How to Launch Your First Website: Domain, Hosting, WordPress, SSL and Email

Launching a first website feels bigger than it is. Most of the work is a handful of decisions made in the right order. This guide walks through each one, explains what it does, and tells you where people usually get stuck. It does not assume you have built a site before.

Step 1: Choose and register a domain name

Your domain is your address on the web, such as yourbusiness.com. It is also the second half of your email address, so choose it with both uses in mind.

• Keep it short, easy to say out loud and easy to spell after hearing it once.
• Avoid hyphens and numbers unless they are part of your brand name.
• A .com is still the most familiar ending for many audiences. A country ending such as .ca or a newer ending such as .online can work well if it fits your audience.
• Check that the name is not someone else’s trademark before you build a brand on it.

Domains are registered for a year or more at a time and must be renewed. Turn on auto-renew, and keep the contact email on the registration current, because renewal notices and transfer approvals go there. Read more on our Domains page.

When you have a name in mind, you can check availability: Search for a domain on our storefront

You’ll complete checkout on the Silicon Palms store, powered by ResellerClub. Silicon Palms resells these services; ResellerClub runs the infrastructure. How this works

Step 2: Pick hosting that fits a first site

Hosting is the computer that stores your site and sends it to visitors. For a new site with modest traffic, shared hosting is the usual starting point. You share a server with other customers, which keeps the cost low, and the provider handles the server maintenance.

When comparing plans, look at the number of websites allowed, storage, email accounts included, whether SSL is included, and the price on renewal as well as the first term. Our Shared Hosting page lays out the plans we offer side by side, and the Hosting overview explains when other types make more sense.

If your domain and hosting are with the same provider, the connection between them is often set up for you. If they are in different places, you will point the domain at the host by changing its nameservers or DNS records. That change can take a few hours to spread across the internet, so do it early.

Step 3: Install WordPress

WordPress is free software that runs a large share of websites. It lets you add pages and posts without writing code, and thousands of themes and plugins extend it. Many hosting control panels include a one-click installer. If yours does, use it. It creates the database and settings for you.

Right after installing:

• Use a strong, unique admin password and do not use “admin” as the username.
• Set your site title, time zone and permalink structure (Settings → Permalinks; “Post name” is a sensible choice).
• Install one well-supported theme rather than trying several at once.
• Add only the plugins you need. Every plugin is code you will have to keep updated.
• Set up a backup plugin or confirm your host takes backups, before you add content.

Our WordPress Hosting page covers what to look for in a host if WordPress is your plan from the start.

Step 4: Turn on SSL (the padlock)

SSL encrypts the connection between your site and its visitors and makes the address start with https://. Browsers warn people away from sites without it, and any page with a form or login needs it.

Many hosting plans include a basic certificate. Once it is active, make sure WordPress uses the https address under Settings → General, and that visitors who type the http address are redirected. If your site will take payments or you want an organisation-validated certificate, see our guide to SSL and security basics and the Email & Security page.

Step 5: Set up email on your domain

An address like you@yourbusiness.com looks more trustworthy than a free webmail address and keeps your contacts with you if you change providers. You have two broad options:

• Email included with hosting. Fine for a few mailboxes and light use. It shares resources with your website.
• A dedicated business email service. Separate from the website, usually with more storage, better spam filtering and calendar or collaboration tools.

Whichever you choose, set up the SPF, DKIM and DMARC records your provider gives you. They help your mail reach inboxes instead of spam folders. Compare options on our Email & Security page.

Common first-site mistakes

• Registering the domain under a web designer’s account instead of your own. Always keep ownership in your name.
• Choosing hosting only on the first-term price without checking renewal.
• Skipping backups until something goes wrong.
• Installing many plugins to try them, then leaving them inactive but not updated.
• Launching without a contact page, privacy policy or working email.

None of these are hard to fix, but they are much easier to avoid.

Next steps

1. Write down two or three domain names you like and check which are available.
2. Read the Shared Hosting comparison and pick a plan sized for one site.
3. Install WordPress, turn on SSL and set up backups before adding content.
4. Set up one email address on your domain and test that mail sends and arrives.
5. Questions? Contact us and we will help you choose.