How to Make a Website for Dummies
So you want to make a website? You'll find lots of advice on the internet about how to create a blog or website - but what I find is, the gurus quickly forget how confusing it is for a newbie, and start recommending you do all kinds of fancy stuff before you even start. I'm new enough at this to remember how it felt, so in this series, I'm not going to tell you the best or the cheapest way to make a website - I'm going to tell you the simplest and least stressful way for the technically challenged!
First up, you'll need to find, and buy, a domain name. The domain name is the name of your site (e.g. the domain name for my belly dance site is bellydanceoz.com). I'm assuming you have a subject for your website (if you don't, and you're planning to blog about your life or whatever takes your fancy - that's OK, just don't expect to make money online, because you won't!).
Don't try to be clever - your domain name needs to be short and easy to remember, and it needs to tell people what the site is for. It's better to be boring than forgettable.
For instance, many dance teachers use their studio name for their domain name - which means people have to know the studio to find it. Whereas I have another friend who chose hurstvilledance.com, because he teaches dancing in Hurstville. Anyone who lives in the area finds it easy to remember the website - and guess what pops up when people search in Google for "dance classes in Hurstville"?
Where to Buy a Domain Name
This is the first place where you'll get lots of advice about where to buy a cheap name, where to get coupons etc. But let's face it, even the most expensive domain name is less than $15, so is it worth it? Some of the cheap sellers, like GoDaddy, will save you a few dollars but will then hassle you with endless sales pitches for stuff you don't even understand when you're starting out!
The other thing to watch when visiting "cheap domain" sites, is gazumping. If you
search for a domain name and don't buy it straightaway, you'll find
it's been mysteriously snapped up by someone else when you return to
buy it!
Also, if you buy your domain name from one supplier and your hosting somewhere else, you'll have to point your domain to your nameservers. It's simple once you know how, and experienced webmasters will probably laugh at me - but I'm embarrassed to tell you how much time I wasted trying to work it out the first time.
If you're technically challenged, you have enough hurdles to climb - so make life easy for yourself, and buy your domain name through your hosting service. That way, it will come all set up for you. Besides, having everything in one place means you only have one support team to deal with if something isn't working.
Get Hosting
Your website needs to sit on a computer somewhere, which is called "hosting". Every Hubber I know seems to use (and rave about) Hostgator, so after sticking with a more expensive hosting service for two years, I finally bit the bullet and moved to their service this month. They will also sell you a domain name.
I found myself back in I-haven't-a-clue-land when it came to transferring my websites over, but thankfully the Hostgator customer service team came to my rescue and did it all for me. So although it's too early for me to comment on their hosting, I can already vouch for their excellent tech support!
Whichever hosting company you choose, go for the most basic "web hosting" service - you can always upgrade later. And if you bought your domain name from them, you're now ready to start building your website with Wordpress.
Why Wordpress?
I recommend Wordpress for building your site (and by the way, don't confuse this version of Wordpress with the free blogging site, Wordpress.com. It's different). There are other ways to create a site - many hosting companies, including Hostgator, offer free site builder software - but I like Wordpress. The main reason is the huge range of ready-made themes available. A theme is what makes your site look great. It's the colours, the header, the fonts, the layout - find a good theme, and your website can look professional before you've even written a word! Plus you don't need to know a word of HTML or CSS.
Use site builder software and you'll either have to choose from a very limited range of templates, or you'll have to design your site yourself. And you have enough to do, producing the content. You may also find you can't transfer the content to another software or host later.
You'll have plenty of time to get fancy with site design later. And even with Wordpress, you can do all your own design if you want - still without knowing a thing about HTML - using a program like Artisteer.
Setting Up Your Site
I'm going to give you instructions on how to set up your site using cpanel, which is the system used by both the hosting companies I've used. If your host is using something else, then I suggest you flutter your eyelashes and ask Support nicely to help you upload Wordpress!
Here again, some gurus will tell you cpanel is useless and you should use an FTP client like Filezilla. Filezilla is quicker than cpanel once you've learned how to use it, but it's just as bamboozling to start with. And if you're not planning to become an internet guru, you won't have to use it much after the initial setup, so it's debatable whether it's worth the effort to master it.
Remember too, that if you have to ring Support, it'll be easier to troubleshoot if you're using their system. So bottom line - stick with cpanel!
How to Install Wordpress Step by Step
- Use the link the hosting service gives you, to log into your cpanel.
- Scroll down to Software/Services and look for a smiley face labelled Fantastico.
- Click on Fantastico and you should get to a menu with a list of software on the left hand side.
- Click on Wordpress
- On the next screen, click on New Installation
- On the next screen, the first box should show your domain name. Leave the directory field blank.
- Choose an administrator name and password. This is what you'll use to log in to your site.
- Choose a "base configuration" admin name - this is the name that will show as the author when you write posts.
- Type in your email address. Your website readers can't see it, but it will be used to send messages from your Contact Form.
- Type in your site name (for instance, for thetribaldance.com, the site name is The Tribal Dance).
- Click "Install Wordpress".
