Being online is essential nowadays, regardless of the business size. The internet is used for research, shopping, transactions, and various daily tasks, leading to a growing demand for companies and professionals to have a digital presence for communication with their audience and selling goods and services.
Many individuals struggle with building a website and choose to focus solely on social media presence instead. While social media presence is crucial, having a website, blog, or online store can greatly boost revenue for businesses.
Setting up a website is often seen as costly and complex, leading to delays in many projects. However, the process can be more affordable and straightforward than commonly believed, making it accessible to everyone. In this article, I will outline seven essential steps to help you create a website.
- Domain registration
- Determine the kind of website to build.
- Select the website creator.
- Host your website.
- Select a topic
- Create content for a website
- Publish the website
1. Create an account for a domain.
Every website requires a domain address, such as www.mysite.com.br, which is crucial for your project. The domain should be memorable, uncomplicated, and concise, while also steering clear of ambiguity and names resembling competitors.
After selecting a name for your website, it is important to verify if the domain is accessible online by utilizing a domain registration service.
A domain typically ranges in price from R$ 30 to R$ 60 per year, but certain unique endings may vary significantly in cost. It is also typical to receive a free year of domain registration with a hosting package.
If the domain you want is free, go ahead and register it before moving on to the next stage. For further information on this process, check out our guide on domain registration.
Determine the kind of website to develop.
It’s important to understand the various kinds of websites available to find the best fit for your business requirements. This decision will impact the type of tools needed to create your site as well as the hosting requirements.
The three main types are website (institutional), blog, and online store. Each has distinct features and goals that can be beneficial based on your business’s needs and objectives.
Website
Creating a website is the initial step for businesses without an online presence or only social profiles as it serves as a key brand identity on the internet, providing essential information to potential and existing customers.
An institutional website typically includes the following pages, at a minimum:
- Home page;
- Regarding a business or professional presentation.
- Products and/or Services are offered.
- Contact information (address, phone number, and contact form).
The website may include additional pages based on the needs of the business. For instance, a restaurant might feature a reservation page and a digital menu.
Blog post
The blog is an interactive tool for regularly publishing content to engage and retain customers, as well as promote the brand online. It typically follows a chronological structure and serves as a valuable marketing asset for enhancing an institutional website.
Online shop
A virtual store is a specialized website designed for selling products or services online, with a structure focused specifically on this activity for better suitability.
A virtual store distinguishes itself from a regular website by featuring a stock management system, sales, orders, and customer management. Additionally, virtual stores typically organize products or services into categories and displays, with purchases being completed through a shopping cart.
There are notable distinctions among a website, blog, and online store, and the decision should align with the business requirements, which will also impact the selection of the platform.
3. Select the website creator.
The next stage in building a website involves choosing the appropriate tool. Nowadays, there is a wide range of options available for website creation, including platforms like WordPress and automated tools such as site builders and online stores. Each option has its advantages and disadvantages, and I will now introduce the most popular tools.
WordPress
chsyys/FreePik
WordPress is a widely used content management system that is free and highly flexible. It is suitable for blogs, websites, and online stores. WordPress can be easily installed on any hosting server and is also available as a hosted service with various plans and features.
This option is useful for individuals who want to build their own website without having to manage technical aspects like hosting settings and system updates. For a more in-depth comparison, you can refer to our article that discusses the differences between WordPress.org and WordPress.com.
Its great adaptability contributed significantly to its widespread use. By simply clicking a few buttons, you can personalize a theme or add plugins to enhance your website’s features. This cost-effective platform enables beginners to construct their own websites with minimal effort. Conversely, if you prefer to hire a professional to design your site, there are numerous experts skilled in building WordPress sites. It comes as no surprise that WordPress remains the top preference for designers and developers globally.
Discover how to create a WordPress website with this complimentary tutorial.
Website Creator
chsyys/FreeImages
If WordPress website creation feels challenging, you can consider using a website builder as a user-friendly alternative tailored for individuals lacking technical expertise in site development.
Site builders, also known as website builders, have become popular due to their user-friendly interface and affordability. By managing your own site, expenses are limited to the tool itself, typically ranging from R$ 5 to around R$ 70 per month, in addition to the domain fee paid annually.
It’s possible to begin with the free version of a tool provided by certain companies if you are unable to invest. Wix is a popular website creator that allows you to experiment and launch your website for free, with the option to pay for additional features such as a domain and e-commerce.
Website creators are primarily concerned with developing websites, with some tools also suitable for small virtual stores and blogs. Explore our top picks for website creators if this option suits your needs.
Virtual stores that are prepared.
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There are numerous methods to establish an online shop, ranging from basic to intricate. One of the easiest and cost-effective approaches is to use pre-designed virtual stores or e-commerce platforms.
