If you have to set up a website, I’m betting that your heart has started to beat rather rapidly, right? You probably know that you need some pages, words, and SEO. You may also be aware that you must select a domain name and a hosting company – in addition to many other things – yikes! Where do you begin?

Here’s your ‘how to start a website’ guide – so you can relax!

First, choose a domain name.

Your domain name will be your mark on the Internet. It will be the words are the ‘www’ in your URL. It is, by all means, one of the most critical aspects of setting up your site (if not the most important part!).

Think about what you’d like your name to be, and then check to see if that name has already been taken. You’ll want to head to most major hosting companies to see if your domain name is available. Plus, you can buy a domain through any major hosting company (or purchase it elsewhere).

What happens if your name is already taken? This happens often when it comes to famous names like ‘Mary’s Cookies.’ So, you have two choices: rename your company or play around with that name. If you run a cookie company and your name is Mary, you could try these versions of that same name:

• Crumblycookies.com
• Marylovescookies.com
• Marythecookielady.com
• Mmmcookies.com

You get the idea. Because so many domain names are already taken, choosing your domain name before you name your company is perfect. If you’ve already named your company, there’s always room for creativity. You’ll probably want to choose .com as a suffix, but that’s up to you.

Set Up Your Site

Now, you’ll have actually to build your website. If you have any design skills, you can put a site together pretty simply with WordPress – it’s so essential it’s practically plug-and-play. No design skills? Cough up the money for a professional site. Sure, it will cost you thousands at the start (or maybe a few hundred), but that’s the cost of doing business.

Choose Your Hosting Company and Plan

Here’s where you should pay close attention. Most site owners opt for shared hosting out of the gate because it’s cheaper. However, a shared server means transferring speeds, which might not be suitable or wise. If you plan to generate a lot of traffic, choose a dedicated hosting company instead.

You will have to spend more initially, but that investment will pay off when your site attracts thousands of visitors, and you enjoy fast speeds. Also, seek out managed shared hosting if you aren’t skilled in technical stuff (this way, you can ask someone else to help you if you run into a snag).

Going for a free hosting space may also be tempting, but choosing a straight domain name (not usually part of a free hosting plan) and paying for a reliable distance is better. Free hosting plans are typically unreliable. If you aren’t sure about a dedicated hosting plan, ask about upgrading options. You can upgrade when the time is right (and you have many site visitors).

Get Traffic to Your Site

Here’s the tricky part – getting traffic to your site. This is where a content consultant and SEO team will come in handy. Work with people who understand how to market a website, have a proven track record, and can get your site some recognition. It starts with content and basic SEO, moving from there to backlinking and other strategies worth reading about.

A well-developed website consists of many parts, not just one or two. Creating a site with blog posts and hoping for the best is not enough. It takes time, many strategies, and someone who can help your business grow online. But it all begins with the right hosting company and hosting plan.

Hopefully, you are feeling more confident about building your website now. To find the best hosting company, visit SiteGeek.com for ratings and reviews of all the major players. And if you have any questions, ask. We are here to help you out!