How to build your first website

Are you looking to build your first website but have no idea where to start? Don't worry, we've got you covered. It's not as difficult as you may think. In fact, with a little effort and some basic knowledge, anyone can create a website from scratch. Assuming you've never created a website before, this article will teach you the basic steps for creating and launching your first website. In just a few hours, you can have a site up and running without any prior experience or technical knowledge. All you need is a computer and an internet connection.

Building a website does not have to be difficult or expensive. There are many platforms available that make it easy to create a professional-looking website without any programming experience.

Introduction: why you need a website

A website can be a powerful tool for any business, large or small and is one of the most important tools for businesses in the modern world. By having a website, businesses can reach a larger audience and promote their products or services more effectively, and grow your brand. In addition, a website can provide businesses with a way to connect with their customers and collect feedback. If you are starting a business, or if you have an existing business that does not have a website, you need to build one.

It is estimated that there are over 5 billion internet users (63.1 percent of the global population) in the world. This means that there are potential customers all over the world that you can reach with a website. Even if you only sell products or services locally, having a website can help you reach more people in your local area.

A website makes it easy for customers to find information about your business. Customers can visit your website at any time to learn more about what you offer, read reviews, and get contact information. This builds your credibility, educates your potential clients, and brings warmer prospects through the door.

Step 1: come up with a plan for building your website

If you're reading this, you are probably ready to build a website. But where do you start? The process of building a website can be daunting, but if you break it down into smaller steps, it's not so bad. Here's a basic 10 step plan for building your first website.

1. Come up with a plan for building your website.
2. Choose your web host and register your domain name.
3. Find the right platform for your website
4. Register your domain name
5. Design your website
6. Choose a theme or template for your site.
7. Customise your site with elements/plugins and widgets.
8. Add content to your site (pages, posts, images, etc.).
9. Launch your website
10. Celebrate! You've built yourself a great website!

Step 2: choose your web hosting

Web hosting is one of the most important choices you will make when building your first website. Your web host is the company that provides the server and storage space for your website.

There are many different types of web hosting, and choosing the right one can be difficult. Shared hosting is a good option for small websites with limited traffic. If you expect a lot of traffic, or your website is very large, you may need a dedicated server.

Be sure to do your research when choosing a web host. Read reviews and compare pricing to find the best option for your needs.

Most pure website builders come with the hosting built into the platform, and if you are using a website builder, you do not need to worry about this step.

Step 3. Choosing the right CMS or website platform to build your website

When you want to design your website, choosing a website builder is sort of like choosing the foundation of a house: Everything that comes after, the looks, functionality, user experience, maintenance, adding on, and more will all be determined by this decision. The most important question when choosing a builder for your website is what type of website you want to have in mind. Various platforms offer differing strengths and drawbacks, so it's important to select a platform not only suitable for your current needs, but that can also grow with your company. Don't just choose a platform because it has thousands of features when you don't need them, because a platform like that can come with far more maintenance, security risks and a higher learning curve.

It's generally advised to opt for a website builder/maker with CMS functionality as this capability permits you to easily maintain the capability to edit and expand your site. A CMS enables you to store your photos and videos, PDFs, hyperlinks, and many more things. This means it's simpler to edit and expand your website.

Step 4: register your domain name

Your domain name is your website's address on the internet. It's how people will find your site, so it's important to choose a good one. Here's how to register your domain name:

1. Decide on a domain name. This can be anything you want, but keep it short and easy to remember, and where possible match your business name.
2. Pick a top-level domain (TLD). This is the part after the dot in your domain name. Some examples of TLDs are .com, .com.au, .net, and .org.
3. Check if your desired domain name is available. You can do this by searching for it on a domain registrar like Limecube, Crazy Domains or GoDaddy.
4. Register your domain name with a registrar.

Step 5: design your website

Assuming you've already chosen your web host and bought a domain name, it's time to design your website! This can be a daunting task if you're not a web designer, but there are plenty of tools, templates and resources available to help.

