How to create a website from scratch? Complete guide

Are you wondering how to start creating a website from scratch? Don’t worry! Here is a practical and simple guide that will take you from the initial idea to the publication of your site. We will show you all the essential steps, from choosing a domain to implementing SEO strategies. Let’s get started!

What is a website and why is it important?

Before we get started, let’s understand what a website is. A website is a set of related pages that share a domain name, which is the address you type into the browser to access them.

Why is it so essential?

Today, having an online presence is not optional, it is essential:

• 24/7 Visibility: your site will be available at all times, which expands your reach and means that your customers or users can find you regardless of the time.
• Credibility: a well-designed website conveys professionalism and trust.
• Business Opportunities: if you have a company, a website can help you attract new customers, sell products or services, and position yourself better against the competition. But even if you don’t have a company, a website can be an excellent tool to showcase your work, share your passions, or even monetize your ideas.

If you are determined to create your own site, let’s go step by step! Ready to start?

What do you need to create a website?

Creating a website from scratch requires some basic elements. These are the fundamental pillars:

Domain

The domain is the unique name that identifies your site on the internet (for example, cdmon.com). It is your online identity and one of the first steps you must take. Make sure it is easy to remember, short, and representative of your project or business.

Hosting

The hosting is the server where your website’s files are stored. Without hosting, your website cannot be available on the Internet. Look for reliable hosting with good speed and technical support.

Remember: Both the domain and hosting are essential and work together to make your page function.

Email

Usually included within your Hosting, having a corporate email with your domain reinforces the credibility of your business. It’s not the same to write from a @gmail.com as from a @yourdomain.com, as a professional email conveys greater trust to your customers. Additionally, it allows you to maintain more organized and secure communication, managing multiple accounts from a single administration panel.

Create a website step by step

Now that you understand what a domain and hosting are, let’s continue with the complete process of how to make a website from scratch:

1. Choose your goal and the type of website to create

The first step to creating your website is to define its main purpose. Will it be a personal blog, a professional portfolio, an online store, or a corporate page?

Also, consider who you are targeting: think about the audience that will visit your site, what they are looking for, and how you can offer them the best experience.

2. Choose the name or domain of your website

The domain is the first impression of your website, and choosing a suitable one is crucial. Here are some practical tips:

• Keep it short and clear: long domains are harder to remember.
• Make it easy to write: avoid using numbers, hyphens, or complex words that may cause confusion.
• Include keywords if possible: if you are creating a page about baking, a domain like “cake-recipes.com” can help with SEO.
• Choose the correct extension:
  • Extensions like .com are universal.
  • If your website has a local focus, use specific extensions, like .es for Spain.
  • For more specialized projects, consider extensions like .blog, .shop, or .edu.

Once you pick your domain, check its availability in the WHOIS search and register it quickly before someone else does.

3. Hire hosting

Hosting is the space where your website will be stored, and selecting a reliable one will ensure it is accessible at all times. Think about your current and future needs: will you need a lot of space? Do you require high speed?

If you are starting, a shared hosting can be an economical and sufficient option. However, if your project grows or is more complex, like an online store with a lot of traffic, consider a VPS hosting or even a dedicated server.

Moreover, evaluate essential features like speed to optimize loading times, 24/7 technical support in case of problems, and security options, such as malware protection and SSL certificates.

With the right hosting, your website will be ready to grow and offer a smooth experience to your users.

4. Choose a content manager or CMS

Content management systems or CMS (from their English initials Content Manager System) are the heart of any website. They are platforms that make it easy for you to create and manage your website.

Some of the most popular options are:

• WordPress: is the most popular CMS, used by more than 60 million websites. It is the easiest way to create a website from scratch, whether it’s a blog or an online store, as it is versatile, easy to use, and has thousands of templates. You can customize your website in almost any imaginable way with WordPress.
• Joomla: perfect for more customized and complex projects. You don’t need to have technical knowledge, as Joomla has many templates and designs that will give your site the perfect look.
• PrestaShop: allows anyone to open their own online store without needing to know anything about programming. It is also easy to use, even if you have never created an ecommerce before, as it is very intuitive.
• Moodle: is a learning platform that allows teachers to create online courses and students to access them, take tests, receive feedback, and obtain certificates.

5. Define the architecture and sections of your website

The architecture of your website is like its “skeleton”. A clear structure will make your site easy to navigate and provide a positive experience for users.

Main pages to include:

• Home: introduce who you are or what your project is about.
• About Us: build trust by sharing information about you or your company.
• Services/Products: present what you offer clearly and organized.
• Blog: if you plan to share content regularly, this section will be key.
• Contact: include a form or your contact details to facilitate communication with users.

Furthermore, use an intuitive navigation menu so visitors can easily move around the site.

6. Design your website

An attractive web design not only improves the appearance of your page but also its functionality. Consider these aspects:

• Visual consistency: use a color palette and fonts that represent your brand or style.
• Responsive design: ensure that your website looks good on all devices, from computers to mobiles.
• Simplicity: avoid overloaded designs that may confuse the user.

Tools like visual builders (for example, Elementor for WordPress) allow you to design without needing technical knowledge.

7. Generate content for your website

Content is the heart of your website. Make sure to create texts, images, and videos that:

• Add value: answer your users’ questions and offer them solutions.
• Are optimized for SEO: use keywords strategically and write attractive titles.
• Are original: avoid copying content from other sites, as this can negatively affect your positioning on Google.

