Find a domain name.
After you’ve picked your website’s purpose, you need to find a domain name. This is what people will type into their browsers to locate your site (for example: www.example.com). Once you’ve found a domain name that you like, it’s time to move on to the next step.
Choose a hosting provider.
A hosting provider is a company that will provide space on their servers for your website. This is where your site’s files and data will be stored. Once you’ve chosen a hosting provider, it’s time to move on to step four.
Set up your site.
Now it’s time to set up your site! This usually involves logging into your hosting account and using their ‘site builder’ tool to create the structure of your site. If you’re using WordPress, this may involve installing the WordPress software onto your server. Once you’ve set up your site, it’s time to move on to step five. Also, look at How are websites created now.
Choose a theme or template.
Now it’s time to give your site some personality by choosing a theme or template. A theme is a pre-designed ‘skin’ that you can apply to your site to change its appearance. A template is similar but usually includes some additional features or functionality as well (such as e-commerce). Once you’ve chosen a theme or template, it’s time for step six!
Add content and images.
Now it’s time to start adding content and images to your site! This is usually done by logging into your CMS and adding/editing pages and posts (or products if you’re using an e-commerce platform). If you need help with this part, there are plenty of tutorials available online (just do a quick Google search). Once you’ve added some content, it’s time for step seven…
Install plugins/extensions (optional).
If you’re using WordPress or another CMS that supports plugins/extensions, this is the point where you would install them onto your site (if desired). These small pieces of software add additional functionality or features to your site (such as social media buttons or contact forms). If you don’t want to install any plugins/extensions right now, that’s totally fine – just skip ahead to the above step!
Publish your site!
The final step is publishing your site for the world to see! This usually involves clicking one button in your CMS – once you do that, congrats! Your site is now live on the internet! All that’s left now is…
Promote your site!
The final (optional) step is promoting your site so people can actually find it! There are many different ways to promote a website – social media, paid advertising, SEO, etc. – but that’s beyond the scope of this guide. For now, just concentrate on getting started and building out your site – the promotion can come later!