How To Create A Website
Planning to create a website requires an intention and purpose to create content to reflect on your ideas and share it online to communicate with online users. This requires a keen interest in studying how to use online web development tools as you learn to create your website. It’s easy to make one, but it requires attention.
That said, an array of options are available for how you plan to develop the site–learn graphic design and coding, hire programmers. Or, best try online platforms for registering the domain name (.com, .net, etc.) using web hosting companies, like Hostinger, Name Cheap, and GoDaddy. Choose a layout from templates, add pages, images, and posts—overall, create the website’s user interface (UI).
Building a website using online platforms is similar to managing the desktop, its folders, documents, and Excel. Even the server requirement for hosting the site has shifted from office-based to cloud.
However, depending on the complexity of the website features you may want to add, like listing products and selling them online, you may require knowledge of how website programming works or approach a website design company to help accomplish the programming task.
Traditionally, graphic designers create a website’s template, and programmers build coding (HTML, CSS) to add pages, sub-pages, and features to it. No matter which way you choose to develop a website, there are basics that every online content creator has to learn.
Featured Partners
1
Shopify
Price starting from
INR 1499 per month
E-commerce in entry-level plan
Yes
Inclusions
Free SSL certificate
2
GoDaddy
Price starting from
INR 249 ($2.97) per month
Free Trial
Yes
Inclusions
Unlimited social media platforms, Free SSL certificate
3
IONOS
Price starting from
INR 83.72 ($1) per month
E-commerce in entry-level plan
Add-on
Inclusions
Free domain, SSL, and email address
Essential Tips to Build A Good Website
Here, we try to answer some critical questions to help you build a good website, as follows:
Why do you want to have a website for your business?
It’s essential to build a website that defines your business purpose, whether you’re selling a product or service. Consider what elements you want to add to your website, such as templates or themes, colors, and fonts. Also, consider features you want to add, like pages, downloads, forms, galleries, shopping carts, etc.
What platform do you want to choose to design and host your website?
Choose an appropriate builder once you’ve figured out what you want in your website. Consider their features, such as a drag-and-drop editor, picture and video storage, mobile compatibility, SEO functionality, analytics and reporting, customer support, etc. Many website builders come with a hosting package, but you may choose the best web hosting service provider according to your requirements.
Would you be optimizing your web content regularly?
This includes creating high-quality, engaging content. Consider what benefits you can provide. The best way to optimize your content are to have a blog on your website and update it regularly, using keywords that serve your business idea. Doing so can help users easily find your website on search engines like Google.
Does your website have issues before launch?
Before you put your site live on the Internet, testing every link, page, and other feature is working correctly is essential. Test your website compatibility on every browser and log in from different locations. Once you’re sure that your website has no issues, it’s time to launch it.
Register a Domain Name
A domain name is the name online users use to find your website, such as www.google.com. Domain name registration is subject to availability.
Domain name registrar and web hosting companies, like Hostinger, Name Cheap, and GoDaddy, facilitate its registration and online search. Here are some helpful ways to choose a domain name that suits the purpose of creating a website:
- Choose from domain name extensions like .com in-short for commercial and the most popular, .net for networking, .info for information, and .org for organization. There are also extensions available in each country, like .in for India. So, choose wisely.
- A search engine optimization-friendly domain name ranks well online when users search for you on Google, Yahoo, and other search engines. Register a domain name, which can either be the name of an idea of your blog services or the name of the company.
- Although the domain name registrar gives a list of options for you to choose from, register one that resembles your blog or business idea without a preferred domain name, keeping in mind to avoid complexities like hyphen (-).
Email domain: Every domain name registration comes with the benefit of creating numerous email domains. In terms of businesses, email domains have become helpful for customers, so they can reach out to contact@yourdomainname(dot)com to resolve users’ queries.
Subdomain name: A subdomain is a feature that creates a temporary name with an extra dot under a domain name. Content creators are required to create subdomains to run the trial version of the site they are building online before uploading the site to the registered domain name.
Website development platforms usually provide users with free subdomains, like their names. WordPress (dot)com—to create, edit, and view the website online—is a first-hand experience for users who want to make a website.
Domain name hosting: Domain registrars and web hosting companies host domain names (along with email domains and subdomains) and websites.
How it works: For instance, when you buy a car, you need to fuel it regularly to keep it running. Similarly, when you create a website and upload it to a domain name, you need a hosting server to keep it running on the Internet. These features are readily available via website-building platforms.
Domain name registration and hosting fees: The fees for registration of a domain name are subject to vary depending on the popularity or density of the keyword users type on search engines to find you online. In addition to registration, domain names are subject to renewal.
For instance, if you purchase a domain name with a .com extension, it must be renewed annually. Failure to renew will result in the domain name being lost forever and made available for repurchase.
