When you decide that you want your own website, it’s important that you get started on the right foot. How you set up your website initially will impact how it performs in the future. Whether you’re building a website for yourself or your business, you’ll want to take your time with the process. And even though you can change things in the future, you’ll have a much easier and more successful time if you do things right the first time around. With that in mind, here are the steps you should follow to set up the perfect website.
Choose a Hosting Provider
Start by choosing a hosting provider. The hosting provider is the service that will store your website’s files online and make your website available to the internet. While it’s possible to set up your own server, it’s typically much easier to work with a hosting provider. When considering hosting providers, there are a few factors to consider.
First, you’ll want to think about the type of hosting you need. The most affordable option is to have your website on a shared server. This means your website will share resources with other websites. This allows you to save money, but if you plan on having a very busy website, you may see some service interruptions. Know what kind of server you’re joining before you sign up. The other thing to consider is the cost. You’ll want to research the type of features you need from your hosting provider. Then, weigh these features against how much you’re willing to spend. Finally, read some customer reviews of each provider to ensure you’re working with a reputable company.
Pick a Domain Name
The next step is to pick a domain name. Your domain name is the address your users will type in to visit your website. It’s important to choose a domain name that’s simple, easy to remember, and accurately represents your brand. However, many of the simplest domain names are already taken. Therefore, you have two primary options.
First, you can try finding an available domain that’s a little less common. Most hosting providers have a tool where you can try different domain names to see what’s available and they’ll even make some recommendations. Your other primary option is to work with a domain brokerage. A domain brokerage allows you to buy domain names that are already taken by negotiating a price with the owner. If you really want a specific name, this may be the best way to go.
Decide How to Build It
With a hosting provider and domain name picked, now you need to decide how you’re actually going to build your website. If you have web development experience, you may choose to do this yourself. For everyone else, there are two basic options. The first is that you can use a website builder. A website builder is a tool where you can easily build a basic website, often through a drag-and-drop system. You can quickly create the layout of your page, change the colors and add in your content. Some website builders even have templates to help you get started. This is a good option if you don’t need anything too complicated.
If you want more control over the final product, look into hiring a web developer. You can work with either a web development company or a freelancer, discussing your needs with them and paying them to build you a website. This option is typically more expensive but you’ll get the website exactly how you want it.
Optimize For Search Engines
An important element for new websites is to optimize them for search engines. Search engines use many factors when considering where to display your website in search results and the process of adapting your website to fit these factors is known as search engine optimization (SEO). There’s a lot that goes into SEO, so you’ll want to spend some time researching it and applying the strategies to your website from the beginning.
Enable Visitor Tracking
Finally, be sure to enable a visitor tracking system. A visitor tracking system will tell you about who is visiting your website, where they came from, and what pages they are visiting. This is essential information when you’re trying to grow your site and to track progress over time. One of the most popular options is Google Analytics but there are others as well. The sooner you set up this system, the more information you’ll have in the long run, so get this set up as soon as you’re done building your site.
Take Your Time with the Early Steps
Don’t rush through the creation of your website. It’s much easier to do things right the first time around than to go back and try to correct them. If you can take your time with the initial steps mentioned above you can set your website up for long-term success and get the most value out of your investment.