The good news is that building an online presence with a new web page can be very affordable. In fact, there are as many options for website building that can fit almost any budget. Read on for top tips to start a website without breaking the bank.
Why You Should Start A Website
As mentioned, the reasons for creating a website are as vast as the internet itself. Everybody has a different point of view, and a website is an ideal place to share those views. Some of the top reasons to start a website include selling a product, offering consulting services, writing reviews, expanding upon a passion or hobby, sharing information, building a non-profit - the list goes on and on.
Considering the fact that starting a website doesn’t have to cost a fortune, you may ask yourself “Why not go for it?” That’s a great question because if you have something to sell or say, a website online is an ideal place to do just that.
Steps To Building A Website On A Budget
Even though creating a stunning website can be done cheaply, that doesn’t mean it’s always easy. There are details to consider which involve making good choices from the start. With this in mind, here are a few steps to get your website-building adventure off on the right foot.
Get A Domain Name
The first and most obvious step to building a website is attaining a domain name. This will be the URL (as in, www.yourdomainname[dot]com), where visitors will see your site. There are many providers where you can research domain names and purchase them relatively cheaply. The base cost for a domain name is around $10.00 per year. The price goes up, though, depending upon additional security measures you may elect to purchase such as a secure SSL or WHOIS domain privacy.
Get A Hosting Service
A web hosting service is needed to make your website live, viewable, and accessible to visitors searching for you online. Very often you can get a reduced price on website hosting if you opt to bundle your domain name with a hosting package. Consider the purpose of your website before choosing a host. For instance, if you want to sell products or services, consider WordPress WooCommerce hosting, which has e-commerce functionality at the heart of its service.
In truth, web hosting is potentially the most expensive aspect of creating and maintaining a website online. You can start with cheaper hosting for as little as around $14.00 per month. That cost will increase according to security, speed, support, bandwidth, and more. Keep in mind, however, that your hosting fees may also increase as you get more traffic to your website. At the high end, websites that receive hundreds of thousands or millions of visitors a month may cost up to $1000 a month. But in the beginning, you can keep hosting costs low, and upgrade to a bigger hosting package as your website grows.
Get The Right Platform
A website building platform or content management system (CMS) is how you will build your website using a dashboard. There are many options to choose from, and some offer easy-to-use features such as drag and drop functionality in the event you are unfamiliar with web building. Choosing the right CMS for your website depends upon your objective.
Website software costs range from $14.00 per month, and the price goes up from there, depending upon what functionality you want for your website. One of the most popular CMS platforms is WordPress, which powers a third of all the websites on the internet. WordPress also features an open-source software (WP.org) that is free to use. This might be a viable and cost-free solution if you’re just starting a website. There are also millions of free or low-cost plugins and themes to help maximize, customize, and optimize a WordPress website or blog.
The Last Word For Starting A Website On The Cheap
Determining how much a website will cost is largely contingent upon what you want to accomplish online. In the beginning, you can keep costs very low with free open-source software, or getting bundle deals through a hosting service. As you continue to build your site with quality, optimized content, you can upgrade to pricier options and packages that will improve your website. In the final analysis, starting a website doesn’t have to cost an arm or a leg, so you can easily create a website without crushing your budget. It's time you stop delaying and start building a wonderful website that works for you!
