What Are The Benefits Of A Custom Domain
In addition to creating a space for your business to live online, a custom domain has other benefits. Here are some of the top reasons companies select a personalized domain name.
- Brand identity: Your custom domain name becomes your company’s online moniker. Visitors expect your domain name to match or closely resemble your company name, so stay consistent to maintain brand identity.
- Credibility: A custom domain name boosts credibility and makes your website appear legitimate to visitors.
- Memorability: The more straightforward your domain name is, the easier it is to remember. The easier it is to remember, the more likely people will remember it when typing in their search bar and that means more traffic directed to your website.
- Differentiation from competitors: Use a clean, catchy custom domain to differentiate yourself from competing sites with clunkier domains.
- A custom domain name boosts search authority if you use it right. It takes time to accumulate quality content, internal links, and backlinks, so older domains typically have more authority.
You’ll be assigned a subdomain if you start creating your site on a free website builder like Weebly, WordPress, or Webnode. Your URL might appear something like: example.wordpress.com. Later, you may decide to upgrade your account to a paid plan and purchase a custom domain but your domain authority essentially resets to zero. See what we mean about the importance of using a custom domain name from the get-go?
Any Additional Tips For Choosing My Domain Name
There are a few things that can help you choose your domain name:
#1 Is it brandable? For example, if you make a site about poetry then best-poetry-website.net is not a good choice: poetryacademy.com or poetryfall.com is much better.
#2 Is it memorable? Short, punchy and clear domain names are much easier to remember. If your domain name is too fuzzy, too long or spelled in a strange way, visitors may forget it.
#3 Is it catchy? You want a domain name that rolls off the tongue, describes what you does and sticks in the head. Coming up with a cool name can be a bit tough since there are more than 200 million active domain names in the world right now but dont give up.
Theres one rule that always applies to domain names: If you like it, go for it.
Option : Install WordPress
Many business owners and employees have little to no coding skills. At the same time, it can be limiting to have to rely on a web designer or web developer to create and maintain your site. WordPress is a catch-all solution for businesses that want a basic website with minimal investment of time and money plus, you can install WordPress in minutes.
More than one-third of all websites on the internet exist on the WordPress platform, and even big companies, such as CNN and eBay, use it. There are free and paid versions of the software, and theres plenty of user support available online.
I love the WordPress dashboard for its sleek, clean design. Take advantage of premium theme selection and the ever-growing library of WordPress plugin options. Some of our favorite plugins to recommend include WPForms for contact forms, W3 Total Cache for optimizing page load speed, and anything published by Yoast SEO and Google Analytics integration.
With many themes and layouts to choose from and options to advance to more complex designs and features, WordPress is a versatile choice for all kinds of businesses. In fact, its the platform that powers HostingAdvice.com itself.
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What Is A Website Builder
A website builder is an online tool that helps you to create a website without any coding skills. Once youâve chosen which one to use and downloaded the template, you can drag and drop various components into your new sites such as images, YouTube videos, forms, and more. Each one has its own set of âlayersâ that you can mix and match depending on your needs.
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How Much Does A Custom Domain Cost
Typically, a .com domain name the most popular extension ranges between $10 to $15 per year. Several factors influence the cost, including the domain registrar you’re purchasing it from, the extension desired, and how SEO-friendly it is.
Nearly all website building platforms, from hosted website builders to self-hosted CMS platforms, include an option to register a domain name in the sign-up process. And some hosting platforms, such as Squarespace, offer a free year of domain registration with sign-up. Of course, this appeals to new site owners who want to keep website costs down but check the renewal fee before you sign on the dotted line, so you don’t accidentally commit to an exorbitant annual rate.
Alternatively, some hosted platforms such as CMS Hub and providers like SiteGround require you to purchase a domain from a third-party domain registrar like GoDaddy or Namecheap. Then, you’ll connect it to your account through a relatively inexpensive and painless process.
We mentioned that you should expect to pay somewhere between $10 and $15 a year for your domain. However, the extension you select can significantly impact the price. Below, you can see how different extensions alter the cost of a custom domain name.
Now that we understand how the pricing of a custom domain name varies, lets walk through the process of getting one.
