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Creating a modern, engaging, and beautiful website has never been easier<\/b> \u2013 you just need to decide which method works best for you. The \u201ctraditional\u201d self-hosted method is a great budget-friendly option, and it gives you a lot more control over your website\u2019s performance. However, it\u2019s a more involved process, as you\u2019ll have to dive into the technical side of your website to connect everything.\u00a0<\/p>\n
If you\u2019d rather keep things simple (and I can\u2019t say I blame you!), then you can follow the hosted method with a website builder.<\/b> This method is slightly more expensive, but you won\u2019t have to worry about the technical side of your website. Not only that, but you\u2019ll usually be able to get your website up and running in an hour.\u00a0<\/p>\nStep 1: Find the Right Website Builder for Your Needs<\/h2>\n
Not every website builder is created equal, and some perform better in certain areas than others. <\/b>From great e-commerce and marketing features\u00a0that are perfect for small businesses, to design-focused<\/b> builders with 100s of beautiful templates. The best choice for you will depend on your unique needs.<\/p>\n
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Squarespace powers beautiful websites with great functionality <\/p>\n
These aren\u2019t the only website builders out there, though, and I recommend that you thoroughly research your options before handing over your credit card details. Most website builders offer a free forever plan, a free trial, or a money-back guarantee <\/b>that lets you try them out with zero risk.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Most importantly, make sure you check each website builder\u2019s pricing plan and included features before you make a decision. <\/b>Picking a website builder outside of your budget, or one that\u2019s within your budget but doesn\u2019t have the features you or your business really need, can leave you frustrated later on.\u00a0<\/p>\nStep 2: Choose and Customize a Template<\/h2>\n
To start designing your website, you\u2019ll need to choose a template.<\/b> These are pre-made website designs that set the overall layout and style of your website that you can customize to fit your vision. Make sure you take a look at the template demo before you make your choice, as this\u2019ll help you get a feel for what\u2019s right for your website.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Bear in mind that how much you can customize a template depends on the website builder. <\/b>Almost every website builder will allow you to change colors, images, text formatting, and fonts, as well as let you set different fonts and styles for different headers and paragraphs. You\u2019ll also be able to add new pages, and some website builders even have template-specific page types for you to use.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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Wix\u2019s drag-and-drop editor is a pleasure to use, too <\/p>\n
Some builders allow you to fully customize any template.<\/b>\u00a0You\u2019ll be able to change the layout of every page, as well as connect apps that add even more options. This will let you build a truly unique website, but having complete freedom can sometimes feel overwhelming. <\/p>\n
Other website builders have a fixed layout based on the template you chose.<\/b> This can feel a little limiting if you have a specific design in mind. However, by using unique and modern templates <\/b>that are all thoughtfully designed, you\u2019ll still be able to build a stunning, tailored website even within these restrictions. <\/p>\nStep 3: Register a Domain Name and Publish Your Site<\/h2>\n
Finally, you\u2019ll need to choose a domain name. If you\u2019re on a free website builder plan\u00a0you\u2019ll have to use a subdomain (for example, myname.site.com\/myfancywebsite). Some builders offer a free domain name for a year if you sign up for an annual plan<\/b>,<\/b>\u00a0however, you\u2019ll have to pay extra to renew your domain name every year after that.<\/p>\n
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I wouldn\u2019t recommend using a subdomain for a professional website <\/p>\n
It\u2019s worth noting, though, that you\u2019re not required to purchase your domain name through your website builder.<\/b> Don\u2019t get me wrong, doing so makes life easier \u2013 your website builder will handle the registration and setup of your domain name if you purchase it through them. Just make sure to double-check the small print on whether you can transfer your domain name if you cancel your plan, as all website builders will let you do this.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Purchasing your domain name with a domain registrar means you\u2019ll usually get a better deal, <\/b>plus you\u2019ll have no restrictions on transferring your domain if you move to a different website builder. It\u2019s more technically involved, but any good website builder will have a guide to walk you through the process.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Before you hit <\/b>Publish<\/i><\/b>,<\/b> make sure you take a look at your website in preview mode. <\/b>Trust me, it\u2019s remarkably common to think you\u2019ve added everything to your website only to remember you\u2019ve forgotten to fill out a box the second you click Publish. Checking out the preview means you can catch those small details before your first few visitors do.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Once you\u2019re happy with your website, click <\/b>Publish<\/i><\/b>, and you\u2019re good to go. Congratulations, your website is now live!\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\nTake Your Website to the Next Level<\/h2>\n
In today\u2019s market, it\u2019s not enough to publish your website and hope it gets seen by your target audience. There are plenty of methods you can use to increase your website\u2019s visibility. Here\u2019s how you can attract more visitors to your website:\u00a0<\/p>\n