Website Building 101

Website Basics – Summarizing the three pieces every website needs

Website development can seem overwhelming, especially for beginners entering the world of online business. There are several crucial factors to consider, including hosting, domain name registration, and website authoring. In this article, we will delve into each of these topics in detail, aiming to provide you with a comprehensive understanding of website development and how its components work together to establish a successful online presence.

Let’s start by discussing hosting options for your website. There are various types available, including shared hosting, VPS (Virtual Private Server) hosting, and dedicated hosting.

Hosting – Your website needs a home

Shared hosting is the most cost-effective option, allowing you to share server space with other websites. This arrangement reduces costs but may limit your control over the server environment and result in slower load times if other sites on the server experience high traffic.

VPS hosting is a step up from shared hosting, providing you with your own virtual server space. This option grants you more control over your server environment, enabling customization to meet your website’s specific needs. VPS hosting strikes a balance between cost and performance, making it suitable for websites with moderate traffic.

Dedicated hosting, although the most expensive, offers an entire physical server exclusively for your website. It is an optimal choice for large websites with high traffic volumes, ensuring complete control over the server environment and seamless handling of increased traffic.

Personally, I recommend Siteground.com as a hosting provider. They offer excellent service, free speed and security plug-ins, and represent an overall great value.

Domain Name Registration – Get Signed Up!

Moving on, let’s address domain name registration, which involves selecting a web address for your site, such as www.example.com. When choosing a domain name, consider the following factors:

1. Relevance: The domain name should align with your website’s content. For instance, if your website revolves around cooking, a domain name like www.cookingtips.com would be suitable.
2. Memorable: Opt for a domain name that is easy to remember. This increases the likelihood of visitors finding your website again in the future.
3. Simplicity: A short and straightforward domain name is easier to type and recall compared to a lengthy and complex one.
4. Extension: The domain name’s top-level domain (TLD), indicated by the part that follows the dot (e.g., .com, .net, .org), holds significance. While .com remains the most popular choice, other options such as .info, .net, and .org are available.

Build it and they will come.

With your hosting option and domain name established, the next step is website authoring. Numerous tools and platforms facilitate website creation, including content management systems (CMS) like WordPress and Joomla, as well as website builder tools such as Wix, Squarespace, Elementor, and Divi.

CMS platforms simplify website creation and management, catering to users with limited programming experience. They offer pre-designed templates, themes, and plug-ins to give your website a professional appearance and functionality.

Website builder tools, on the other hand, are even more user-friendly and intuitive, making them ideal for beginners. They typically feature drag-and-drop interfaces for easy content placement and a variety of templates and design options. Elementor and Divi are excellent website builders worth considering.

For those with technical expertise and a desire for maximum flexibility, programming languages like HTML, CSS, and JavaScript provide the means to create and customize websites. This option grants complete control over design and functionality but requires programming knowledge.

In conclusion, successful website development involves several interconnected steps, including hosting, domain name registration, and website authoring. By understanding each component and their interplay, you can build a website that meets your goals.