How To Host Your Own Website (2024 Guide) – Forbes Advisor
As advanced as it may initially sound, anyone can host their own site. Doing so will not only save you money, but it will also give you more control. The good news is that the process of learning how to host your own website is fairly easy, and you don’t have to be experienced in web development. Follow along to learn how to get your site connected to a web hosting provider in minutes.
1. Choose a Content Management System (CMS)
If you haven’t already decided which platform you’re going to use to build your site, then the first step is to choose a content management system (CMS). The reason being is that how you host your site will depend on which platform your site is built on. For the average person building a site, the decision comes down to two main types of platforms: WordPress or an all-in-one website builder, such as Wix, Squarespace or Shopify.
The key differences between WordPress and website builders are ease of use, customization capabilities and cost. While WordPress is a free, open source CMS, it does require third-party web hosting. It’s far more flexible giving users the ability to create just about any type of site with just about any functionality. However, it is far more complicated to use and does involve a fairly steep learning curve. Whereas, website builders are designed to make building websites easy. They include web hosting so there’s no need to buy and connect web hosting from a third party.
2. Purchase a Web Hosting Service
If you opt for WordPress, the next step is to choose a web hosting service. There are a number of web hosting providers, such as Bluehost, DreamHost, Hostinger and IONOS, all offering a similar yet slightly different feature set (e.g., storage and bandwidth limits, uptime guarantees, speed, contract length and price.
If you’re hosting a new website, it’s worth choosing a web hosting plan that includes features such as a free domain name, free SSL certificate and one-click WordPress installation, such as Bluehost. Whereas, if you are hosting an existing site, it’s worth finding a web host that offers a free WordPress site migration service, such as Hostinger. For additional insights and help choosing the right hosting service, check out the best website hosting services.
3. Get a Domain Name
In the instance that you don’t already own a domain name, get your domain directly from one of the best domain registrars, such as Namecheap, Domain.com or Google Domains. Alternatively, you can register your domain name at any registrar but your web hosting provider might provide you with a free domain name included in your account. This means that you don’t have to pay the registration fees for the first year that you operate.
It is generally advisable to get your domain name from your web hosting provider as this will save you time as it eliminates the need to manually connect your domain to your web host. If you’re not sure where to start, learn more about how to register a domain name.
4. Connect Your Domain To Your Web Host
The process of connecting your domain name to your web host varies depending on where you got your domain name from. For example, if you got a domain name through your web hosting provider, it will automatically be connected to your web host. If you already own a domain name, you will need to manually connect your domain to your web host.
To do this, navigate to the site where you purchased your domain name from (e.g., Namecheap or GoDaddy). From there, go into the settings for your domain name to point your domain at the hosting server. Within your web hosting account, you should have been given name servers, known as domain name servers, or DNS. These addresses are where you point your domain name so that when people type in “www.yourdomain.com” they land on whatever content you’re hosting on the server you chose.
When you’ve located the name servers, you need to log in to your domain name settings and click on your “DNS Settings” tab. You then simply replace the current domain name servers with those provided to you by your web host. When you save this, your domain will start to point to your host server within a few hours, but it can be pretty instantaneous.
5. Install WordPress (or Migrate An Existing Site)
The last step in the process is to either install WordPress onto your domain through your web hosting account. Most of the leading web hosting providers offer free one-click WordPress installation, which enables users to connect their domain and web hosting plan to WordPress with just one click. How you access the one-click installation feature will depend on which web hosting provider you chose, however, it is typically accessible through your web hosting account or cPanel.
If you already have an existing WordPress website and are connecting to a new hosting provider, then the easiest way to connect is by using a WordPress migration service. This is often available for free through your web hosting provider. However, some hosts do charge an additional fee for this migration service.
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Bottom Line: Hosting Your Own Website
The idea of hosting your own website may initially feel daunting–especially if you’re not particularly experienced in the area of web development. However, web hosting providers have come a long way and now do a good job of helping users easily host their own websites. If you run into any issues along the way, most hosts offer comprehensive help centers, as well as live support so your host is generally the first line of defense when users run into issues.
For more information, check out the step-by-step instructions on how to build a website.
