How to buy a domain name and a website server

We think of a lot of technical stuff when we think of a website.  For an ordinary person, creating a website needs an expert skill in coding and designing.  This prevents them from turning this ideas into reality.

Today, it is really easy to create a website using a WordPress. It is a Content management system that makes it easy for you to create websites by doing some installation of theme and plugins.

Using WordPress is really easy and there are lots of tutorial about it. However, there are few things that we need to settle first before we can use WordPress. These are buying a domain name and buying a good website server.

If you are not year familiar on how to do this, then continue reading this post. Let’s all learn how to do it.

1. Choosing a domain name. 

What is a domain name? This is the address of your website.  This is what you type in your browsers search column. For example, https://www.facebook.com.  Your domain will be your address. This is what people needs to remember in order to find you.

Domain name should be easy to remember and must somehow represent your entire website function or purpose. You won’t create a domain but you will buy this to a particular domain name provider.  You find one of the list here but you can also buy your domain name to the server of your website. Later I will explain what is a server.

How much does it cost for a domain name? Well, it ranges from 10 US dollars to 25 US dollars per year. However you can get a free domain name to a website server provider. Usually, they offer it for free if you will buy any server from them.

Reminder: Your domain name is also a big factor in your marketing and SEO technical stuff. Please think and ask advice from your friends or colleagues before buying one.

2. Finding a good website server  

What is a server? This is now the house of your website.  Let’s say you are done buying your domain name (address of your website) there comes now the physical house of you website. This is like a computer that stores the data of your website. This computer needs to be open 24/7 or almost everyday in a year.

Website server should be near to your target audience. Let’s say you are in the Philippines. You must find a server located in your country. If no server is available in your place, then find at least one closest to your country ( Taiwan, Singapore, Hong Kong.)

Website server has different plans and setup. So you really need to study the different features that  website hosting providers are offering.   Try to read reviews and feedback from real people who has experience in that hosting provider.

How much does it cost to buy a website server?

It varies. This depends to the plan that you will purchase. This also depends to the company that you will choose. But for a start up website. You can find a good website server ranging from 8 US dollars to 30 US dollars monthly.

Reminder: Don’t easily believe with the idea of unlimited bandwidth and storage. There is no such thing as unlimited. Moreover, always consider hosting that has daily backup features and has good reputation in their Customer support. In addition, choose a hosting provider that has WordPress optimized hosting. I will explain below how to access the backend of your WordPress .  Anyway, I am telling you. These are really the factors that you need to look at in choosing a good hosting provider.

Finally, you can now create your website using WordPress CMS

Here comes the real part of creating you website. I tell you. You don’t need coding or technical skill here.  You just need to do the basic things.

Let’s say you have your website server  already up and running. You can install WordPress there but it’s better that you ask a Customer support to install the WordPress upon purchasing it. Most of the hosting providers do that. They will ask you if you want them to install WordPress so that there won’t be much work for you.

If you allow your hosting provider to install WordPress in your server. They will provide you a username and a login password. You need that to access the admin part of your website.  You can usually access the backed of your website by typing you domain name with wp-admin in the end.

As for example,  https://youchosendomain/wp-admin

There you go. You are now in the backend you website. Check first the settings of your website. Make sure it has the correct permalink format, website title and commenting setup. There are many more that you need to do but you are now one step away in making your ideas come true.

I hope that I help you and make you motivated in starting with your dream website.  Buy a domain and website server first then the rest will follow.  Thank you for reading.

• This topic was modified 3 years ago by Alex Zaragoza.
• This topic was modified 3 years ago by Mary Ciara.