Thinking about launching a website soon? Not sure how to build a website that can compete with the other 2 billion websites that are already on the internet?
Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered!
In this article, we’ll tell you all about how to build an awesome website. We’ll talk about web hosting providers, as well as other website must-haves, so you can get a quality website up and running in a few short days.
Also, we’ll discuss a few common mistakes to avoid, so you can set yourself up for success early and limit the number of bumps in the road.
Consider Your Experience Level
If you’re trying to decide between web hosting providers, the first thing that you need to factor in is your experience level. After all, if you’re new to web design and development, you most likely don’t have a ton of confidence in what you’re doing yet.
That means that, in order to help yourself out, you’re going to want to invest in a big-time hosting provider that has a solid tech support staff available 24/7.
Of course, deciding between two services like Bluehost vs GoDaddy is also quite tricky for newcomers. With that in mind, if you stick with any of the notable hosting providers, you should be able to get 24/7 customer support regardless of your choice.
Factor in Your Traffic Expectations
Once you have a hosting provider picked out, it’s time to think about realistic traffic expectations. Because a website that gets a few thousand clicks per hour needs to be set up differently than a website that gets a few thousand clicks per month.
If you expect to get tons of traffic, especially at once, investing in something like a private server is recommended. With that being said, if you’re not running a blog or news website, you should be able to get away with a shared server with no issues.
Consider Your Needed Storage Amount
Blogs and news websites not only tend to get more traffic, especially at once, but they also need more storage. After all, all of that content takes up tons of space, which is something that you’re going to have to pay for with your hosting plan.
The good news? A private server usually comes with tons of storage space, too. That, combined with using something like Google Photos to host all of your media files, can help you maximize your site’s storage space.
Other Notable Website Must-Haves
After you’ve got your hosting situation all squared away, it’s time to consider a few other notable website must-haves. Below we’ve broken down 5 website must-haves that you need to make sure you plan for when you start looking at hosting providers.
Again, these things are all important, especially if you’re new to making a website. So, be sure to keep this list handy when you’re sitting down and making decisions about your website’s infrastructure.
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A Domain Name
If you know anything about building a website, you most likely know that a domain name is super important. After all, it’s what people are going to think of first when they think about your website and your brand.
The good news? Your hosting plan most likely comes with a free domain name. So, as long as you make sure to pick out a good name that is memorable and effective, you should be good to go.
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A Quality Logo
Got a cool website name picked out? Now it’s time to invest in a quality logo for your brand.
If you want to look credible from the get-go, you need to have a logo that is professionally-made. So, if you can’t make a quality logo for your site yourself, be sure to include the costs of a graphic designer in your startup budget.
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A Content Management System
When you’re ready to start building your website, you’re going to want to link a content management system (CMS) with your hosting provider. WordPress is the most popular CMS option on the web today, and for good reason, as it’s both flexible and easy to use.
A pro tip? Let your hosting provider’s tech support team setup your WordPress website for you. That way they can link everything up properly and get things done for you that much faster.
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A Content Management Strategy
Of course, no website is complete without quality content. And if you want to get the most out of your website, especially at first, you need to have a solid content management strategy in place right out of the gate.
Our advice? Post a few times a week and make sure your content is around 1,000 words or more. Track your analytics closely, too, and make adjustments in the future based on your numbers.
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An SEO Strategy
There’s a lot we could say about search engine optimization (SEO).
Simply put, if you want to generate tons of traffic for your website, you need to study SEO quite often so you can build a solid SEO strategy early on. Again, lean on the help of the professionals here. Don’t be afraid to invest in an SEO expert for your website, especially if it’s a news website or blog.
Need More Help Deciding on Web Hosting?
As you can see, a lot goes into deciding on web hosting. But if you keep these tips and tricks in mind, and get help when you need it, you should be able to build an awesome website in a few days.
Looking for more web design ideas and advice? Check back with our blog daily for tons of useful information.
