How to Build a Website

 As you know, building a website can be an intimidating task. It is not something that comes naturally for most people and it certainly isn't easy. But, with the right information in front of you, there are no obstacles that will stop you from creating your own website. All of the information you need to create your own website is within this article!

The first thing that you will need is a domain name. As part of the process of registering your domain, you will also get access to your web hosting account. Your website will be hosted on one or more servers that are located somewhere on the internet. You will then install software on your computer which will allow you to view and edit the pages you have created. This software will also provide you with all of the tools you will need to manage your site effectively. So what exactly do you need? Let us take a look at each step in detail.

Choosing a Domain Name

Your domain name is very important because without it, your website will never be found on the internet. This is especially true if you only want to build a personal website for yourself. However, even if you intend to share your website with others, you still need a domain name because it is through your domain name that others will find your website when they search online. There are many different ways to choose a domain name but here are the basic steps involved.

1) Choose a keyword related to your business or hobby;

2) Find out if the exact same domain name has already been taken by someone else;

3) Check to see if the domain name is available for purchase;

4) If available, register the domain name for $10 per year or less;

5) Once registered, check back every few months and make sure the domain name hasn't expired!

If you are planning to build a website for others, you can use a company's domain name or you can simply buy a free domain name. Either way, your domain name must reflect your business or your hobby so be careful about choosing one that may cause confusion or conflict with another business. The best example would be using "www.yourbusinessname.com" as opposed to "www.yourbusinessname.org". The former is better because it has more potential to be easily recognized by visitors who are searching for your company on the internet. A good rule-of-thumb is to avoid words that end in vowels (a, e, i, o, u). Words like "co", "info", "portal", "web", etc. are also discouraged because they often appear in business names. Finally, don't forget to keep your company name short!

Finding Your Hosting Account

Once you have decided on a domain name, it is time to find a place to store your website. This is where your hosting account comes into play. Your hosting account allows you to upload files, images and other content to your server. When you have uploaded everything necessary to display your website, your hosting account will allow you to publish and view your website online. There are several types of hosting accounts and they vary greatly in cost and features. For example, some hosting providers offer unlimited space and bandwidth while others limit both space and bandwidth. Some charge monthly fees while others charge annually. And, some hosting providers give you complete control over your website while others require you to follow their instructions completely.

It is always best to shop around for the best possible deal before purchasing hosting services. Most hosts offer multiple plans so it is a good idea to compare rates across several providers to see which plan works best for you. Remember, you can always upgrade later if needed.

Installing WordPress

WordPress is a popular content management system (CMS) that allows you to write and publish your own website. It allows you to add blog posts, articles, links, pictures, videos, polls, forums and much more. By learning how to properly install and configure WordPress, you will be able to start publishing your website immediately.

First, download and install WordPress onto your computer. After installation is complete, you will need to activate the plugin. To do this, click on Plugins in the left panel. Then click Activate under WordPress Plugins. Next, enter the following URL in your browser bar and hit Enter: http://wordpress.org/extend/. A new tab should open up containing the WordPress Dashboard. Click on Dashboard and then click on Settings.

Next, enter the username and password you wish to use when accessing your WordPress dashboard. Also, enter any existing passwords you may have used to log into your WordPress dashboard previously. Now, click on Users and Groups. Here, you will notice three groups labeled Administrator, Editor and Author.

Administrator - Used to administer your WordPress account.

Editor - Used to edit your WordPress account.

Author - Used to publish your WordPress account.

Click on the drop down menu next to each group. In order to change the administrator status, select User Role Screen Options and then click Save Changes. Now, click on the drop down menu again and select Moderator. Select Edit and check the box next to Super Admin. Click Save Changes.

Now, click on Appearance > Menus and then click Add New Menu Item. Under My Sites, type in the domain of your desired website. For example, if you want to build a website for your business, type in www.mybusinesssite.com. Under Link, type in the link you would like visitors to see when visiting your site (i.e., /home).

Finally, click on Settings and then go to Reading. Change the setting from Public to Private. Make sure to click Save Changes.

Adding Content to Your Website

After configuring your WordPress dashboard, it is now time to start adding content to your website.

Blog Posts

You will need to set up a blog for your website in order to regularly update your visitors with new content. Blogs typically contain text and photographs, but sometimes blogs also include video and audio clips. You can add blog posts directly from your WordPress dashboard just by clicking on Add New Post.

Images & Videos

Another common type of content contained within a blog post is an image or video. To add these items, visit Media Library in your WordPress dashboard. From here, you can upload images and videos, as well as add descriptions.

To create a photo gallery, click on Photos in your WordPress dashboard. From here you can add photos by uploading them from your local hard drive or you can drag and drop images from your desktop directly into your gallery.

For videos, click on Videos in your WordPress dashboard. From here, you can either upload videos from your local hard drive or you can drag and drop videos from your desktop directly into your video gallery.

Links

Links are one of the most powerful aspects of blogging. They allow your readers to quickly jump from topic to topic. Links can be added within your blog post or they can be placed in sidebars, footers, headers and anywhere else you see fit. By placing links throughout your website, you increase the likelihood that your audience will return to your blog frequently.

Plugins

There are thousands of plugins available for WordPress. These plugins allow you to enhance your website in a variety of ways. For example, a plugin called Akismet protects your blog against spam comments. Another great plugin is Visual Composer which allows you to design your own layouts and templates. Other useful plugins include Yoast SEO, Contact Form 7 and WPtouch.

Conclusion

When you have completed the above tasks, you should now have a functional website that is capable of providing you with valuable content. Building a website from scratch is not a simple task, but it is definitely much easier than trying to modify a poorly designed blog template. When you learn how to build your own website, you will be able to control every aspect of your website including its appearance, functionality and security.

And, once your website is built, you will be able to create additional sites with minimal effort and maximum results.