Building a safe website is often challenging, especially if you’re the builder and want to ensure that it is as secure as possible for both you and your audience. That’s why we’re here. In association with Password Manager, we’re committed to helping people have a protected online experience, ensuring their online identity is well-guarded.
In this post, we will explore the eight steps in creating a website where you are in control of being the builder. The original article from Digital (the link sent to us) can be found here. Also, we’re giving the simplified version as the original is extensively detailed.
There is more than one way of building a website. The steps you need to follow to be a website builder are:
- Know why you’re making the website (the niche).
- Pick and register a domain name.
- Choose a Website hosting service.
- Install a website builder.
- Optimise for search traffic of the organic kind.
- Create a website to your liking.
- Hit publish to the website.
- Manage the website.
1. Understanding Your Website Niche
There are websites for virtually every topic under the sun. From cars to politics, you need to narrow down what you want to focus on. It’s more than okay to have more than one topic. Project Fangirl focuses on many niches in the entertainment sphere, though we also focus on some political aspects, cyber security and history.
Some believe that it takes a load of time to set up a website. In the early days, it did, as a ton of coding was involved. That will be covered a bit later in the post. There are several types of websites you can create:
- E-commerce
- personal blog
- Small business
- portfolio for artwork, acting, dance, journalism/writing, etc
- Lead generation for business
- Membership or subscription services
- Charity/non-profit
- Promotional for podcasts
- Site for family events like weddings and baby showers
2. Pick And Register A Domain
There are many different domains, but most don’t cost the Earth. Once you know what your niche is, it is often easier to choose what your domain to be. Building a brand requires you to know it back and forth.
Your website’s most accessible identifier is to pick a name and domain unique to you. For example, you’d use your name if you’re creating a website for a portfolio. If it’s a blog, you’d use the blog name. However, there are things you’ll need to watch out for:
- Be sure you can spell the domain.
- Try and avoid using abbreviations.
- Make sure the domain has ties to the brand you’re creating.
- Short domain names are key.
- Select a suitable prefix (.com, etc.), but you don’t have to use the traditional prefixes. There is now a ton of others. Australian entertainment website Pedestrian uses .tv.
If you cannot secure your chosen domain name, you can dashes.
Choose A Website domain Site That Caters To Your Needs
To buy a domain name, you must use a website that caters to this need. Most web hosting sites do supply domains. For example, if you use WordPress as your web host, you can purchase a domain through them. However, there is a longer route where you can choose the web host (more on that later), purchase the domain and use a third party hosted by the selected web host. This is how Project Fangirl is set up.
Website domain sites include:
- Square Space
- WordPress
- GoDaddy
- Domain.com
Some of these are also web hosts.
3. Web Host Selection
As mentioned in the above section, you can have an all-in-one experience where your website builder is hosted by the same service as the domain. However, everyone has different needs. There are three different types of web hosting options:
- Shared Hosting
- VPS
- Dedicated server
A dedicated server should only be used if you have a load of traffic, as Shared hosting and VPS have a limit.
Tons of hosting services out there are affordable. Some of the best include:
- Hostinger
- Bluehost
- SiteGround
- A2 Hosting
4. Website Builder
As mentioned, there are a lot of services that do everything. But is often challenging to find a good website builder. Services like Wix and Squarespace do everything and allow you to easily custom-build your site.
However, others, such as WordPress, are more technical if you want to customise them. That’s why plugins allow you to get that custom feel.
Also, WordPress isn’t a website builder, whereas services like Wix are.
While WordPress is almost entirely customisable, you need technical know-how for certain aspects. Meanwhile, Drag and Drop in Wix, Squarespace, etc., allow freedom to place things where you want without needing code.
5. Theme Picking
You cannot have a website without a theme. Most CMS platforms (Content Management Systems) have a ton available for download, though you can buy a theme, design one yourself forget one custom created by a professional.
6. Search Optimisation
SEO or Search Engine Optimisation is one of the most critical aspects of every website. Be sure to research your niche and find the topic ranking keywords. That way, it will stand out in a search engine search. Also, one piece of advice we can give is to use a tool like Semrush or the NicheIQ tool in Ezioc to help with research. Also, have an SEO tool like Yoast installed to make the process easier.
7. Publish
Once you have everything set up how you want, hit the publish button and make your website go live.
8. Managing Website
Finally, the most essential part of running a website is maintaining it. This means publishing regularly if you have a blog with much content. Ensure that plugins work, etc. One of the most critical parts of a website is ensuring there is evergreen content that helps your website stand out.