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Choose A Host And A Domain
The first step to creating a personal or business website, no matter which approach you choose, is to select a web hosting service and a domain name. The web host is the company that provides the server and storage space for your site and gives the online world access to your brand. On the other hand, the domain name is the URL that people use to navigate directly to your site.
How Much Does A Website Cost
The cost of running a website can be broken into 3 main elements: the domain, hosting, and the way to make the website.
A domain is the unique web address that visitors can type into the browser to find your website, e.g. www.website.com.A domain name is typically a yearly cost, ranging from around $15/year and up.
Website hosting allows your website files to be stored and seen on the internet. This is typically a monthly ongoing cost, usuallyaround $14.99/month and up.
The website platform used to create a website is another factor to consider. The cost of making a website may vary depending on whetheryou choose a DIY approach, or hire a web designer or developer. Hiring a web expert can be a significant expense that generally requiresan initial design cost and an ongoing maintenance fee.
With Website.com premium plans, everything is included to create your website, including a professional domain name, web hosting, and a websitebuilder with easy tools to create your site. Premium plans range from $3/month ,which is an extremely cost effective way to own a professional website.
With a free Website.com plan, you can get a free website name and get online entirely for free. Keep in mind that Website.com premium plansinclude a professional domain name, more website pages and advanced features to lend more professionalism to your site.
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Assign An Index Page Suffix & Custom Error Page
Its time to assign an index page suffix and a custom error page. While this step is optional, its worth mentioning that nothing is served when users access your top-level site if you dont have an index page.
An index page, or a webserver directory index, is a file served to any visitor requesting a URL that does not have an associated file. But assigning a MainPageSuffix makes Cloud Storage look for a file with that name and a prefix that matches the URL requested by visitors. Additionally, the MainPageSuffix controls the file served when any user requests the top-level site.
The error page is the file returned to any visitor of your site when requesting a URL that doesnt correspond to an existing file. If youve already assigned a MainPageSuffix, Cloud Storage will only display the error page if neither the requested file name nor an appropriate index page is present.
The HTTP response code is 404 when a page with an error is returned. Why does that even matter? NotFoundPage is a property that determines which file serves as the error page. Users will get a generic error page if NotFoundPage is not set.
And youre all set. Hooray!
What Do I Do Once I Have Bought My Domain Name
After buying a domain name, you can connect your domain name to a website to publish it to the world. When people type in your connected domain name, theyll see the website youve built. Of course, youll also need a server to host your website on.
First, make sure you write down your login information for your domain registrar of choice. This login information is important when it comes time to connect your domain to your website or renew your domain registration. You can always contact your registrar for help logging in to manage your domain, but its easier to store your login information somewhere safe. You can use a secure password manager if you want to store this information on your phone or computer, or you can simply write it down on a piece of paper and keep it somewhere safe.
When you use a website builder like Mailchimp, you can easily connect your domain name in just a few minutes. Youll also need to choose a web hosting provider, which essentially acts as a server to store the files that make your website work. You can purchase both your hosting package and your domain name separately and connect them to your website using a website builder. However, you also have the option of purchasing a domain name directly through Mailchimp when you build your website.
Bring your brand to life with your own website. Design from scratch, connect a domain, analyze traffic, and optimize for SEO.
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Choose A Theme And Customize It
Once WordPress is installed, they need to choose a theme for the website. A theme is a collection of files that determine the look and functionality of your website. There are thousands of free and premium themes, so you are sure to find one that suits your needs.
When choosing a theme, it is important to consider the following:
Theme recommendation for beginners and non-programmers: if they are new to the world of WordPress, its best to buy the Divi theme. No other theme is as user-friendly and suitable for beginners to create a truly professional website as Divi. If they want a wide range of templates, layouts and styles, but have little technical understanding of HTML and CSS, then Divi is the theme for them.
Now that they have WordPress installed and a theme selected and configured, its time to add content to their site. They can do that by creating pages and posts.
S To Get A Free Domain Name
Getting a free domain is easy, and it only takes six simple steps.
Hostinger is a great option to get a free domain, since it comes bundled with their most affordable web hosting packages. These bundle deals are really valuable, because youll still still need someone to host your future website once you secure your domain name.
With a bundle you kill two birds with one stone. Plus you keep domain registration and web hosting with a single provider.