For example, if you are creating an online store, make sure to include detailed descriptions and quality photos for your products.

8. Publish your website

Once you have everything ready, it’s time to launch your website. Here are some key steps to do it correctly:

• Final review: before publishing, check that all links work, that images load well, and that the content is optimized.
• Testing on different devices: ensure that your website looks correctly on mobiles, tablets, and computers.
• Implementation of SSL certificates: secure your website with an SSL certificate, which will protect your users’ data and improve your search engine positioning.
• Indexing on Google: register your website on Google Search Console so it starts appearing in search results.

With these steps, your website will be ready to receive visitors.

9. Monitor your website traffic and conversions

Publishing your website is just the beginning. To improve its performance, it is important to analyze traffic and optimize conversions.

Key tools

• Google Analytics: to know how many people visit your website, where they come from, and which pages they view most frequently.
• Google Search Console: to monitor search engine positioning and detect indexing errors.
• Hotjar: to analyze user behavior with heat maps.

How to improve conversion?

Discover how many visitors you have, where they come from, and which are the most popular pages. With this information, you can adjust your strategies and optimize your content for better results.

• Optimize loading speed: use compressed images and fast hosting like cdmon’s.
• Improve user experience: an intuitive and easy-to-navigate design increases the time spent on the site.
• Include calls to action (CTA): phrases like “Sign up now” or “Request information” guide users towards conversion.
• A/B Testing: experiment with different versions of your website to see which elements work best.

What should you consider when creating a website?

Creating a website goes beyond designing attractive pages. There are three fundamental aspects that you cannot overlook if you want your website to be functional, secure, and visible to users.

SEO

SEO is essential if you want your website to appear in the top results of Google. Good optimization will help you attract more visitors organically, that is, without paying for advertising. Here are some key points to consider:

• Use strategic keywords: research relevant terms related to your website, such as “create a website from scratch,” and include them in titles, subtitles, and text. Tools like Google Keyword Planner or SEMrush can help you find the best keywords for your sector.
• Optimize images: make sure photos are the right size to avoid slowing down your website. Moreover, use descriptive file names and add alt text with keywords.
• Improve loading times: a slow website can drive users away and affect your positioning on Google. Reduce file sizes, use good hosting, and consider tools like PageSpeed Insights to detect issues.
• Create relevant content: write texts that solve your users’ doubts or offer them valuable information. This will improve your SEO and generate trust.

Web design

Designing a website is not an easy task. Many factors must be considered, such as design, color combinations, and font types. Designers must also ensure that a site is easy to navigate for users. Additionally, it should be noted that search engines like Google evaluate content differently than humans do.

To create an effective website design, designers must know the principles of web design, which are:

• Hierarchy: establishes an order by determining which content is more important than others on the page.
• White space: provides a break for readers and helps them better absorb the information on the page.
• Navigation: refers to how clearly someone can navigate or find something on your website.
• Readability: refers to how easily readers understand the text.

These principles must be considered when designing a website because they all contribute to the overall user experience and will affect your site’s search engine ranking.

Security

Security is an essential pillar of any website. Protecting your users’ information and preventing cyberattacks should be a priority. To do this:

• Use an SSL certificate: this certificate (https://) encrypts the information users share with you, such as form data or online payments. Additionally, Google penalizes websites without SSL.
• Update your CMS and plugins: keeping everything updated reduces the risk of vulnerabilities.
• Use secure passwords: avoid easy passwords and use combinations of letters, numbers, and special characters. Furthermore, consider a password manager.

How much does it cost to create a website?

The cost of creating a website can vary greatly depending on your needs, but here is a breakdown of the most common expenses in euros:

• Domain: registering a domain usually costs between €10 and €50 per year, depending on the chosen extension (.com, .es, etc.).
• Hosting: basic hosting plans can start from €6 per month (about €36 per year). If you need more resources, like in a VPS hosting, prices can go up to €90 per month.
• Design: if you use free templates, you won’t have to pay anything extra. However, if you hire a professional web designer, prices can range from €300 to €1,500 or more, depending on the complexity.
• Extras: include premium plugins, SEO tools, advanced SSL certificates, or security services. These can add €50 — €200 per year to your budget.

In total, creating a basic website could cost you between €50 and €100 per year if you use free resources and do the work yourself. If you require advanced functionalities or hire professional services, the cost can increase considerably, easily exceeding €1,000.

Regardless of the budget you choose, investing in your website is a strategic decision that can make a big difference in the visibility and success of your project.

Create your website on cdmon

At cdmon, we understand how important it is to create a website from scratch and we accompany you every step of the way. From choosing your domain to designing your website, we are here to help you make your project a reality.

That’s why we simplify the process of creating a website from scratch so you can focus on what really matters: developing your project. We offer you easy-to-use tools and customized solutions that adapt to your needs, whether you are starting a small blog or creating an online store.

With us, you can register a unique domain, get a secure and scalable hosting, and use SSL certificates to protect your website and your users’ information. Additionally, our platform allows you to install content managers like WordPress or PrestaShop with a single click, making the whole process easier for you.

At cdmon, we not only provide you with the tools but also the necessary support to ensure your project takes off. Our technical support team is available to resolve any doubts and ensure everything runs smoothly.

If you are ready to take the leap, we are here to help you every step of the way. Start today and turn your idea into a digital reality with us.