How to Build a WebsiteBy: Courtney Hall

The Beginning

o Before you can actually build your own website, you need to determine what type of website you are wanting.

o You could be making a blog, personal webpage or a full blown professional website. Whatever the case is you need to determine what you are wanting to make before you can go any further.

Choosing a Website Platform

o After you have chosen the type of website you want you need to find the best source (website platform) to use to create the website.

o There are many different sources you can choose from. Some are better than others in aspects that pertain to the type of website you are creating.

Wordpress

o Wordpress has become a very popular source to use to build your own website.

o It can be used for any type, but it is mainly used for blogs.

o It is FREE! There are default themes and other things to use,

but it does offer more for a price. You do not have to pay for one, it is just an option.

Squarespace

o A source that can be used for blogs, personal webpages or professional websites.

o There is a free trial, but it does cost after that according to package plan. Standard (Personal) Plan - $8 a month Unlimited (Professional) Plan - $16 a month Business Plan - $24 a month

WIX

o Wix.com is used as a site for businesses, photography, music or other things.

o This source is free!

o Easy to use for someone’s first time making a website.

More Ideas

o There are many sources that you can use to create your own website.

o I went over just a few sources. Other examples are: web.com, weebly, Drupal, Joomla, HTML and many more.

o Some sources are free and others have a monthly cost. It is completely up to you if you want to use a site that costs or not. Both types work great.

The Next Step

o Most of the sources I have described have the same beginning process.

o Once you have picked a source you will go through that particular site’s set-up process.

o The main first step is to pick a domain name for your website and hosting (service that connects your site to the internet).

Themes

o Most sources will have you pick a theme at the beginning of the setup process.

o The theme of your website should reflect your style and personality. Pick a theme that fits you.

o Make sure the theme is appropriate for what your website is being used for. Also make sure it appeals to your audience.

o It is okay to change your theme around after the initial set-up of your website!

Above is an example of a theme used on Wordpress.

Adding “Stuff”

o After you have established your theme, you need to start adding all of your information in for the site.

o This can include things such as pages, photos, or links. Resources such as an “about me” section can be

helpful for your audience.

o Doing this will take time. You can continue to add more to your website whenever you want to.

Widgets

o Most websites have widgets. These are the information located on the sidebar, the footnotes, or the headlines.

o They are used as extras for people to look at and use. They can be VERY beneficial.

o Examples: links to other your social media, recent posts, photographs and more.

Final Steps

oOnce everything has been established you should test your website.Go through different source like Firefox or

Chrome to make sure everything comes up right.

You can also get your site noticed by submitting it to search engines like Google and Bing.

Experience

Those are the basic steps in building a website. The hardest part of the process is after you have done the initial setup.

The best way to master your website is to “play” with it and learn how to do everything.There are tutorials you can watch to get a better

idea of your website source. The tutorials go more in depth.

Best of Luck!

Now that you have the beginning tools, go start a website! Create a blog for yourself or a site to begin a business.

The opportunities are endless. Your website can always continue to grow and get better.

Get out there and get started. Have fun and good luck!

Resources (Works Cited)

o Griffith, Eric. "How to Build a Website." PCMAG. Ziff Davis, LLC, n.d. Web. 25 Oct. 2014.

o "How to Build a Website - Step-by-Step Guide." How to Build a Website. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 Oct. 2014.

o Heng, Christopher. "How to Make / Create Your Own Website: The Beginner's A-Z Guide."

Thesitewizardcom RSS. N.p., n.d. Web. 01 Nov. 2014.

o "Squarespace vs WordPress – Our Detailed Comparison." Best Website Builder Reviews. N.p., n.d. Web. 01 Nov. 2014.