Tutorial for Website Creation Fast
Before you make your website, need a thorough overview that every beginner should read first.
An Overview of Website Creation for Beginners
This article will take the fear and uncertainty out of what you need to make your own website. It's a quick read and will get you going in the right direction.
Step 1: Get a Domain Name
A domain is your website home (yoursitename.com). Registering a name is the first step to getting your site online.
This only takes a few minutes and you own the name as long as you pay the yearly fee.
I'll show you how to save a bit of money on the first year of registration below.
Let me prevent you from making a common mistake often made when building websites.
No one will take your website seriously hosted on some free host (where your address is freesite.yoursite.com instead of yoursite.com) so that's not a route I recommend based on some frustrating past experiences with free hosting.
I don't want you to join the hundreds of people who've emailed me over the years expressing their regrets because they had to move their entire site upon realizing the limitations of free hosting.
Save yourself the headaches and create your site correctly the first time. Trust me. You won't regret the decision. Plus, you'll have the comfort of knowing you actually own your site instead of renting it from another company.
I lost 6 websites at one time some years ago because I used a free host. All the money those sites were making went out the window just like that. So I had to start over.
Domains are incredibly affordable compared to what they used to cost ($35/yr). I'll even show you how to register a domain for only $1.99 the first year.
This only takes a few minutes and you own the name as long as you pay the yearly fee.
I'll show you how to save a bit of money on the first year of registration below.
Let me prevent you from making a common mistake often made when building websites.
No one will take your website seriously hosted on some free host (where your address is freesite.yoursite.com instead of yoursite.com) so that's not a route I recommend based on some frustrating past experiences with free hosting.
I don't want you to join the hundreds of people who've emailed me over the years expressing their regrets because they had to move their entire site upon realizing the limitations of free hosting.
Save yourself the headaches and create your site correctly the first time. Trust me. You won't regret the decision. Plus, you'll have the comfort of knowing you actually own your site instead of renting it from another company.
I lost 6 websites at one time some years ago because I used a free host. All the money those sites were making went out the window just like that. So I had to start over.
Domains are incredibly affordable compared to what they used to cost ($35/yr). I'll even show you how to register a domain for only $1.99 the first year.
Website Weebly Freebies
If you do decide to buy a domain from Website Weebly you will receive a handful of freebies...
The free offers are located at the bottom of the confirmation page after you order, so don't miss them!
The free offers are located at the bottom of the confirmation page after you order, so don't miss them!
Step 2: Sign Up With a Web Host
The web host houses your website files, videos, images, provides branded email addreses, etc. Most companies have many of the same features these days, it just comes down to cost and who you're comfortable with.
Website Weebly.com is who I recommend and there is 24/7 phone support should you have any questions about setting up your site.
Simply register a domain, choose a hosting package (you can upgrade anytime) and you're on your way.
Website Weebly.com is who I recommend and there is 24/7 phone support should you have any questions about setting up your site.
Simply register a domain, choose a hosting package (you can upgrade anytime) and you're on your way.
It's Time to Create Your WebSite
WordPress is the most popular website building option today. It comes free with any paid hosting package at Website Weebly. You simply install it from the control panel with a few clicks of your mouse.
With WordPress, you can create a blog where the content is ordered newest to oldest and by category, or you can create a more traditional/static site like this.
If you don't want to use WordPress, you'll either need software (Artisteer, Dreamweaver, etc.) or learn HTML and CSS from scratch.
Static websites do not have comments and plugins like WordPress, but they are ideal for very simple sites.
NOTE: As mentioned, you can use WordPress to create a static website if you wish. You'll just have to disable the comments and configure the menus, etc. All the juicy details are in my WP Starter Guide.
Most people prefer to use WordPress these days because of the convenience and also because you need no additional software to build your site.
With WordPress, you can create a blog where the content is ordered newest to oldest and by category, or you can create a more traditional/static site like this.
If you don't want to use WordPress, you'll either need software (Artisteer, Dreamweaver, etc.) or learn HTML and CSS from scratch.
Static websites do not have comments and plugins like WordPress, but they are ideal for very simple sites.
NOTE: As mentioned, you can use WordPress to create a static website if you wish. You'll just have to disable the comments and configure the menus, etc. All the juicy details are in my WP Starter Guide.
Most people prefer to use WordPress these days because of the convenience and also because you need no additional software to build your site.
Create a Google Webmaster Tools Account
After your site is live, it's time to create a GWT account to ensure Google knows about your website and all its pages. Once you've done that, follow the instructions for setting up a sitemap.
A sitemap is simply an XML file that lists all of your web pages. But don't let the acronymn scare you. It's really easy to create.
If you use WordPress, there's a plugin you can install by Yoast that will ensure all your pages listed and it will create a sitemap for you. (Plugin installation help is located in the WordPress video above.)
Having a GWT is very important because you can keep track of your site's health as it pertains to Google finding/accessing your pages, etc.
Learn more about building traffic here.
A sitemap is simply an XML file that lists all of your web pages. But don't let the acronymn scare you. It's really easy to create.
If you use WordPress, there's a plugin you can install by Yoast that will ensure all your pages listed and it will create a sitemap for you. (Plugin installation help is located in the WordPress video above.)
Having a GWT is very important because you can keep track of your site's health as it pertains to Google finding/accessing your pages, etc.
Learn more about building traffic here.
Build an Online Store?
If you are considering building an online store where you will sell products from your website, there are a few ways you can go about it.
1. Use WordPress and install an ecommerce plugin
2. Go with a service like Web Marketing Magic, which is a full-blown ecommerce system with email, autoresponders, tracking and more! This is the most complete system, and it comes with video tutorials.
3. Use a regular web host and purchase an ecommerce/shopping cart add-on. Not a bad option, but probably the most challenging to setup.
If you don't want to apply for a merchant account to accept credit card orders, you can always use PayPal. The above three options will get your shopping cart going, but you still need a merchant service to collect the money. That's where PayPal can come in.
1. Use WordPress and install an ecommerce plugin
2. Go with a service like Web Marketing Magic, which is a full-blown ecommerce system with email, autoresponders, tracking and more! This is the most complete system, and it comes with video tutorials.
3. Use a regular web host and purchase an ecommerce/shopping cart add-on. Not a bad option, but probably the most challenging to setup.
If you don't want to apply for a merchant account to accept credit card orders, you can always use PayPal. The above three options will get your shopping cart going, but you still need a merchant service to collect the money. That's where PayPal can come in.
Outsource The Programming
If you can't seem to find a script or you don't want to learn how to install the kind of functionality you need for your site, go to vWorker.com and have a programmer do the work for you. I love this site.
All you do is sign up for an account and post a job. In a matter of minutes, programmers will begin bidding on your job with a price. You take the bid you want.
It's very safe because you pay the programmers by using PayPal.com and you don't release the money to them until you are satisfied with their work. You can also check a coder's feedback/history before you select them. I use them all the time!
You can even have them design your site if you wish. Just purchase your domain and web hosting and then have one of the coders create a template for you. They'll even install it for you.
All you do is sign up for an account and post a job. In a matter of minutes, programmers will begin bidding on your job with a price. You take the bid you want.
It's very safe because you pay the programmers by using PayPal.com and you don't release the money to them until you are satisfied with their work. You can also check a coder's feedback/history before you select them. I use them all the time!
You can even have them design your site if you wish. Just purchase your domain and web hosting and then have one of the coders create a template for you. They'll even install it for you.
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