A no-nonsense guide to creating your first website without losing your mind, your savings, or your will to live.
So you need a website. Maybe you're starting a business. Maybe you need a portfolio. Maybe you just want a place to post pictures of your cat dressed as historical figures. Whatever the reason, you've realized you need a website, but you have absolutely no idea where to start.
Don't worry—you're not alone. Most people have no clue how websites actually work, and the industry is full of technical jargon designed to make you feel stupid enough to pay someone else to handle it. But here's the truth: creating a basic website isn't that complicated once you understand the process.
This guide will walk you through every step of getting your first website online, from registering a domain to actually building the thing. We'll explain everything in plain English, with no unnecessary technical jargon. By the end, you'll have all the knowledge you need to get your website up and running—even if right now you think HTML is a type of sandwich.
Your domain name is your website's address on the internet (like itsalreadytaken.com). It's what people type into their browser to find you, so it's kind of a big deal. Unfortunately, as our name suggests, all the good ones were taken in 2007.
You'll need to register your domain through a domain registrar. Here are some popular options:
Great prices, free WhoisGuard privacy protection, and excellent customer service.
Well-known, but often more expensive after the first year and charges extra for privacy.
Get 50% off .com domains at Namecheap with our exclusive link. That's just £6.49 for your first year!
Claim This DealIf your perfect domain is taken (and it probably is), here are some alternatives:
Web hosting is where your website's files actually live. Think of your domain as your street address, and hosting as the actual house. Without hosting, you've just got an address that leads nowhere—which is probably still better than some websites out there.
Multiple websites share the same server resources. Like living in an apartment building.
Best for: Personal websites, small businesses, blogs
Virtual Private Server - you get dedicated resources on a shared server. Like a townhouse.
Best for: Growing businesses, medium-traffic websites
An entire server dedicated to your website. Like owning a mansion.
Best for: Large businesses, high-traffic websites
Specialized hosting optimized for WordPress with automatic updates and backups.
Best for: WordPress websites of any size
There are countless hosting providers out there, but here are a few reliable options for beginners:
Affordable shared hosting with good uptime and free domain with annual plans.
Popular WordPress-recommended hosting with easy setup and good support.
Excellent performance and support, though slightly pricier than other options.
Many domain registrars also offer hosting services, so you can often bundle them together for a discount. Namecheap offers hosting packages that include a free domain name for the first year.
Many hosts advertise "unlimited" storage and bandwidth, but there are always limits buried in the terms of service. Read the fine print or you might find your "unlimited" hosting suddenly limited when you actually need it.
Unless you're planning to code your website from scratch (which, let's be honest, you're probably not), you'll need a website builder or content management system (CMS). These tools make it possible to create a website without knowing how to code.
Powers over 40% of all websites. Extremely flexible with thousands of themes and plugins.
Learning curve: Moderate
Drag-and-drop website builder with hundreds of templates and an intuitive interface.
Learning curve: Low
Specialized platform for e-commerce websites with built-in payment processing.
Learning curve: Moderate
Known for beautiful templates and a clean, modern aesthetic. Good for portfolios.
Learning curve: Low
If you're just starting out, WordPress.org (self-hosted) offers the best balance of ease of use, flexibility, and cost. Most hosting providers offer one-click WordPress installation, and you'll find countless free themes and plugins to customize your site.
The best platform depends on your specific needs. Ask yourself these questions:
Your first website will probably suck no matter what platform you choose. That's normal. The important thing is to start somewhere and improve over time. Don't let perfectionism stop you from launching.
Now comes the fun part—making your website look good. Or at least not terrible. This is where you'll choose a theme or template, customize it to match your brand, and add your content.
Your digital storefront. Should clearly communicate what you do and why visitors should care.
Tell your story and build trust. Who you are, what you do, and why you do it.
Showcase what you offer with clear descriptions, benefits, and pricing.
Make it easy for people to reach you. Include a form and other contact methods.
Don't try to design from scratch. Most website builders offer pre-designed templates that you can customize. Choose one that matches your industry and aesthetic preferences, then modify colors, fonts, and images to match your brand.
Avoid auto-playing videos, excessive pop-ups, cluttered layouts, tiny text, and low-contrast color schemes. These annoy visitors and make your site look unprofessional.
