This short quick start guide covers the basics on how to make a website in less than a few hours. This guide will always remain a work in progress, so please help us keep improving it by leaving your comments or suggestions.
Step 1: Register a domain name. We recommend GoDaddy.com.
It is important to take some time when you regsiter a domain name. Try sticking with the .com, .net, .org or country code extension if it is commonly used in your country. Other extensions are not widely recognized and can it can also be hard to rank well with them in search engines. Avoid dashes and try to keep the domain name as short as possible. One common mistake people make is regsitering trademark domain names. For example, a person building an Ipod store might make the mistake of registering a name like “myipodstore.com”. Sounds like a great domain name but the reality is the name infringes on the Ipod trademark.
Step 2: Sign up with a hosting provider. We recommend HostGator.com.
Hostgator offers a number of plans. Starting out you can probably go with the least expensive plan available and then later on upgrade to a larger plan if you need to.
Step 3: Change your DNS information at Godaddy.
After you sign up with Hostgator, they will send you an e-mail containing your DNS (domain name server) information. You need to open up your Godaddy account select your domain name and click on the “change nameservers” button. There you will be able to enter your new domain name server information. Once the change is made it takes anywhere from a few minutes up to 24 hours for the information to spread around the web.
Step 4: Login to your Cpanel, open “Fantastico” & choose your software.
The fantastico link is the little smiley face at the bottom of your Cpanel. Fantastico does the work of installing the website software for you. You will see all the diferent types of software that can be installed on the left hand side of the screen. If you are unsure which software to install, don’t worry, you can unistall the software easily and install another one later. Wordpress, Drupal, & Joomla are good choices if you are unsure what to install.
Step 5: Enter your information in the required fields and click “install” (Congratulations, you now have a live website!)
Step 6: Login to your new website and start customizing it. You can go the the software plublishers website for information on how to customize your website. For Drupal, Joomla, and Wordpress you can go to www.drupal.org , www.joomla.org , and www.wordpress.org respectively. At each of those websites you will find all sorts of themes and plugins you can add to your website. Also, they all have forums where you can get answers to questions or problems you may have along the way.
So there you have it. In just a few short hours you have gone from not even having a domain name to having your own website that you can customize to suit your needs.
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