I often get questions about creating a website, web design, and hosting:
"How do you setup a website?"
"How do you choose a website name?"
"Do you use Shopify?"
"Do you recommend XYZ hosting service?"
"Would you hire XYZ company to do your web design?
"How do you choose a website name?"
"Do you use Shopify?"
"Do you recommend XYZ hosting service?"
"Would you hire XYZ company to do your web design?
I have met, talked to and advised hundreds of online entrepreneurs, and coached about 30 one-on-one.
I also know and have worked with several web design service providers with prices ranging from SGD700 to USD3000 for a simple site, to those who charge tens to hundreds of thousands for big business and .gov sites.
Before being concerned with web design or hosting (because you might not even need it depending on the website solution you decide on), the first thing to do is to clearly map out or list what you require from your website.
For example on this site (jasontayonline), my main site specific requirements are:
My other general requirements for any website are:
Once you know your needs and have prioritized them, you can better decide on what website option to use.
The main website options are:
A) Hosted Solution
B) WordPress
C) Custom Built
I also know and have worked with several web design service providers with prices ranging from SGD700 to USD3000 for a simple site, to those who charge tens to hundreds of thousands for big business and .gov sites.
Before being concerned with web design or hosting (because you might not even need it depending on the website solution you decide on), the first thing to do is to clearly map out or list what you require from your website.
For example on this site (jasontayonline), my main site specific requirements are:
- Provide information for education
- Blog
- Reviews of tools and products
My other general requirements for any website are:
- Excellent Search Engine Optimization (SEO) - most web designers are terrible at this (designers are creative people, while an optimized site is very technical). SEO also plays a part in choosing a hosting location and provider. SEO is important so you show up higher up in Google search results and therefore get more clicks.
- Secure site with SSL encryption (the site must be https with the green lock in the address bar) - this is especially important if you want to collect info (personal info, payments, etc) from your audience, and also because Google use it as an SEO ranking factor and now even shows a warning page to block users from non-secure sites.
- Ease of use such as drag and drop design functionality. Ultimately, Karen and I (or someone who is not a web designer) are the ones who are going to update the site content and add new products, so I want to build the site on something that is easy to use so that I do not have to pass everything through the original web designer in India or anywhere else to update. This is hugely important.
- Budget: Total cost of ownership = design + hosting + any other add-on plugins for specific needs.
Once you know your needs and have prioritized them, you can better decide on what website option to use.
The main website options are:
A) Hosted Solution
B) WordPress
C) Custom Built
Hosted Solutions
A Hosted Solution is an all-in-one package where web design and site hosting are integrated into 1 package.
Some hosted website platforms are Shopify, Weebly, and Wix
Pros: Simplest. Hosted solutions are all-in-one with the easiest user interface where everything is designed to work seamlessly. No need for separate hosting.
Cons: Some might not have the best SEO.
Pricing: Usually moderately priced. Eg. Shopify starts from USD29/month).
If your site is primarily Ecommerce focused, then Shopify is a great option. This link will allow you to give a free 14-day trial to try it out: Shopify Free Trial.
This website, www.jasontayonline.com is on Weebly and I'm using the Pro plan. You can compare Weebly's Price Plans here.
Weebly is similar to Wix, and I got a great deal back in 2009 when I started with Weebly. But if I was starting from scratch now, I would choose Wix as they have a much better feature set and better pricing than Weebly.
Some hosted website platforms are Shopify, Weebly, and Wix
Pros: Simplest. Hosted solutions are all-in-one with the easiest user interface where everything is designed to work seamlessly. No need for separate hosting.
Cons: Some might not have the best SEO.
Pricing: Usually moderately priced. Eg. Shopify starts from USD29/month).
If your site is primarily Ecommerce focused, then Shopify is a great option. This link will allow you to give a free 14-day trial to try it out: Shopify Free Trial.
This website, www.jasontayonline.com is on Weebly and I'm using the Pro plan. You can compare Weebly's Price Plans here.
Weebly is similar to Wix, and I got a great deal back in 2009 when I started with Weebly. But if I was starting from scratch now, I would choose Wix as they have a much better feature set and better pricing than Weebly.
Recommendations:
A hosted solution is ideal for I.T. illiterates or someone who wants to focus on creating and not messing with learning how to install and configure stuff.
1. For most websites - Check out WIX
2. For ecommerce online stores - Check out SHOPIFY
Tip: If you're running a legit business and want people to take you seriously, you'll definitely want to go for the paid plans with your own domain name. The free plans have the host name appended on yon the domain name, (such as www.yourbrandname.wix.com) which looks terribly unprofessional.
A hosted solution is ideal for I.T. illiterates or someone who wants to focus on creating and not messing with learning how to install and configure stuff.
1. For most websites - Check out WIX
2. For ecommerce online stores - Check out SHOPIFY
Tip: If you're running a legit business and want people to take you seriously, you'll definitely want to go for the paid plans with your own domain name. The free plans have the host name appended on yon the domain name, (such as www.yourbrandname.wix.com) which looks terribly unprofessional.
WordPress
This is quite a bit more complex than a hosted solutions but more highly customizable to your needs if you are comfortable or willing to dig into the tech.
I am considered a techie by friends, have run the I.T. department for a couple of organizations, have installed and currently run over 10 WordPress sites and still find it confusing sometimes!
So if you are not confident about your I.T. savviness then just go with Wix or Shopify.
WordPress is a free system, but it needs to be installed and hosted on a server, which is where a hosting provider comes in.
