Do you want to make a website? If your answer is yes, then note that gone are the days when this task was very complicated. You do not need to be a pro in coding or higher than the most expensive developer. Creating and launching your website will take you a few days.
Your business or passion project deserves a reliable website because it forms a vital part of your brand and general identity. You will use this to talk to your target audience and potential clients. It is a channel that will help you deliver online services or sell physical products to clients across the globe.
Here are the steps you will need to follow to make a website.
Invest in a great domain name and URL
You need to invest in a good domain name to make it easy for your target audience to find you online and trust your brand. URL (unique resource locator) and domain name are vital features that protect your trademark and general intellectual property. Please note that the domain name is usually part of your chosen URL. URL usually has an HTTPS/HTTP depending on whether there is a security certificate. Additionally, www: is a confirmation that your website is part of the World Wide Web. The domain name is the name of your website that follows the www: and is followed by a domain name extension.
You are advised to have a consistent identity online. The domain name you pick should be similar to your business or the passion you are sharing. It is also in order if the domain name closely resembles your activity. This consideration will give your website a professional look, ease your accessibility, and enhances your brand image. It is recommended that you maintain your identity even when creating social media pages and email addresses.
Ensure the domain name is easy to remember as you try to achieve this great identity. Avoid long domain names, one with memorable characters like underscores, those with unfamiliar acronyms, poor spellings, and unnecessary jargon. The last step is to check the availability of your selected domain names and settle on a suitable domain name extension. You are free to have more than one extension for increased online presence and ensure your domain name and secure certificate (SSL) do not expire.
Select a web hosting entity
To make a website that will meet all your needs, you need a reliable web host. The web hosting company will offer you a secure space to store your content. Hosting can be done by the same entity that helped you register your domain name. However, you are free to pick a different company. Please note that the hosting fees vary depending on the features like website space, databases, email accounts, website templates, backups, plugins, website building tools, extra help in times of need, and security certificates (SSL).
You also need to look at the quality of client support, technical skills, storage, bandwidth, content type, number of site visitors, payment cycle, content management systems (CMS), and reviews about your potential web host.
Design and build your website
The design section of your site should be guided by what you want to offer to your clients and what they should do on your site. Kindly make it easy for your visitors to accomplish what they desire on your website. A visual image of what you need can make it easy to settle on a good design.
Think about ease of maintenance before settling on the best way to build your website. Build your website in a way that will allow easy updates. You can do it yourself (DIY) or do-it-for-me (DIFM). A content management system (CMS) is a worthy alternative. Please analyze the advantages and disadvantages of each option before making your final decision.
Add content and publish
The last step of your journey to owning a website is crafting the best content and adding it to the site. Ensure you have quality, and you can make necessary changes. Lastly, it would be best if you made your website live. Kindly note that this propagating process can take up to two days for your website to be live and take over the online space.
