How to Create a Website with a Domain Name: The Beginner’s Blueprint
Building your first website but not sure where to start? You’re not alone! Many beginners think it’s harder than it really is. Don’t worry—we’ve got you. With this quick guide, you’ll have your website up and running in no time!
Before going into the technical details of building a website, let’s take a moment to explore why having one is important. Many people create websites to grow their brand, share ideas, or sell products and services.
What’s your reason?
Why do you need a website?
Having a website is a must today because it puts your business out there, making it easier for people all over the globe to find you anytime, day or night. Your website serves as the central place where customers can learn about what you offer, services, and get to know your story.
But a website does more than just make you visible. It boosts your marketing efforts by merging strategies like SEO, content marketing, and email campaigns. These strategies can help you reach more customers and turn visitors into loyal clients whether you’re selling products or getting leads.
Moreover, your website also plays an important role in asserting your brand’s identity. It showcases your brand’s colors, logos, and messaging that will help you stand out from the competition.
Defining your brand
Establish your core mission
Take a moment to reflect on your brand’s origins—what was the inspiration behind your business? Consider what motivated you to start this journey. This step allows you to clearly define what your brand stands for. Further, it helps establish your core values and distinct qualities that make your brand unique.
Build a brand personality
Your brand is your voice and a reflection of who you are. Think about how you want people to feel when they interact with your brand. Is your communication style formal, casual, playful, or authoritative? Once you establish your tone, select colors, fonts, and a logo that goes perfectly with those emotions and reinforce your brand’s identity.
Understand your audience
You can’t reach everyone, so it’s important to focus on those whose values align with yours. Ask yourself: Who are the people that will relate to your brand? What do they need, and how can your brand meet those needs? This is where your Unique Value Proposition (UVP) comes in—what sets your brand apart from competitors and makes it the best choice for your audience?
Now that you have a better understanding of your brand, you should be able to picture what your website might look like. But before we jump into that, let’s start with step one: securing a domain name.
Your domain name: the first step to going live
When you search for a website, you usually just type in something like this: thisisyourdomain.com. That’s a domain! It’s what your website visitors will type into search engines like Google or Bing to find you.
Most domains match the business name, but if your company name is long or you want something catchier, get creative! Just make sure it reflects your brand and is easy to remember.
Choosing a domain
A domain has four parts: the top-level domain, second-level domain, subdomain, and hostname. But let’s keep it simple and focus on the top and second-level domain.
Let’s use this domain name as an example: sample.thisisyourdomain.com
Understanding top-level domain names
A top-level domain (TLD) is the last part of a domain name. In the example above, the TLD is ‘.com.’ You see .com on most websites. It’s super common, just like .org and .net, which is why it’s called a generic TLD (gTLD).
You can stick with a gTLD like .com, or go for something more specific to your industry, like. shop or.tech. There are also country-specific domains like .au, .us, and .eu, which can help you reach a local audience.
What’s a second-level domain?
A second-level domain (SLD) is where your brand really shines. It sits right before your TLD. Think about it—we often search for websites with its SLD and TLD, like facebook.com or google.com. The second level domain often represents your business name, personal brand, or a keyword that aligns with your identity, making it a crucial part of your online presence.
Time to build your domain name
Now that you understand the basics, it’s time to put it all together. Here are some tips to help you choose the perfect domain name.
Pick the right TLD
Generic TLDs like .com are always a safe choice. But if your preferred domain is taken, choose one that suits your purpose. For example, photographers might consider .gallery, .photo, or .photographer.
Keep it simple
Your domain should be easy to remember. Keep it short and avoid numbers or hyphens unless they’re part of your brand, like Forever21 or 7-Eleven. If you’re just starting out, consider using your name, your company name, or combining your brand with the product or service you offer. If you already have an established brand on social media, it’s best to use that to stay consistent across platforms.
Think long term
Choose a domain that grows with your brand. Avoid trendy terms or locations that could limit future expansion—what’s popular today might not work tomorrow. Aim for something timeless. Let’s say you bake cookies in Manhattan. Unless you plan to stay there forever, naming your domain ‘ManhattanCookies.com’ wouldn’t be the best move.
Check your domain
Watch out for trademarks to avoid legal trouble down the line. Also, check the domain’s history to make sure it doesn’t have any negative associations. If everything checks out, secure your domain right away!
Getting your domain
You can get a domain name in two ways: either through a domain name registrar or a reseller.
