I see the same questions asked over and over again about starting a coaching or online business. So, I’m going to write some very simple posts to help. Here is the first one and the question is:

How do I start a website?

There are 3 things you need to start a website.

Domain – A domain is the name and address of your website on the internet. It is what shows up in the search bar and what you will link to when sending people to your site. Resources for domains include:

• GoDaddy
• Bluehost

Website Host – The hosting company will make your site accessible on the internet and offer support and features to manage it. Popular hosting companies include:

• Bluehost
• Hostgator
• GoDaddy

Website Building Software – This will help you load content and create the look of your site. There are many programs available, but the gold standard is WordPress.org – and it’s free. WordPress can be downloaded from their website or through your hosting company.

WordPress has beautiful themes or frameworks to work from and offers unlimited possibilities for what you can create or add to your site. It has a proven record of long term success and is not likely to go out of business.

Wix is building a positive reputation as well, but most of their websites look similar and you will want to make sure all of the features you might possibly want in the future are available.

Simple things to keep in mind:

• These 3 things need to be done in the above order
• All website building platforms have a learning curve. They may look overwhelming at first, but are relatively easy to learn. The top companies usually have easy to understand training videos or there may be online classes available.
• There are many companies offering customized sites, but I have seen clients run into trouble with these when the companies went under and support was no longer available or features they wanted were not available. If you choose an alternate site program, the most important thing is to make sure you will still own the website and domain name. Look for references and review other businesses who use the same program.
• With a WordPress site, you will always be able to find someone to work on it if needed.

If you would like the support of a professional and experienced Life and Business coach, I would love to help. You can learn more by emailing: simplesmartbusiness@gmail.com or contacting me here.

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