How to host your own website

A step by step guide for creating your first internet asset

In this article we will guide you step by step on opening your first online internet asset to the public. It is really simple and with this guide you probably won’t need much help to do it.

Let’s start by choosing a web hosting service:

You will want to choose a web hosting service first in order to purchase your domain name.

A domain may also be widely referred to as  a web address or URL.

We will help you choose the best web hosting company. You can get the best hosting solution either by reading up customers' hosting reviews or by using our Hosting Wizard that will help you to select the hosting that will meet your needs perfectly.

Hosting companies provide all your web hosting solutions and server needs. You will be able to get a dedicated domain, with email service as well.

Once you have decided on your chosen web hosting company you can find a deal or coupon to save a few bucks. 

Now let’s choose a domain name:

When choosing a domain name you will want it to:

1. Be catchy - a good domain name will be remembered and your visitors will come back for more and more without having to work hard and try remember the name.
2. .com - there are many different types of domain endings. For example - .biz, .co, .com, .org and more. .com is more expensive but is also the easiest for your users to remember. A website which is going to be with you for a while is worth spending a little more on buying the .com.
3. Be available! - when you have chosen the web hosting company you want to work with, you will be able to check if the site or domain name you want is available for sale. Be original - If the name of the domain is taken you can always add a word or letter before or after. For example - if you want the name monkeys.com and it is not available try cutemonkeys. com, funnymonkeys.com, successmonkeys.com, monkeyplay.com or even just imonkey.com etc.
4. Localize- If your site is going to be in a specific language or only available in a certain country you can use the ending of that country instead of .com. for example Spain would be .es, Norway .no, etc.
5. Match your brand - If you are selling a service or brand, choose a domain name with the name of your brand. This will also help you with the branding of your company or products in the future.
6. Nonprofit website - Nonprofit organizations or charities will normally use the suffix .org.

Starting off:

Now that you have chosen a web hosting company and a domain let’s get started:

You can always start off with the baby or starter package and upgrade later.

To start off you don’t need any addons until you know exactly what your hosting needs are. So you can make sure they are not ticked or marked.

Enter your Username and password. (Make sure you use a username and password you will remember or have them stored on your computer for easy access.)

Make sure that the package you choose includes the following:

• 24/7 Phone assistance, live chat and email support.
• Instant account activation
• Money back guarantee
• Domain registration

And now create your account.

Now it is time to start building your website!

So let’s see what we have done so far:

You have purchased a domain, you choose a web hosting company and now we need to start planning your website.

There are many resources available on the web that can give you a basic easy-to-do website builder. Also most hosting companies provide these as well. Whether you use your hosting company's website builder or you choose to use external companies such as Wix or WordPress just make sure they are all compatible with the hosting provider you have chosen.

If you want to create the files yourself you will need to download a program called an FTP client. This is a file transfer protocol. This will enable your computer to communicate with your web hosting company’s server and exchange files. Check with your chosen web hosting company which FTP they offer or prefer. Some web hosting companies will let you transfer files without FTP as well.

Now you just need to add content and design to your site.

The type of design and content should be suitable to the grand idea of your website.

For example if you are opening a jewelry store you will want prestige and professionalism.  For a gaming website, fun and colors.

Once you have transferred the files to your web hosting company and you have created your website it is time to publish. See how to publish on the control panel of your hosting company.

Feel free to let us know if you need any help.