You need a website. Where do you start? This blog will give you details on the first 3 steps to take for EVERY website you create.
Making a website can be intimidating if you’ve never done it before but if you are like us, you want to be in control and ‘do it yourself’. You absolutely can!
There are so many questions that will go through your mind and for every question there are many answers and hundreds of resources that boast of being the best. It takes time to explore the options and select the tools that suit your needs. Even then, there’s always that nagging doubt as to whether you are going about things in the right way.
No worries! Our aim is to provide guidance and tips to help you through the muddle and the maze. Our blogs cover key topics as well as my top choices for the tools needed.
Same Approach - every time
It doesn’t matter whether you are a pro or a novice – whether you have built numerous websites or if this is your first. The approach should be the same – every time.
3 Things needed to Start
To start a website you need:
- Preliminary Planning
- A domain name
- A web host
So Let’s Get Started
Step 1 - Planning
The first step is to give some thought to the purpose of your website. What features do you need right away and what do you want the website to do for you over the long haul.
Is the website for information or for selling or both. Do you want a blog, contact form, online store, reservation systems, memberships, recipes, photo gallery, etc? Make a list of what features you want to see on the website overtime.
Trust us! That initial thought process will enable you to make the right choices to enable you to grow. A solid foundation will be well worth it as it will save you hours of time and frustration in the future.
Step 2 - Purchase a domain Name
A domain name is your URL … how you will be identified on the Internet. Once you determine if the name you want is available, you will need to decide which company to use to register it.
There are hundreds of companies providing domain registration services and it can be confusing. To narrow it down, we’ve taken the top 10 and pared it down to our 3 top choices.
- Bluehost
- GoDaddy
- Siteground
These are among the largest and most reliable service providers out there. Each one offers domain registration and web hosting services along with a full slate of other services you may want to consider for your website.
Step 3 - Purchase a Web Hosting Package
It is always simplier and easier to use the same providers for your domain and hosting services. Again our top 3 choices are:
- Bluehost
- GoDaddy
- Siteground
At Bouzane Consulting, we have experience with all three companies. All offer solid products and services, however, Bluehost is our preferred choice because of their outstanding customer service. As a result, over the past year, we have been moving all our sites over to Bluehost. For us it was certainly a solid business decision.
How Long does it Take to Create a Website
ONE Hour
Yes! You read it right. That’s all it takes to get started.
After you’ve done the preliminary planning and know what your goals are, you can be live on the web in about an hour. In that hour you should be able to buy your domain name, purchase your web hosting package, install WordPress and create a basic web page telling who you are, what you do and providing contact information.
Then the work begins to build your site ensuring the look and feel speaks your brand and matches your overall goals.
We Can Help!
If you aren’t familiar with website development, navigating domain registration and setting up a web hosting package can be a bit daunting. At Bouzane Consulting we have the expertise. We can take the weight off your shoulders and handle all of these steps for you, quickly and efficiently. Be sure to contact us for more details and to get started.