How to Make a Website

text size AAA Published December 28, 2011

Overview

Creating a website is easier than you think. There are two components to a website. One is a domain name, and the other is a web host. A domain name designates your website's online address, and a web host is a company that gives you the space to create and save your website on the Internet. Web hosts also provide the tools and guides that you need to create your website. If you would prefer, you can hire a web developer to create your site for you.

The cost of creating a website will vary based on several factors. The web host where you are planning to place your website may charge you a nominal amount for the service. This price is determined by the plan you choose and the features that it provides. Once you have chosen a domain name, you should pay a yearly fee for it. It is cheaper to create a site yourself. If you hire a web developer, they could charge you hundreds or thousands of dollars. Your options for web hosting also vary in cost. Some services are available for free while others could cost over a thousand dollars per year. Typically, business websites require more features and will be more expensive.

Benefits

Websites come with many benefits. The first and foremost benefit is that the whole world gets to know about your product or company. If you are the owner of a small business and cannot afford expensive television or magazine advertisements, then a website will be especially useful. You can even increase your company's income by placing advertisements from sponsors on your website. Websites can also expand your customer base and help your company grow nationally and internationally.

Personal websites help families stay connected. You can create photo albums, message boards, and blogs to help your family stay in touch with one another, no matter where people are located. You can stay in touch across borders, time zones, and countries.

How It Works

The first thing that you have to do before creating a website is to plan what kind of web site you want to have. Then, select a domain name that makes sense for what you want to do. Select a domain name that is catchy or easy to remember. The domain name should be short and attractive. Once you have selected the domain name, register the name through a service like GoDaddy. It will cost you as little as $10 to park your domain name.

If you do not want to pay for a domain name, you can register for a free website service like Tripod. Services like Tripod are recommended for personal website users. If you have a business, you should purchase a domain name.

You can then select a host for your site. Make sure that you select a host that provides all the features that you need. Take some time to plan what your website will need before you select a web host. Possible features include message boards, shopping carts, HTML editors, blogs, photo galleries, and chat rooms. If you do not know HTML, you can find templates online, or you can use a program like Microsoft FrontPage.