When choosing between a registrar and a reseller for your domain registration, it all comes down to your preference. Domain registrars usually offer a free domain for the first year through a hosting plan. The domain will be renewed at the end of the term at a standard rate. But if you’re buying the domain alone, you’ll be paying the standard price.
While it’s common for registrars to offer free domain with a hosting plan for the first year, this isn’t always the case. Some registrars charge a fee for the domain even when purchased as part of a hosting package.
Domain name resellers, on the other hand, get their domains from registrars in bulk. They sometimes offer discounts to their customers and make their offering more attractive by bundling it with other products like hosting and email. Domain resellers become resellers when they subscribe to a reseller program of an ICANN (Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers)-accredited registrar.
Either way, both domain registrars and resellers are solid. The trick is finding the one that fits your needs—whether it’s about technical expertise, your brand, or your budget. When choosing you may want to consider these as well:
- Certifications. Make sure the registrar is ICANN-accredited. For domain resellers, since they aren’t accredited by ICANN, it’s best to ensure that the reseller you’re working with is an accredited registrar.
- Pricing and services. Compare domain registration costs, renewal fees, and bundled services like hosting or email and assess which option is financially sound for you in the long run.
- Privacy protection. Look for options like WHOIS privacy.
- Domain extensions. Ensure the right TLD for your brand is offered.
- Customer support. Check out reviews from review sites, online forums, and other communities to see if your chosen registrar or reseller offers exceptional customer support.
Is your domain unavailable?
If the domain name you had in mind has already been taken, don’t stress! You can try a different domain extension like .net or .org. Tools like AI Domain Generator can suggest close matches or variations of your preferred domain name.
With your domain sorted, you’re one step closer to building your website. But before jumping into your design, you need to decide what type of website you’re going to create.
Finding the perfect website type
We’ve nailed down your brand and secured your domain name, so you probably have an idea of how your website should look. Defining the type of website you want will sharpen that vision and guide your next steps.
For more clarity, think about your website’s purpose—what you want to showcase and achieve. This will help you decide which type of website to create.
Common types include blog websites, eCommerce websites, and business websites.
Blog
Imagine a blog as your personal space on the web. It’s a simple website where you can share thoughts, tips, stories—anything you’re passionate about. With blogs it’s all about connecting with your readers.
eCommerce website
An eCommerce website is like a virtual version of a physical store. Customers can browse your products, add them to their cart, and make purchases—all from their own homes, anytime they want. It’s your online store that’s open 24/7!
Business website
A business website is all about providing information. They tell visitors who you are, what you offer, and how they can reach you. Think of it as a brochure for your services, rather than a place to buy things directly.
How your website type impacts web development
If the website you’ve envisioned doesn’t fit into any of the three types, don’t worry—there are plenty of types to explore. Still, most websites follow a similar site structure.
You’re free to design your own website however you like, but many stick to their type since it’s optimized for user experience.
Your website type usually determines how many pages you need and what content they’ll include. For example, eCommerce sites focus on product pages, where the products often speak for the brand.
One-page vs multi-page websites
While still technically website types, one–page and multipage websites aren’t considered traditional website types. Instead of focusing on purpose or content, they emphasize the layout and structure of your site.
- One-page websites. All your content lives on a single, scrolling page. They’re perfect for portfolios, landing pages, or smaller sites with limited content—no clicking around needed!
- Multi-page websites. These are your typical websites with multiple pages for different sections. Think blogs, eCommerce stores, or any site that needs a lot of space to show everything it offers.
Now that we’ve covered all the groundwork for designing your website, it’s time to start building.
Website design and theme
Now comes the part you’ve been waiting for—the fun stuff! It’s time to bring your website to life with design. This is where your brand’s personality really shines.
But hold off on the colors and logos for now. Before diving into all the fun design elements, Let’s work on your website’s infrastructure first. To do that, we need to make you a wireframe.
What’s a wireframe?
If your website is like a house, the wireframe is the foundation—or blueprint. Skipping this step in the website creation process can lead to wasted time and money. Wireframes are the quickest and most affordable way to plan out your web pages and web apps before adding visuals. They give you a clear structure and direction, ensuring your website is built efficiently and provides a seamless user experience. A wireframe isn’t just an outline—it’s a visual and abstract representation of how your website will function. It covers key elements like:
- Navigation bars. How users navigate the site.
- Interactive elements. Buttons, forms, and clickable features.