You've registered a domain, set up hosting, chosen a platform, and designed your site. Now it's time to launch! But before you hit that publish button, there are a few important things to check.
Before making your site public, ask friends, family, or colleagues to review it. Fresh eyes often catch issues you've missed, and getting feedback from your target audience can provide valuable insights.
Launching your website is just the beginning. Here's what to do after your site goes live:
You've successfully launched a website, which is more than most people ever accomplish. It won't be perfect, and that's okay. Websites are never "finished"—they evolve over time as you learn and grow. The important thing is that you've taken the first step.
One of the most common questions about creating a website is "How much will it cost?" The answer, as with most things in life, is "it depends." Here's a breakdown of the potential costs:
| Item | Budget Option | Mid-Range Option | Premium Option |
|---|---|---|---|
| Domain Name | £6.49/year Namecheap special offer | £10-15/year | £50-1000+/year Premium domains |
| Web Hosting | £2-5/month Shared hosting | £10-30/month VPS hosting | £50-200+/month Dedicated hosting |
| Website Builder/CMS | £0 WordPress, open source | £10-30/month Wix, Squarespace | £25-300+/month Shopify, specialized platforms |
| SSL Certificate | £0 Let's Encrypt, free | £40-100/year Standard SSL | £150-300+/year Extended Validation SSL |
| Minimum Annual Cost | ~£30-70/year | ~£130-375/year | £650-4,000+/year |
While free themes exist, premium themes often offer better design, features, and support.
Add functionality like contact forms, SEO tools, security features, or e-commerce capabilities.
Hiring a designer to create a custom look for your website.
Hiring a developer to build custom functionality beyond what templates and plugins offer.
For beginners, we recommend starting with the budget option: a domain from Namecheap (£6.49/year with our special offer), basic shared hosting (£3-5/month), and WordPress (free). This gives you a professional website for less than £100 in the first year, with room to grow as your needs evolve.
Get Started for Less Than £100/YearAs you embark on your website journey, here are answers to some common questions and pitfalls to avoid:
No! With modern website builders and content management systems like WordPress, Wix, or Squarespace, you can create a professional-looking website without writing a single line of code. These platforms offer drag-and-drop interfaces and pre-designed templates that make website creation accessible to everyone.
A basic website can be set up in a day or two if you're using a template and have your content ready. However, a more comprehensive site with custom design and functionality can take weeks or even months. The biggest time sink is usually creating and organizing your content, not the technical setup.
WordPress.com is a hosted service where WordPress manages the technical aspects for you, but with limitations on customization and monetization. WordPress.org is the self-hosted version where you download the software and install it on your own hosting. The self-hosted version gives you complete control and ownership but requires more technical management.
Yes! Domain names are registered for a specific period (usually 1-10 years), and you must renew before that period ends or you'll lose your domain. Most registrars offer auto-renewal, which we highly recommend enabling. Losing your domain can be catastrophic for your online presence.
This is called Search Engine Optimization (SEO). Basic steps include: creating quality content, using relevant keywords, ensuring your site is mobile-friendly and loads quickly, adding meta titles and descriptions, and building backlinks from other reputable sites. SEO is a long-term process, not a one-time setup.
Don't pick a platform just because it's popular. If you need an e-commerce site, use a platform designed for online stores. If you need a simple portfolio, don't overcomplicate with a complex CMS. Match the tool to your specific requirements.
Over 50% of web traffic comes from mobile devices. If your site doesn't look good and function well on phones and tablets, you're alienating half your potential visitors. Always test your site on multiple devices before launch.
Even small websites are targets for hackers. Use strong passwords, keep software updated, install security plugins, and ensure you have SSL encryption (the padlock in the browser). Regular backups are also essential in case something goes wrong.
Cluttered designs with too many elements, animations, or pop-ups confuse visitors and slow down your site. Embrace white space, use clear navigation, and focus on what's most important. Simple, clean designs almost always perform better.
What do you want visitors to do on your site? Contact you? Make a purchase? Sign up for a newsletter? Whatever it is, make it obvious with clear, prominent calls-to-action. Don't leave visitors wondering what to do next.
Start with a domain name that doesn't completely suck. Get 50% off .com domains with our special Namecheap offer.