If all goes well, you can now open a new window in your browser and type in "[your website name]/wp-admin". You'll find yourself in the control panel for your website! Isn't that exciting?
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Designing Your Website
This article is long enough, so visit Part II to read an article on how to customize Wordpress to create a great-looking site. In the meantime, check out a few sites - all built on Wordpress, all looking completely different, and all created without knowing anything about HTML or CSS:
Dress for Flamenco
Pointe Shoes Online
Mens Dancewear Online
Marisa Wright
The Tribal Dance
Belly Dance Bazaar
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Text and ballroom dancers photo copyright Marisa Wright. Customer service photo by alanclarkdesign.
Comments
Aya, domain name registrars are granted a licence to control the sale of domain names. They're selling the right to use the name for a year. You can't break into that business, but there are people who buy and sell domain names, similar to the way people buy and sell car number plates.
It's not as lucrative as it was, because it's not just .com any more - you can get .info, .biz, .net etc - so it's harder to monopolize a good domain name, and people aren't willing to pay thousands for a name like they used to.
I recently set up my first website on Homestead, and found their site good and their support team reasonable. Of course there are little things here and there, but I expect that anywhere. They put up with me and my ignorance. And sold me a domain name.
This is an excellent hub for those of us on the less technical side (technical virgins.) Thanks. Lynda
Marisa - this article has extensive information for anyone who wants to set up their own blog. And, congratulations, you have written it in very easy to understand language. Thanks.
@lmmartin, I know someone who uses Homestead and I find her website design a bit pedestrian - not sure if that's the nature of their templates. I also found mainly negative reviews of the service when I Googled it. Here's one example:
If your only working on one site, which would make sense for a beginner, then logging in via cpanel is a perfectly functional way to administer your site, and as you point out, there is very little need to use much more then your wordpress dashboard anyway.
What I find useful about Filezilla (or any FTP) is the ability to mass upload my plugin and theme files across multiple sites, particularly when starting a new site from scratch. I can drag a folder that is prefilled with all my plug-ins and customizations in one motion.
The DomainProvider/Hosting Provider separation is a side effect of paranoia (sometimes justified) about any one service having complete control of your business - for just one site especially starting off, your advice is spot on - life is much easier if you dont have to set nameservers. It is easy to learn but is def one of the more daunting aspects of breaking into setting up your sites.
As one of those who raves about HostGator, I think this is a very well explained intoduction into starting your own site - Its the tech support you speak of that has made me such a rabid supporter - good to hear its still true!
Great hub, Marisa, and also if I support your suggestion of Hostgator as the webhost of choice (I am with them since many years, never had a problem with them) but to give the following advice: "buy your domain name through your hosting service" is bad. I did exactly that when I just started out on the internet and when I run into a dispute with the hosting company (not hostgator, another one) they decided to hold both of my domains hostage! I learned my lesson always to separate between hosting the site and buying (actually renting) a domain name, SY
@sunforged, I do understand about Filezilla's usefulness when you get into the big time - but that's exactly why I made the point, because a lot of advice on the internet is designed for the more sophisticated user.
@hospitalera, I guess that's a reason to research your host carefully before joining! Once again, I see your point in separating them (and by happenstance, that's what I now have), but for your first site, I think simple is better.
Wish I had come across this 2 weeks ago! Have just set up my first blog with wordpress.org, having previously only used blogspot's free blogging platform, and it was a steep learning curve for a non-techie like me. I'm using bluehost which was recommended by a friend and have had no problems, but have run into some critisicism of them (and hostgator, and every other hosting site!) on other blogs. I'm running a simple blog (no forums/message boards etc) Anyone have any thoughts about/problems with bluehost (too late now, but forewarned is forearmed and all that)?
I have seen many sites built with WordPress. I have to say they look pretty good. But WordPress doesn't host it, right? As you said hear that you are on Hostgator.
Marisa, who grants the license to sell the domain names? Is it a government entity? Or is it the companies that run the different sites?
Marisa, this wordpress thing always seemed a little complicated to me. After having read this hub it seems to be easier. Thank you, very well explained and step-by-step tell-me-how-to-do-it.
@Karen, if you've paid your money for Bluehost, you may as well stick with them. The main thing is to do your own backups regularly, because some of the complaints pertain to poor backup reliability of their servers.
@Sandy, Wordpress is the software you use to design your site.
@Aya, this will help explain it.
Thanks for the link, Marisa!
I really needed to read this, it answered a lot of questions.Thanks.
This is to answer Sandyspider's question, worpress also hosts your website at wordpress.com. It is totally free, but your web address will always be something like this: http://yoursite.wordpress.com
Gurinder, you're half-right. Wordpress.org is software you can use to build your own website. Wordpress.com is totally separate - it's a free blogging platform (like Blogger.com) which has similar software built-in. It's more restricted and you're not allowed to use any advertising.
Make your domain name unique and meaningful. Which will readily get information about your service/product? This well helps to boost your page ranking in Google's search criteria.
Some web hostings may not be Wordpress-compatible. But that's rarely the case. There are also cases where there is a trade off between functionalities and price for hosting services.