Remember, always choose a single website-building platform to build a website and host it on the Internet. Plus, it helps in marketing by presenting an analysis of your website’s performance online and in search engines.
Features of Website Building Platforms
One can start using website-building platforms and get hands-on experience with development tools to create one even before the need to register a domain name. You don’t need to be coding-savvy to use platforms like Weebly, Squarespace, HostGator, Wix, Shopify, Zyro, WordPress, Duda, and others.
These website builders have self-explanatory web development tools, which are customizable and intend to serve the purpose of creating a website. However, learning to code in web development languages—popularly, HTML, Javascript, CSS, and others— is an added feather on your cap.
A beginner may start using a website-building platform by choosing a layout from the template, adding pages, images, and content, and later upgrading it to paid plans to use it full-fledged and avail yourself of various benefits to add-on.
Some significant features of website-building platforms are:
Website Template
All website-building platforms provide templates for users to choose from. These are dummy layouts that are often curated according to the type of profession you are into, such as blogging, dynamic, or eCommerce use.
A user may try the demo or trial version and get hands-on experience adding pages, images, content, editing sections, and editing navigation bars—overall, familiarizing with the development tools. Before starting, read carefully about how each section functions and read tutorials.
As you progress, you will have to purchase to own or add features to your website and integrate it with the domain name to keep it running on the Internet.
Website Customization
Users are provided with a readily available content management system (CMS) to create and manage a website on their own. One may choose to make a static website with a minimum of three pages (landing page, about us, and contact us) or a dynamic one with multiple pages and subpages and even integrate it with features like forums, add-to-cart, and such functionalities as per the content creator’s requirement.
Email and Marketing Tools
There are readily available features that will help generate traffic to your website. The pages can also be shared on social media platforms or sent out as newsletters via email to subscribers, etc. In addition, content creators can check their dashboards to see how users are interacting with the website, which gives room for search engine optimization.
Search Engine Optimization
SEO helps your website rank better on search engines like Google, Yahoo, and others when users search online. While big firms have a separate department for SEO, beginners may start creating content using keywords relevant to their reasons for having a website and updating it on a regular basis by creating new posts or adding new H2s and H3s whenever required.
Google also provides webmaster tools for users to learn how to optimize their online presence on search engines. A website whose content is updated regularly will eventually rank higher when users search for it online.
Benefits of Creating a Website
Creating a website means you are creating an online presence. It is suited for all types of users, from students, bloggers, and professionals to entrepreneurs, businesses, etc. Some of the popular reasons for having a website include:
A reliable communication medium
For bloggers or freelancers, a website is an effective communication and personality development medium for showcasing their works online for users to access. Similarly, for businesses and financial institutions, information on websites keeps consumers updated about services and products.
Adding call-to-action features and contact forms also communicate well with users, provided you answer their queries. Many websites have also integrated forums where users can discuss products and services.
Networking, opportunities, and impact
Websites provide extra credibility to your work. They help content creators form a network with like-minded people from around the world and connect with them for work, sharing ideas, and so on. Adding a link to your social media handles on your website also helps people connect with you.
Website as a monetization source
Undoubtedly, a website is a good monetization source, especially for content creators who wish to earn revenue from their work or sell products online to users. To sell online, one may not necessarily need to add an e-commerce feature but convert existing traffic to revenue by way of call-to-action, which allows you to connect with users directly.
Remember, selling your products online via a website requires the business or individuals to abide by the country’s data protection and e-commerce rules.
Featured Partners
1
Shopify
Price starting from
INR 1499 per month
E-commerce in entry-level plan
Yes
Inclusions
Free SSL certificate
2
GoDaddy
Price starting from
INR 249 ($2.97) per month
Free Trial
Yes
Inclusions
Unlimited social media platforms, Free SSL certificate
3
IONOS
Price starting from
INR 83.72 ($1) per month
E-commerce in entry-level plan
Add-on
Inclusions
Free domain, SSL, and email address
Bottom Line
The usages of having a website are myriad to limit its benefits. A website is an excellent medium of communication through which to reflect on your ideas. It adds credibility to your work, creates a network with like-minded people, and helps users to communicate or connect with you quickly.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How much does a website cost?
Many free website builders help you design an essential website, like WordPress. The price of the standard plan can range anywhere between INR 249 to INR 1,400. However, the charges vary depending on your need for storage and website features.
How long does it take to create a website?
There is no fixed answer for determining how long it will take to design a website. However, the tips above may help you figure out your requirements and the time required.
How to make a website look good?
It is really important to consider the design elements, such as pages, navigation tools, colors, themes, and templates that match your requirements.
How do I choose the right website template?
Many website builders offer customized templates that suit your business ideals. For instance, many templates are pre-designed for restaurants, fashions, photographers, hotels, etc.
Can I make a website without coding?
Yes, many website builders can help you develop a website without coding.