A Five-Step Guide to Starting a Website

It used to be that building websites were for IT aficionados and tech geeks – not anymore. With easy to build ‘drag and drop’ websites like Wix, and with WordPress hosting it’s simple to run a website. In fact, even the most cynical of technophobes are able to create an online presence in just a few clicks.

If you’re a small business, entrepreneur or individual looking to start a website for business or pleasure, here’s everything you need to know, in five easy steps.

Define your purpose

As the famous book by Simon Sinek goes, ‘start with why’. What is it that you want to get out of your website? Is it to drive sales, build a fan base or following, or perhaps it’s just to have online presence?
Once you know why you need a website, you’re in a better position to buy a domain that is suitable to your needs and those of your customers.

Check availability

So now you know why you want a website, the next step is to come up with a few ideas for domain names. It’s always worth having a few alternative handles in mind when you check domain names for availability. This includes different extensions in case your first choice isn’t available, such as .co.uk as well as .biz.
If you’re a local company then it’s also worth considering a domain name in Ireland, since .ie domains are more exclusive and can really help your business stand out, this can be a savvy move for those with a connection to the country.

Don’t forget to choose a name that is applicable across all your social profiles too. It’s important for consistency when it comes to brand marketing. Namechk is a free online tool that show availability across the major platforms.

Register your name

Due diligence complete, it’s now time to buy a domain name. This is an exciting first step for any business owner, and you’ll be presented with a number of options for the duration of ownership. Go for as many years as you can afford, although most start-ups will buy a domain name for at least two or three years, so renewal is one less thing to worry about.

It is also worth considering ID protection if you don’t want to be inundated by
unsolicited sales people. This is an industry-wide problem wherever you buy your domain name. The only way to keep your personal details private is by additionally registering with the WHOIS database for a small fee. It is considered a worthwhile investment by many and can be done at time of domain purchase.

As a final note, don’t forget to register your social media handles at the same time on; Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram among others.

Chose a web host

While WordPress hosting is one of the most popular options, you may want to shop around. Since it requires some technical know-how to connect your domain to a web host, it might be worth adding this as part of your packing when you buy a domain.
Costs can vary and renewals are usually annually.

Get designing

And finally, there’s one more step before you’re up and running – the design. Once you’re connected to a web host, you can play around with themes and designs to see what works best for you. This is a great opportunity to experiment with different fonts and colours, before settling on the right look.

Once you’re happy with your website navigation it’s time to press ‘live’ as you go public to the world, congratulations!

If you own a business and don’t have an ie domain name or web hosting, then visit LetsHost.ie for a selection of affordable solutions.