There are a number of basic requirements that must be met when setting up a website. These include registering a domain name, finding a website hosting company, locating a professional designer to build the website, or doing it yourself with a website builder platform. You may also need to get an SSL certificate if it’s not included with one of these services, plus other plugins you might need, like an eCommerce portal.
Ultimately, you can get a website up and running for very little, but it may not have all the necessary components to make it a searchable website, one that people stay on, or one that oozes security. You want your website to be a place where readers feel comfortable getting information and buying products or services.
Domain name
The domain name is the starting point of your your website. Securing the correct domain name is vital, especially if you’re looking for a prized .com URL or top-level domain (TLD). Top-level domains can be expensive because they represent a first stop after the root zone, meaning you have your desired domain name followed by .com.
Registering typically involves an annual subscription from a registrar domains, ranging from $12 to $60 per year. Keep in mind that some premium domains can cost a lot more depending on how popular the keywords are on the domain. Some domains sell for thousands of dollars. Most business owners find something that works for less than $60.
Best Domain Name Services
If you’re using a domain name service, website builders sometimes include this as a free bonus for the first year. With services like WordPress, it’s an additional fee.
Web Hosting
You can’t just have a website with a domain. You must get hosting for the website so that visitors can see what is on the site. Hosting is a separate fee from the domain, but may be included in some plans.
With drag and drop website builders, this is typically included in your annual subscription fee. But if you’re building the pages yourself or using WordPress, you’ll need to sign up with a website hosting service provider.
Best Web Hosting Services
Again, these subscription fees range from $100 to $500 per year. If you have a lot of web traffic on your website, it’s best to invest in a stronger web hosting plan to ensure your site doesn’t crash. A high volume of traffic is considered to be more than 100,000 visitors per month. If your hosting plan doesn’t allow for a lot of traffic, you may run into problems as the number of visitors increases. The basic plans are fine for when you start, but be prepared to upgrade as your website gains more visits.
In fact, at a later stage, you could invest in your own servers and make sure all the the information is kept internally. This is a high expense that can range from $5,000 to $20,000 per year. In general, most smaller businesses don’t need to go this route.
DIY Website Design
We’ve mentioned website builders and their inclusive packages. If you’re on a tight budget, using these packages to design a site yourself can save you a lot of money. They usually do not require any technical skills and use drag and drop features for your convenience. It can be overwhelming at first, but with a few minutes on the DIY program, most people can create their first website to their heart’s content.
These programs can be free or inexpensive to use the basic features . But to access premium features like unique themes, you will have to pay higher subscription fees. Costs vary depending on the platform you sign up for and the plan you choose, and can range from $100 to $500 a year, but most average around $200 a year.
Best Website Building Platforms
As a general rule, customization on website building sites is limited compared to WordPress or building your site from scratch. If you want to take advantage of that unique design aesthetic, you’ll need a graphic designer familiar with HTML coding. Most graphic designers will charge you a flat fee or an hourly rate. Expect to pay $30-$100 an hour to get someone who is also well versed in the coding needed for your website.
Professional Website Designers
You might decide that building the website on your own is not your cup of tea. That’s fine as long as you know it will cost you more to get the site built. Hiring a professional website designer can take a lot of load off your shoulders and give you a unique and beautiful website.
Designers can charge by the hour or a flat fee for the assigned project. But you’ll want someone who has a strong portfolio, as there will be fewer design reversals and you’re more likely to get what you envisioned for your website.When working with a designer, it’s helpful to show them the types of websites you like that would be similar to yours. This gives the designer a starting point. Also, go over color schemes to make sure the site fits your brand and what you want to show your readers.
Costs can vary widely based on experience and project needs, but not it’s rare to get quotes between $30 and $100 or more an hour.
SSL
Many small businesses don’t realize how important it is to subscribe to a socket layer service provider secure (SSL). An SSL certificate is a digital authentication of your website’s identity and allows an encrypted connection for security purposes. It’s also required to accept online payments, so any online store will need SSL.
SSL certification means your visitors are protected from unwanted cyber-attacks. Some browsers will redirect users to websites without SSL certification with the message “This site may not be secure.” For most visitors, this is enough to discourage them from clicking through to the site. This certificate changes your site from an HTTP prefix to an HTTPS on the web domain, showing web browsers that you have invested in security for the website.
In many cases, you can get a free SSL certificate from through your web hosting provider. However, you can also choose to purchase an SSL certificate from a third-party provider.
The Best SSL Services
SSL also helps with search engine optimization. search (SEO) and the flow of data to and from the site. SSL rates range from free to around $249 per year. Some website builders include this certificate at no additional cost, so consider it a valuable perk if you see it offered. Either way, you’ll want your website to have an SSL certificate to earn the trust of readers across the web.
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