Build A Website For As Little As $20 A Year!

In this instructable, I will be covering everything you need to know to create a great website for a very low cost! If you'd like to check out some of my work, head on over to: Webshawty.com

A couple things you will want:
-Internet Access
-A Newer Computer

Other Helpful Materials
-Adobe Photoshop
-iWeb 2.0.3

Step 1 Finding A Website Name (Domain Name)

Before you start your website, you are going to want to purchase a domain name. A domain name, is just another way of covering up a URL (Uniform Resource Locator). So for example, my website "webshawty.com" would be the domain name. If I was using the Apple application, iWeb, my original URL would be "http://web.mac.com/YOURNAME/Home.html". With your domain, you can have "Http://YOURNAME.com". Once you've thought of a creative name, you will want to go to "Name.com" and register your Domain. Once you've done that we can move on to the next step.

Comments

[sj321936]

Can u use co.cc or cz.cc and it will work?

[fernandblaze]

A domain cost around $8 to $10, but I don't know where you can find a good webhost for just under $20, unless it's free.

Also, I agree that it needs some more guides(managing domains, installing wordpress to your host, etc,)

[Izokay]

I am in HTML mode on Freewebs. How do I set it up with RSS?

[spiffytessa]

Personally, I would ditch Freewebs. Freewebs is like the crappiest web host ever invented. Personal experience. ;)

[crestind]

Preferablye iWeb? iWeb is one of the worst web design applications out there. The quality of code produced is terrible.

[The Website Master]

Yes, although iWeb's coding is very bad, it is an extremely simple way for developers to get used to creating a website. Their new version, 2.0.3 has many more features than the last versions. I personally think that iWeb isn't the worst app. but it could definitely be better.

[PKM]

Your block of text in step 3 could do with breaking up a little, it's half the size of my monitor! Other than that, your instructions are reasonably clear (and don't seem to be too heavily plugging any one product, which is nice to see). Something I would like to see more of in simple website building tutorials is a bit about how websites actually fit together (ie the essential elements: hosting, domain name and HTML). You might not need to know it all but it is something you should know if you are making a website, rather than just following instructions like a recipe. But that's just my personal hangup.

[The Website Master]

Hello, I'm glad you enjoyed my first instructable. I'll break up that text and get you some more information about essential elements. If you could, please tell me what developer app. your using so that I can find some more helpful stuff for it. Thanks again, Webshawty

[PKM]

Sorry, I think you misunderstand me- I know about the elements that make up a website, but as a "How to make your first website" Instructable this isn't aimed at me. I was just saying I would like to see beginners' guides pay more attention to what is actually happening behind the scenes and how the hosting, domain name and code you write fit together, rather than just the steps you have to perform to make a website pop out at the other end. It's the same sort of mentality that wants people driving cars to know what the pedals are actually doing to the engine, not just what they make the car do. For the record, I still hand-code the majority of any HTML I write because I'm a wooden-ships-and-iron-men kind of guy :)

[The Website Master]

Oh, now I get your point. I'll try and "lace" the topics a little bit better. Also, I'm working on another instructable about website terms that might help people who need to learn about that kind of stuff. Anyway, thanks for your "insite". Webshawty