I've found that most web hosting companies are Wordpress compatible, but the easiest way to check is whether or not your hosting company gives you at least 1 database to use with your hosting company. A database is what stores all your posts, pages, plugins, themes, usernames, comments, etc on your hosting account. Ran across a company one of my clients uses that charges per month per database (meaning running Wordpress would cost a monthly fee.)
And wordpress.com is actually a Wordpress MU (Multi User) interface. Wordpress MU is harder to find hosting for, but you can set up multiple blogs from one interface. With the Wordpress.org setup, you can install multiple Wordpress sites on one domain, but you'll have to install each Wordpress site separately and manage them from a different dashboard. With Wordpress MU you install it once then set up multiple accounts (great for community sites but only if you have the funds to pay for your own server once you start generating traffic and creating a lot of sites) meaning you can let all your friends and family blog on their own portion of your website - i.e. yourfamilymember.yourwebsite.com or yourwebsite.com/yourfamilymember
I like WordPress but it is mainly a blogging platform than a fully featured CMS (Content Management Sistem) and I think that if you are starting building websites it will be a good idea to learn how to use such a CMS. It will be much easier after, when you will build your second website.
Boxmeister, like so many experienced internet users, you're missing my point. Starting a website is a huge challenge for the average newbie. There is already far too much to learn, without adding more!
Time enough to learn about CMS when you need the extra features it offers, on your second or third website. Personally I'm on my fifth and still don't feel the need for it. Wordpress fulfils all my needs. And there are many webmasters out there using Wordpress as a CMS very effectively.
I would like to say that I don't agree with your title. I am a dummy, and I still don't understand what to do. I am reading and studying though and might just make it with your help. Thank you.
Great hub, great advice! Thanks for sharing!
I have a question for you, do you have to obtain a webhost BEFORE you build your website. I guess what I mean in regards to WordPress, is, con you download and use the program to create the website before you select your web host? And, where is the best download link for WordPress?
Deanne, you can download Wordpress from wordpress.org.
However, I don't believe you can work on your site until you have hosting - so the sequence is:
1. choose your domain name (note: some hosting companies will throw in your domain name free with your first year's hosting, so check that before paying)
2. sign up for hosting
3. you'll probably find you can load Wordpress on your site's control panel.
using hostgator and buy domain .info at godady and using this coupon codes SPRING or Houston will decrease your hosting Cost, and if you can't sell hostgator product, you just have to pay less than 10$, just want to share ! just like you did
Thank you!!! This is the best information I have found! You did a great job in explaining clearly and simply. I now feel like I can go forth and tackle the job of creating my own website.
realy very informative hub. Useful for site maker.
Well done I am glad this came up when I looked to link it to my latest HUB ... good to know too I am not the only one who has different issues even after a few years of playing with website building such as the name servers .. smiles I mean you only truly mess with that once or so so how are you to remember that sort of thing? lol
~Expect Miracles
I think that newbies shouldstart with a content publishing site like Hubpages and/or Squidoo. Only after they got the grips of basic SEO, web writing, promotion, etc, that they should start thinking about making their first site/blog. Also the revenue they earn at such sites for free will pay for their basic hosting package and domain.
And one other thing: ALWAYS,ALWAYS save each of your articles on both a pendrive and your computer in a separate folder, just in case your publishing site/own website host goes out of business.
@Csanad, I agree that newbies should start with HubPages or Squidoo. I found HubPages an excellent "middle ground" because you can learn about things like affiliate marketing and SEO before moving on to actual website creation.
Very wise words on saving everything .. I did have a hosting company just up and completely disapear a while back ... so having those files ready to upload on a new host makes life much easier on you .. smiles
~Expect Miracles
Wow...You went into great detail and that is exactly what beginner website owners need. It can get confusing because hosting sites and site builders are different. Great work.
This is a great article and very helpful!
Was going perfect until the last bit, once id installed the wordpress tool and it automatically showed me the full wp-admin url - i was just taken to the original site - godaddy - where i brought the domain from.
I can't seem to get the wp login page... :( reinstalled again but no luck.
Any suggestions?
Hannah, have you tried manually typing in the domain name followed by /wp-admin?
I suggest contacting GoDaddy support - good luck!
Excellent Hub! This is what I need, Step by step instruction. Thank you for sharing your knowledge.
Great hub for people starting up with Wordpress! I would like to add a couple of quick tips for people going forward with this. Be extra safe with the hosting provider you choose. This can later on harm your website. Imagine this is the land you build on. If it is no good, then your whole house can go down. Also, if the hosting turns out no good and you decide to move this will get really complicated.
For any other newbies like me it seems that Bluehost are now no longer offering Fantastico - from what I can gather you now need to click on Simple Scripts instead of Fantastico. Hope that helps someone else wasting hours like I did!
Aya Katz 2 years ago
Marisa, this may sound a like a really stupid question, but here goes: what gives someone the right to sell someone else a domain name? I mean, clearly, they're not selling the name. What is it, actually, that they are selling, and how did they get to the point where they had it to sell? There seems to be a lot of money in the business of selling domain names. Any way to break into that business?
The more I delve into this, the more I realize I don't know the first thing about how any of it works!