So you’ve decided to get a website to make money online? Good job! You’ve made one of the best decisions of you’ll ever make — my life was never the same after I launched my own website. So what do you do first?
Get your website, of course.
This used to be the part that got tricky, and for years only the “geeky” types could understand how to actually create a website. That’s changed now, and it’s like checking email. Anyone can launch a site in 10 minutes.
The Basic Ingredients of a Website
Getting a website to go “live” requires three things:
Domain. A domain is the “name” of your website. For example, the domain name of this website is “www.LearnFinancialPlanning.com.”
Hosting. A “host” is where your website will actually be stored. If you pick the right host you can have everything automatically hooked up for you. Picking your host is the biggest decision you will make when you start to create your own website.
If this sounds complicated, remember that it is much, much easier these days — just make sure to read to the end of the page, where I explain what your next step should be.
How to Find the Best Web Host
Most hosts offer a free domain name when you purchase their hosting. This means you only need one thing to get started…a host. So where can you find one? Check out those listed below. I’ve put together this list of the best and the cheapest web hosts found anywhere.
Hostgator. $3.96/month. This is our absolute favorite of all time! Strongly recommend them!
Just Host. $3.95/month. This is the cheapest, by far. Free domain name for life. Free website builder. Free money-back guarantee. Unlimited domain names and email addresses.
Blue Host. $6.95/month. Unlimited storage, unlimited domain, free domain name forever, free blog installation, free forum installation, $75 worth of free advertising on Google and Yahoo.
SiteBuildIt! This isn’t just a host. SBI builds your website, markets your website, helps you research your website, pick a domain name, brainstorm, contact other webmasters for advice, and more.
Includes thousands of dollars worth of free software. Has the highest success rate of any other host, period. Best choice, by far, if your goal is to make money online. If you want to do it right, go with SBI. $300/year.
Using a so-called “free” host like wordpress.com will destroy your business. Read more about it here. Frugality is wonderful for personal finance, but it’s destructive for business. Still, dishing out the money was the best financial decision I’ve ever made — period.
The next post I’ll list the best hosts you can choose, plus a special host that is created specifically for you — someone who wants to make money online with their website. That’s coming up in the next article — stay tuned!
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