Hostingers low-cost bundles also includes WordPress, free email accounts, and other tools youll need to build a great-looking website.
The signup process for Hostinger is incredibly easy. Everything is geared toward beginners, so you dont need any technical experience to get started.
Theres no sign-up risk, either, since Hostinger offers a 30-day money-back guarantee. If you arent happy for any reason, get in touch within a month of the start date to receive a full refund.
Hostinger keeps it simple: Click Start Now and purchase one of the plans with a free domain! But Ill walk you through getting your free domain name with Hostinger below.
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Factors To Consider When Selecting A Webhosting Provider
The purpose of your website determines the web host provider you will settle on. Not all providers offer the same hosting services. Webhosting providers are convenient for large businesses, while some are better for small businesses. Therefore, what you plan for your website matters a lot.
This is yet another essential feature to consider when selecting your web hosting provider. Depending on how fast your website will be, bandwidth is a crucial factor. A faster website requires a provider with high bandwidth.
Cyberattacks are the main threats to websites, and to curb that, you need a provider that offers SSL certificates that encrypts information sent through your website. Other significant aspects needed for insecurity are firewall management and automated malware scans.
A good web hosting provider makes your files available to browsers 24/7. Therefore, this is a factor to pay attention to. You can tell a provider has a good uptime by having:
Backup servers imply that the provider has a backup plan if the server holding your website goes down.
Backup servers in various locations are helpful if a phenomenal problem occurs. The data in the server will still be available and running on the other site in a different location.
Find A Custom Domain For Your Site
Whether youre working on a blog, an online portfolio, or an online shop, Mailchimp offers custom domains that can make all the difference to your online presence. And theres no reason to stop there. Use Mailchimp to build your website and connect it to our all-in-one marketing platform to really make your offerings stand out from the rest.
Learn more about how to get a free domain name from Mailchimp and how our offer compares to the competition.
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Option : Use A Site Builder
Using a website builder an application that takes you through the steps of making a website without code can be liberating and empowering. The provider does all of the coding on the backend, and its not much more challenging than using a word processor.
Different website builders, such as Wix ADI, Squarespace, and Weebly , allow non-programmers to design webpages visually, without coding know-how.
A template-based website builder typically offers fewer customization options than if you were to build the website from scratch using HTML. But, for the limited skills required, a website builder provides flexibility and a good user experience for newbies.
You can expect a small learning curve when you begin your website building journey with tools such as Wix or Squarespace. However, once you spend some time working on them, youll find that theyre relatively painless.
Before you begin, check out our complete guide for learning how to build a website with Wix and Squarespace. These guides will set you up with the basics for a smooth experience as you build your sites first web page.
Invest In Web Hosting
After youve decided on a domain name, the following step is to get website hosting. When choosing a web hosting plan, think about if you need email accounts, whether you have several websites, how much storage space you need, how much bandwidth you need, and so on. Choosing a package that is inexpensive for your company will, of course, be a deciding element in your buying decision.
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Use A Domain Name Generator
If youre not the creative type, you can use a domain name generator to help spark some ideas. Simply enter in some words or phrases that describe your brand or website, and these tools will give you a list of ideas that you can then check for availability.
Bring your brand to life with your own website. Design from scratch, connect a domain, analyze traffic, and optimize for SEO.
Make A Directory For Your Domain
After successfully installing the LAMP stack, you can set up the virtual host. First, you must create a specific directory for storing your website files.
Use the command cd to move from your active directory to the /var/www directory. Open Terminal and enter the following command:
$ cd /var/www
After that, create a directory using the command below:
$ sudo mkdir -p /var/www/domainname.com/
Remember to replace domainname.com with your own websites domain name.
Next, change the file ownership and assign necessary permissions inside the /var/www/domainname.com directory using the following commands:
$ sudo chown -R $< your_username> :$< your_username> /var/www/domainname.com$ sudo chmod -R 755 /var/www/domainname.com
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Change/add New Themes And Layouts
To customise your site, navigate to your WordPress dashboard and select Appearance from the left-hand menu.
Here, you can tweak your websites theme, add and change widgets, customise your menus structure, and so on.
Essentially, every change that you want to make on your website can be done through the Appearance tab.
Also, if you feel comfortable with coding, you can even add custom CSS to fully personalise your site.