Design a website: How to make a website yourself
From HTML codes to CSS, PHP and SEO, you could spend many years learning how to make a website. This is what I have done.
But isn't there a cheap way to create a website, something that doesn't require hiring a website design firm?
There are many cheap ways to create a website, and many places to make a free website. However, there is truth to the saying that "you get what you pay for," and most of these cheap options have serious drawbacks.
My advice would be to pay at least a little money to do things right, so you don't have to undo them later on.
Domain name: Your short, simple dot com
You should have your own domain name (something.com). You want a domain name that is fairly short, easy to remember, and easy to spell. Picture it on your business card, or on your vehicle. Think about saying it over the phone. There are other top-level domains besides .com, but people are far more familiar with .com than the others, so .com is probably best.
Next, to see whether your desired domain name is already taken, check with a service like Namedroppers.com, which will also suggest alternative names.
Web host: Sign up for Web space at Bluehost
Once you have settled on a domain name that is available, the next step is to buy Web hosting. This is storage space on a Web server which is online 24 hours a day. Hosting also includes email service and other important features.
After years of Web designing, one of the top Web hosts I have found is Bluehost.
12 months of Web hosting at Bluehost costs less than $85. Simply sign up online with a credit card, specifying the domain name you have chosen. The process takes just minutes.
Once you have purchased Web hosting at Bluehost, logging in takes you to your control panel. There you can set up Mail (Email Accounts or Forwarders) for your domain (you@something.com).
Free WordPress
Sometimes the best things in life really are free: WordPress is an outstanding Content Management System (CMS) that is very popular for blogging, but can also be used to as many create any ordinary Web page as you need to make up a complete website.
Install WordPress — for free — right from your Bluehost control panel. In seconds, you have everything you need to start putting words, pictures, audio, and more where the world can see them.
WordPress how to
WordPress itself provides free, high-quality online documentation in their WordPress Codex.
If you want a truly outstanding book on using WordPress, get Digging into WordPress by Chris Coyier & Jeff Starr.
Otherwise, browse through the other popular WordPress books at Amazon.com.
WordPress theme
A "WordPress theme" is the set of WordPress templates which controls the overall look and layout of a WordPress website. WordPress comes with a default theme name "Twenty Ten" which is perfectly adequate for many purposes.
If you want other options, search online. You'll find free WordPress themes, and other WordPress themes which cost money. Because I design custom WordPress themes for my clients, I am not familiar enough with these sources to recommend any of them in particular.
Custom Web design
Beyond these brief pointers, I cannot provide technical support to the general public.
But if you would rather not go the do-it-yourself route — or if you need custom Web design work done on your website later on — send me a message or give me a call, and I'll be happy to discuss your project with you:
