So, where do I start?

So, you need a website but you’re not sure where to start. To get a website up and running, you will need:

A domain name

The domain name is what people type to access a website. Everyone’s familiar with them, but how do you get one? You only own a domain name for a limited period of time. It can be a year or more, but you will need to renew it at some point. If you don’t renew the domain name, another person will be able to register it, so it’s important to keep track of the renewal date.

There are a few options when it comes to registering a domain name:

Purchase your domain name from a registrar such as GoDaddy, BlueHost, Domain.com, or Dreamhost. There are many others so shop around to see where you can get the domain name you want at the cheapest cost. Make sure to look at the yearly cost after renewal: some registrars charge little the first year but are not so competitive for the following years when you renew the domain name.
If possible pick a registrar that allows automatic renewal, so you don’t have to worry about someone “stealing” the domain name because you forgot to renew it.

A hosting platform

A hosting platform is the server where the sites that make up your website are stored. The domain name points to that server. There are also a couple of options here:

The first and easiest solution is to subscribe to a publishing platform such as Wix, Squarespace, and Webflow. These sites provide all the tools you need to create your site quickly, such as an editor and templates, as well as functionalities that you might need to run a business, like a contact form, a map, connection to Google Analytics. etc. It’s possible to have a website up and running in a few hours, without any programming or design knowledge.
Their drawbacks are cost and flexibility. The cost is less competitive compared to a dedicated hosting solution, and the design of your site will be limited to the templates they offer.

To be continued…