If that's confusing, this analogy might help:
Think of Android phones. Android is a FREE operating system (software) provided by Google. Now think of WordPress like Android - as a piece of free software.
The software needs to be installed on a piece of equipment to be used.
Android is installed on phones, while WordPress is installed on web servers (powerful computer systems that run 24/7 and are accessible worldwide). Hosting services "host" your website on their servers.
In order to run WordPress, you will need to have a web hosting service to install and run your WordPress website on.
Pros: Excellent SEO, many design options available (the most in the world)
Cons: More complex. There is a pretty steep learning curve which will take time to learn and get comfortable with. In my opinion, WordPress is the best choice for those who are a bit more computer literate and willing to take the time to learn how to use it.
To use WordPress, you will first need to sign up with a hosting provider. Most providers will provide a WordPress installation feature built into their interface once you signup and login.
I have several WordPress sites and have tried a couple of hosting providers since 2011.
If you do a Google search on how to install a WordPress site, you'll find that many WordPress guides recommend Bluehost (I suspect because Bluehost pays a higher than average $60 for each referral signup). I used Bluehost for several years, but have since switched to FastComet for several reasons.
Price Plans start at $3.95 a month for 1 site. I currently host several sites on their $6.95 a month plan as it allows for unlimited sites.
You can check out FastComet's features and price plans here.
I am considered a techie by friends, have run the I.T. department for a couple of organizations, have installed and currently run over 10 WordPress sites and still find it confusing sometimes!
So if you are not confident about your I.T. savviness then just go with Wix or Shopify.
WordPress is a free system, but it needs to be installed and hosted on a server, which is where a hosting provider comes in.
If that's confusing, this analogy might help:
Think of Android phones. Android is a FREE operating system (software) provided by Google. Now think of WordPress like Android - as a piece of free software.
The software needs to be installed on a piece of equipment to be used.
Android is installed on phones, while WordPress is installed on web servers (powerful computer systems that run 24/7 and are accessible worldwide). Hosting services "host" your website on their servers.
In order to run WordPress, you will need to have a web hosting service to install and run your WordPress website on.
Pros: Excellent SEO, many design options available (the most in the world)
Cons: More complex. There is a pretty steep learning curve which will take time to learn and get comfortable with. In my opinion, WordPress is the best choice for those who are a bit more computer literate and willing to take the time to learn how to use it.
To use WordPress, you will first need to sign up with a hosting provider. Most providers will provide a WordPress installation feature built into their interface once you signup and login.
I have several WordPress sites and have tried a couple of hosting providers since 2011.
If you do a Google search on how to install a WordPress site, you'll find that many WordPress guides recommend Bluehost (I suspect because Bluehost pays a higher than average $60 for each referral signup). I used Bluehost for several years, but have since switched to FastComet for several reasons.
- FastComet support is very responsive and they have helped me on several occasions to configure and troubleshoot my sites. You can ask their support to install WordPress and setup your SSL certificate for you.
- FastComet provides FREE Let's Encrypt SSL certificates for ALL sites hosted with them, even those on the cheapest plan. Bluehost and many other hosting providers charge over $100 a year for an SSL certificate. An SSL certificate provides encryption for your site. If you look at the address bar above, you'll see a green lock with the word "Secure" and the web address starts with "https://" instead of "http://". Having an SSL secured site is increasingly important both to protect your users as well as to improve your SEO as Google uses it as a positive ranking factor. Furthermore, Google's Chrome browser now warns users when they try to view an unsecured site. Therefore having an SSL certificate will prevent viewers from being blocked from or clicking away from your site.
- FastComet allows you to choose your server location. For example if your target audience is primarily in the Asia-Pacific region such as Singapore, Australia, New Zealand, you can locate on their Singapore server. Or if you are targeting a primarily US audience, you can locate in Dallas or Chicago. Server location helps improve the site's loading speed for your target audience and is also another factor that can help improve your Google SEO.
- A little bonus is that FastComet also provides a free domain name for life which saves you about $10-$14 every year.
Price Plans start at $3.95 a month for 1 site. I currently host several sites on their $6.95 a month plan as it allows for unlimited sites.
You can check out FastComet's features and price plans here.
WordPress Hosting Recommendation:
After installing WordPress, you then select a theme from the thousands of free or paid themes available. I personally have a Thrive Themes membership which includes several fantastic themes and many other superb plugins. But that's another topic!
Custom Built Websites
Unless you are a big business that requires extreme customization (such as a government portal), are willing to pay not just for the initial site build but to also maintain a long term site servicing contract, I would avoid this.
I know several organizations that outsourced their site design to web designers (including companies in the US and India), who down the road became unresponsive when the clients sites were down or needed to be edited. The sites were also built in a way that was very hard for the client to improve or tweak as needed.
If all you're willing to pay is $500-$3000 for a one-time web design, I would avoid engaging any web designer. Unless you specify that you want them to use a system that you are comfortable with, such as Shopify, WordPress, or Wix, with NO extra coding that you won't know how to edit later.
I know several organizations that outsourced their site design to web designers (including companies in the US and India), who down the road became unresponsive when the clients sites were down or needed to be edited. The sites were also built in a way that was very hard for the client to improve or tweak as needed.
If all you're willing to pay is $500-$3000 for a one-time web design, I would avoid engaging any web designer. Unless you specify that you want them to use a system that you are comfortable with, such as Shopify, WordPress, or Wix, with NO extra coding that you won't know how to edit later.
RSS Feed