a hosting service
Every website needs to be hosted on a server and benefit of enough space for its data, software and future expansion. In addition, this will ensure that it stays up at all times, with a minimum of downtime. A hosting service basically represents computer space being used (rented out) to keep website pages on, so that people find them online. Website hosting services take care of the maintenance work, too. You need to find a hosting company and select the most appropriate package to use. Keep in mind that cheapest may not always be the best.
3. Preparing content
You need to know in advance what you’ll be posting on your site and be ready to publish the content with regularity, which is why it helps to have it ready in advance. This makes you get seen by search engines, as they build a relationship of trust when you are posting content regularly and frequently.
To ensure success, focus on a specific need of your targeted readership – and show them how you can help them. Make sure to have both written and visual content (images, videos).
4. Website creation/building
There are two ways – you either hire a web designer to do this or you work on it yourself. The latter option has gotten easier with the latest online website editors – software you can use online to build a new website from scratch (or based on premade templates) with no code knowledge.
Web-based editors are intuitive and let you see exactly how your page looks, in real time. You can alter every element and add content as desired. If you’re unsure of how to do this, you can always read tutorials to find out more. If you wish for extensive and more sophisticated functionality, it’s best to hire a professional.
Once these four stages are completed, you may proceed to enhancing your website. It’s time to get the SEO work done, so that it’s indexed appropriately by search engines and seen by people performing online searches. On-site as well as off-site optimization will get you the traffic you’re hoping to get. Next, you should test your website for loading speed – an essential factor that can either attract or drive away visitors.