Choose a theme or template for your website.

Start by thinking about the overall look and feel of your site. Do you want it to be clean and simple, or more complex and interactive? Choose a theme or template for your website that will suit these choices.

There are thousands of free templates that come with a premium or free theme. For example, some platforms have thousands of free themes that you can choose from. Or you can use a website builder to create your own website with a custom template. If you want to get a professional look for your website, you should use premium templates and customise these to suit your business.

Site Hierarchy

Once you have an idea of the general style, you can begin planning out the individual pages.

Think about what content you want to include on each page, and how you want it laid out. If you're not sure what kind of content to include, take a look at some similar websites for inspiration. Once you have a good understanding of the content you want to include, you can start designing the actual pages.

Step 7. Customise your site with elements/plugins and widgets

If you want to build a website that truly reflects your brand and engages your audience, you need to start with the basics. A good foundation starts with your content, then building out the design, and finally customising with elements like plugins and widgets.

When it comes to customising your site, there are endless possibilities. But it can be overwhelming trying to figure out where to start. Here are a few tips on how you can use plugins and widgets to create a site that is uniquely yours.

Adding plugins and widgets is a great way to add functionality and personalise your site. But before you go overboard, make sure that each one serves a purpose. Otherwise, you run the risk of bogging down your site and making it difficult for visitors to navigate.

Start by adding a few essential plugins like a contact form, image galleries, or social media sharing buttons.

Step 8. Add content to your site (pages, posts, images, etc.)

If you want to build a website that will stand out, you need to put in the effort to add quality content. This means creating pages and posts that are interesting and informative, and adding images that are eye-catching and relevant. The more quality content you have on your site, the more likely people are to visit it and return for more.

To get started, brainstorm a list of topics that would be of interest to your target audience. Once you have a good selection of ideas, start creating engaging content that will keep people coming back for more. With quality content, your website is sure to be more engaging and drive a better quality conversion.

Step 9: launch your website

Assuming you have completed your website, have a website domain and hosting account setup, it's time to launch your site. This process is fairly simple and can be done in just a couple of steps.

1. The first step is to test your website to make sure everything is working properly on various desktop and mobile devices. Check and forms on the site to make sure they are delivering emails and there are no broken links or images.
2. You then need to point your domain name to your hosting account or website builder. This is usually done by changing the DNS settings at your domain registrar.
3. Add Google Analytics to your site to track website performance.

Once you've completed these steps, your website should be live and accessible to everyone on the internet. Congratulations! You've just built your first website!

10. Celebrate! You've built yourself a great website!

Now that you've built your first website, it's time to celebrate! Here are a few things you can do to make the most of your accomplishment:

1. Share your website with friends and family members. They'll be impressed by what you've accomplished and will be eager to check it out.
2. Add a "Built by Me" badge to your website. This is a great way to show off your skills and let visitors know that you're the one responsible for this amazing site.
3. Promote your site through social media and other channels. Don't forget to brag about the fact you built it yourself!

Next steps for your website, and reaping the benefits of your website

After you've built your first website, it's important to take some next steps to ensure its success. First, you should promote your site through social media, SEO, paid advertising and other online channels to drive traffic to your site. You should also create content that is shareable and engaging, so that people will want to visit your site again and again. Finally, make sure to track your site's analytics so that you can see how people are finding and using your site. By taking these next steps, you can ensure that your website will be a success. Remember, it is not enough to just have a site, as without differing methods to promote it, no one will find it, and with billions of pages in Google, you won't simply appear in Google without additional work.

For SEO, make sure your website is optimised for search engines so that potential customers can easily find you when they search for keywords related to your business. Secondly, use social media to drive traffic to your website and create buzz around your brand.

Looking to build a simple informational based website that can grow with your business, is easy to create and edit? Try Limecube's website maker with a 14 day free trial.