If you’ve ever thought about starting a website, I understand it might feel a bit overwhelming, especially for someone who has never done it before. Regardless of how you feel about starting your own website or place on the internet, it is easier than you think and definitely more important now than ever before.
Introduction
This site is a Squarespace site, it is easy to set up and start with and reasonably priced. The cheaper alternative is buying a web-hotel and start your own site with Bluehost.
All my other sites (I have a number of them) are run with Bluehost. Bluehost has worked perfectly for me and my needs and for domains, I use one.com if I just want to buy a domain name.
So what do you need to start a website? Well here you go, a complete and simple list of what you need to start or consider yourself a website owner (is that a word?).
An idea of why you need a website (doesn’t have to super serious)
A name or domain name for your site
A web hotel (this is usually the same place and time when you buy your domain name.)
Design the site or ask someone to help you (this is easier than it sounds.)
Activate your site, put it up there and let people find it
Done! This is actually all you need.
What should you use?
So, it all comes down to what you want to do and why you need a website. For the usual blog or portfolio, you can use either Squarespace or Bluehost. There are others like Wix (but I don’t like them for different reasons).
I want my website to work and be easy to maintain. Some like Wordpress and with Bluehost you can use Wordpress directly with their service. Easy, quick and cheap.
Another thing to consider if you need all the functions you usually pay for. Sometimes you just want bare minimum, I mean, a working site. Other times, you want something robust that can deal with thousands of visitors each day or week. It all comes down to what you expect and need from your site.
Also, starting your very first site is like starting your first company, you’ll learn a lot straight away and next time you start a company or site you will have a better understanding of what you need and want.
Below are some services and things I use almost weekly in my work and on my websites. In the future, I might share what sites I own and so on but for now, I’ll settle with sharing some great resources. ;)
smart design and website resources
Bluehost - Web hotel and services, this is what I use for all new websites and mentioned above.
Bluehost - Start your own website
One.com - This is where I buy my domains. They can also help you with your new website. Easy, just as Bluehost.
Icons and UX design by Streamline
Streamline icons - Professional icons for your project
Streamline UX - Professional design for your website
conclusion
While this post is a quick rundown of how to make or start your first website. It is actually easier, cheaper and faster than you might think. You might wonder why I write a post about websites on my site, well, there is one reason for this and that is a major one… You need to be found today, it is the same reason we all started using social media, to be found and to find people we want to interact with. Simple as that.
If you just started your website or if you have one you want me to take a look at, please write it in the comment section or ask me and I’ll take a look.
As always, thank you for visiting and have a wonderful day, wherever you are.