A Step-by-Step Guide to Host Your New Website

Once you design your website, you need to host it on a webserver to make it available on the internet. It means that you need to store your website’s HTML files, media files, etc. on a server that connects to the internet. So, when a user visits your website, their terminal connects to the server where your site’s files reside, and web pages are delivered via the internet browser. You can purchase a webserver to host your website or buy a hosting service from a web host. Here is a step-by-step guide to host your new website using a web hosting service.

Step 1. Determine the type of website that you plan to build

Every website is unique and demands a specific type of web hosting service. Based on your needs, assess the kind of website that you want to build – static or dynamic? Static websites are the most basic type of websites and usually contain web pages with fixed content. You can create these sites using any basic WYSIWYG editor and upload them to the hosting server later. On the other hand, a dynamic website uses databases, scripts, and other tools to create parts of a web page in real-time. Based on the type of site, you will need to choose a hosting service for optimum performance.

Step 2. Purchase the right web hosting plan & provider

There are various types of web hosting services available today. Right from the most basic and economical Shared Hosting plans to the high-performing Dedicated Server Hosting plans or Virtual Server-based plans, you have many choices. While looking for a hosting service for your site, ensure that you consider what it needs by considering the expected site traffic, security, speed, uptimes, and reliability requirements of your site. For example, if you are running an e-commerce website, then your hosting needs will be different from a blogging site. Choose accordingly.

Once you have determined the hosting type, start looking at web hosting companies and compare the features and benefits offered. Consider all aspects while choosing a host like the quality and scalability of resources, quality of technical support, reliability and flexibility. The hosting company will play a vital role in your website’s performance – choose wisely.

Step 3. Buy a domain name

The final thing you need is a domain name to allow users to access your website. It is the user-readable name for the IP address of the webserver on which your site resides. It is unique and must be selected with care as it will represent your business and brand. Most web hosts offer discounted or free domain names with their web hosting plans. You can buy one from the same host or a separate domain name provider too.

Step 4. Create or move your website

Now you have all the tools needed to host your website. If you have already created an offline site on your local computer, then all you need to do is transfer the site’s files to the server using a file transfer interface or FTP access provided by the hosting company. Else, start creating a website based on your needs and store on the server.

Summing Up

Most first-time site owners opt for Shared Website Hosting for their new site since it allows them to get the website online within no time and in a hassle-free manner. Eventually, as the site grows, they move from the economical shared plans to a higher-end plan based on their specific requirements. In today’s times, online users expect a site to function optimally regardless of the size of the business. Hence, ensure that you get these steps right and get your website up and running optimally. Good Luck!