So you want to create a website, but you don’t want to spend a lot of money, and you don’t have any technical knowledge on website building. Worry not. There is a wide range of website builders out there that are beginner-friendly and very affordable.
According to Hostinger; one of the most affordable website builders and easy to use; here are the easiest steps to make a hassle-free website.
1. Choose A Free Website Builder
Essentially, a website builder is a shortcut to creating and publishing a website. You don’t need to be a developer to create a website. Usually, they come with premade templates that give you a strong baseline and allow you to customize every element of your website with simplified tools that don’t require any coding knowledge.
When choosing a website builder, there are some things you should consider, which are:
- Ease of use – Make sure that the website builders are indeed easy to use. Look for features that will make creating a website more straightforward, like a drag-and-drop function and an intuitive toolbar.
- Template options – See whether the website builder has a lot of premade templates. This increases the chance of you finding the right template for your website.
- SEO features – Having this included will give you a head start by helping you optimize your website to rank on search engines.
- Affordability – Of course, try finding the one that brings the best value for money.
Different website builders are going to offer similar feature sets but might have some key differences that you must look out for. You should inspect how good their SEO features are, whether they have integrations with your preferred marketing software, like Mailchimp, or analytic software.
2. Register a Domain
The first thing you need to do after picking the website builder is registering a domain. Here you’ll need to choose a domain name, which is essentially the name and address of your website. Use a domain name checker to find the right address and a trusted registrar as a home for your domain. It’s also advisable to keep your domain under the same company as the website builder, which will make website management easier.
Once you have the domain name, the next thing to do is choose a hosting plan for your website. You need a hosting plan for your website to be accessible to everyone on the internet and store your website files on a server. These most often come with the website builder.
Be sure to put a lot of thought into your domain name. It will be the first impression that your site will make, even before the above the fold content. Additionally, it will be the main gateway for recurring visitors to reach your site.
Your domain name should ideally represent what your website is about. Cooking, portfolio, specialty online store – you have to understand what it is at a glance. It’s recommended to take the time to get some second opinions, research competitors, and check with friends if your chosen name works well.
On top of that, be sure to choose a name that is simple to spell and pronounce, while avoiding hyphens and numbers. They will make your domain name confusing to share, which might lose you valuable conversions.
Lastly, pick the appropriate Top Level Domain. If .com is available it’s should definitely be at the top of your list, however, if you’re starting an NGO website, you should consider .org. Meanwhile, if the most popular options are taken, you can definitely opt for .shop or .tech for an online store in that niche, or similar alternatives.
3. Customize Your Site
Once you picked a hosting plan, you can now choose a template for your website. Here is where you can pour your ideas into and be as creative as you want using the website builder tools.
Here you can customize every element of your website using the drag-and-drop features, add new elements, change the colors and fonts, and plenty more customization options. Be sure to follow the best web design practices when arranging your site.
Here are some tips to help you customize your website:
- Insert social sharing and follow buttons.
- Create a navigation bar or menu that guides visitors to find what they need.
- Place call-to-action buttons.
- Keep your homepage free of clutter – you can try a minimalistic approach.
- Ensure that it’s mobile-friendly.
4. Add Content
Now you should fill your website with content. This could be uploading media, blogs, and information regarding your business. To help you create content, Zyro has a built-in AI writer who can help you create content just by inputting keywords in it, and it will generate content.
You can also utilize over a million free images from Unsplash and other stock photo repositories.
Here are some tips for creating content on your website:
- Know your audience and niche.
- Write short and simple sentences.
- Use an active voice.
- Use images to illustrate your message.
- Make text scannable.
Remember to update your content to stay updated and relevant regularly.
5. Publish And Promote!
The final step is to publish your website. Now you won’t immediately get visitors to your website. One of the easiest ways to promote your website is by using your social media to help you get started and gain traffic. Start by making a Facebook page, or an Instagram account that is dedicated to promoting your website.
You should also continuously improve and optimize your SEO so your website ranks higher on SERPs (search engine result pages) and can get you more traffic. A great way to earn more traffic is by starting a blog, where you can write on your niche’s topic and establish yourself as an authority.
Remember that this is just the starting point of your website. Don’t stop here and just wait for traffic and visitors to arrive. You should be proactive and reach your audience first. Collaborate with influencers in your niche to help get your website their audience.