- Information architecture. Organizing your content.
- Element placement. Positioning of text, images, and key features.
- Hierarchy. Prioritizing elements by importance.
- Functionality. Ensuring an intuitive user experience with easy navigation and minimal steps.
Websites aren’t just for desktops anymore, and many beginners make the mistake of using the same design for phones, tablets, and desktops. But with almost 60% of web traffic coming from mobile devices, it’s important to create wireframes that align with these as well as desktops.
Let’s build your dream site!
With your wireframe ready, it’s time to bring your website to life. Luckily, you don’t need coding knowledge to get started. Website builders are simple building tools that even beginners with little to no coding experience can easily use.
A website builder is one of the most popular options when creating your first website. It offers drag-and-drop features, ready-made templates, and various built-in tools to simplify your website creation process. There are a lot of providers online that offer website builders.
Optimizing your website
So, we mentioned optimizing your website earlier, and you’ve probably come across the term Search Engine Optimization (SEO) at least once before considering building your website.
What is Search Engine Optimization (SEO)?
Search Engine Optimization is a set of practices that make your website easier for both search engines and your visitors to understand and navigate. It’s an important tool that helps your site appear higher in search engine results, bringing more visitors to your website without having to pay for ads.
By strategically inserting keywords that your potential customers are searching for and creating genuinely useful content, you give your website the best chance to be noticed. However, it’s not just about stuffing your pages with keywords—it’s about crafting a user-friendly experience with engaging content and user-friendly navigation.
SEO also focuses on making your website fast and responsive, especially on mobile devices where most users search. Optimizing your site isn’t just about pleasing search engines, but also about improving the overall experience for those who visit your site.
A well-optimized website is intuitive, fast, and a pleasure to browse, which makes visitors more likely to return, convert, and recommend your site to others. The better your SEO, the more credible and authoritative your site appears to search engines, which translates into higher rankings and more visibility.
How do you optimize your site for search engines?
When it comes to optimization, code does play a part, but don’t worry—you can handle most of it using a website builder. And if you’re not super tech–savvy, you can always have a pro check your site’s backend to clean up any extra or redundant code.
A big part of optimizing your site is about making sure it performs well. Is it easy to navigate? Are your visitors finding what they need? And does your content really connect with your audience?
Here are some simple tips to help you get started with optimization:
- Speed up your site
Slow websites can turn visitors away. To make your site load faster, try shrinking large images, using fewer plugins, and enabling browser caching (a fancy way of saying your site will load quicker for returning visitors).
- Make it mobile-responsive
More people use their phones to browse websites, so make sure your site works well on mobile devices. A good website builder usually has this covered, but it’s worth checking.
- Maintain fresh, engaging content
Use relevant keywords that people will most likely search for in your page titles, descriptions, and images. Also, interlink your pages to make navigation easier for both visitors and search engines, helping them explore your site more efficiently.
- Ensure your site is user-friendly
Think about how easy it is for people to use your site. Is your menu clear? Can visitors find what they’re looking for quickly? Simple navigation and a clean layout can make a huge difference.
- Keep an eye on your analytics
Use free tools like Google Analytics to see how your site is doing. You’ll be able to check how many people are visiting, how long they’re staying, and which pages they’re leaving quickly to give you clues on what to improve.
Now that you’ve got the basics of optimization covered, there’s just one more thing to think about—web hosting.
What is web hosting?
Web hosting is essentially where your website lives on the internet. A good hosting provider ensures that your site stays online, loads quickly, and is secure. The web hosting plan you choose can have a big impact on your website’s speed and reliability, which plays a critical role in both user experience and SEO.
Whether you’re just starting or looking to scale up, choosing the right web hosting service is key to keeping your site running smoothly.
Can you DIY web hosting?
Well, you could, but it’s not exactly practical. Most web hosting services come with security features that protect your site from malware, breaches, and even identity theft.
Apart from keeping your data safe, you also want to make sure your site is up and running 24/7. Also, web hosting companies offer extra protection, like backups, in case something goes wrong.
Congratulations! You’re ready to launch!
A website is more than an online space. It’s about bringing your brand’s personality and mission to life. Every choice you make, from the design and content to how you interact with visitors, shapes your online presence. Your website is more than just a showcase—it’s a tool to connect with your target audience and grow your business. Now that you’ve got a good handle on your brand with our guide, you’re ready to build your first website.