You can utilize the company’s e-commerce structure in this model to personalize your online store’s appearance, content, and settings. This option can be cost-effective initially with lower investments in store construction and maintenance. Rental of the tool and domain registration are the main costs, starting from R$ 30 per month. This approach is commonly used by established e-commerce sites, especially in more advanced and pricier plans.
Creating a virtual store can also be done using no-cost tools like Magento, Prestashop, and OpenCart, or through e-commerce plugins such as WooCommerce designed for use with WordPress. While requiring a higher upfront investment for store setup, this approach provides more autonomy and adaptability for the e-commerce owner.
Host your website on a server.
It is essential for a website to be hosted on a server to be accessible online. Hosting services are offered by various companies and are commonly referred to as website hosting. While every website requires hosting, it may sometimes be included with the website creation tool chosen.
If you opt for tools like WordPress.com or a site builder with an integrated virtual store, hosting is already included. Otherwise, you’ll need to arrange hosting for your website.
There are various accommodation options available, each with different features and prices. The most popular and affordable choice is web hosting services, which are suitable for most websites and can be priced at under $10 per month. These are the most budget-friendly accommodation options.
This type of hosting is typically suitable for the majority of websites and individual or small business blogs. As these sites are relatively small in scale and traffic, they rarely require more features than what this hosting service provides. It’s important to note that keeping the site updated and optimized is essential to prevent excessive consumption of server resources, even with minimal visitor numbers.
Cloud hosting is a suitable choice for websites experiencing high traffic, such as popular blogs and online stores. On the other hand, VPS and dedicated hosting are better for those needing more resources and server control. Technical expertise is required to manage any of these hosting options, and there is also the option of reselling hosting for those interested in providing hosting services to clients.
To choose the right hosting for your website, it’s important to estimate the necessary features, with a focus on storage space and traffic. The more visitors and content you have, the more resources you’ll likely need. Additionally, features like professional email and SSL security should also be taken into consideration when selecting a hosting service.
Select a theme from the options provided.
The next step after selecting the tool and website type is to start creating your website. The quickest and simplest method is by utilizing a theme, which is essentially a pre-designed website template that can be customized to your preference. Themes come with pre-set elements such as menus, images, and text based on the chosen category. They are available for various businesses and purposes, often at no cost.
chsyys/StockVault
The quality and range of themes available will vary depending on your chosen tool. It is important to select a responsive theme that adjusts to different screen sizes or includes a mobile version. This feature is crucial for websites, considering that mobile phones are the primary means of Internet access in Brazil. Moreover, having a mobile-friendly site can improve your Google ranking for searches conducted on mobile devices.
Advantages of utilizing a premium theme in WordPress are also worth considering.
After selecting a website theme, it is essential to tailor it to your needs by incorporating appropriate colors, fonts, and images that reflect your brand identity or the message you wish to convey. It is recommended to create original images or opt for high-quality professional images from free image banks to maintain a professional appearance and make a positive impression on visitors.
Create content for a website
Regularly producing high-quality content is crucial for website development. Search engines assess websites based on various criteria, including content quality. Therefore, prioritize creating relevant, unique, and well-organized content to increase your site’s visibility and rankings.
Quality content leads to increased user engagement, encouraging visitors to interact with the site, share content, and potentially return in the future, fostering lasting relationships and boosting conversion rates.
Quality content may consist of different types of media like texts, images, audios, and videos, depending on the subject matter of your website. For example, a literature blog may mainly feature textual content, while other sectors benefit from a mix of text and images to enhance engagement.
A website can establish itself as an expert in its field by offering valuable content, unique perspectives, and problem-solving solutions. This can lead to increased partnerships, collaboration opportunities, and enhanced brand credibility.
Publish your website.
After you have finished designing your website and adding the content, the next step is to make it live on the web. This can be easily done on website builders by simply clicking the “Publish” button.
If your website is hosted by one company and the domain is registered elsewhere, you may need to take specific steps to ensure everything functions correctly. Top hosting providers now handle most technical aspects required for website publishing, simplifying the process. When both domain registration and hosting are with the same company, the company will likely handle the necessary settings, removing any technical concerns for you.
Creating a website: final thoughts
Having an online presence is crucial nowadays as the internet has become the primary means of communication. With billions of users accessing websites daily via various devices, such as mobile phones and computers, for news, products, services, and communication, the significance of the web cannot be overstated. In fact, for some businesses, not having a website can be a critical disadvantage.
Creating a website is now more convenient and cost-effective than ever before. Free and paid tools are available for individuals to build their own websites without technical expertise, while professionals can also create websites ranging from simple to complex based on the company’s needs and resources.
Start your website creation project today now that you have the necessary knowledge. Feel free to ask any questions or share suggestions by leaving a comment.
The article was first published on 06/06/2016 and revised on 07/07/2023.
Published on 07/07/2023 and last updated on 03/04/2024.
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