How to host your own website in 5 easy steps

In today’s digital age, having an online presence is not just an option, but a necessity. Whether you’re an aspiring blogger, a small business owner, or someone looking to showcase their portfolio, being able to host your own website offers you a powerful way to connect with a global audience. While the idea of creating and hosting a website might seem daunting at first, it’s actually more achievable than you might think. This step by step guide will walk you through the process of hosting your own website, from selecting the right hosting options to getting your site live on the internet.

In just five simple steps, you can have your own website up and running – giving you a platform to share your business, passion, or talent, to the world.

1) Choose a Content Management System (CMS) to host your own website on

If you haven’t already, you need to decide on what CMS you will use for your website. You may not understand how important this is, but let me explain why it is one of the most important choices you will make whilst building your website.

Selecting the right CMS for your website holds great importance as it largely impacts functionality, scalability, and overall success. A well-suited CMS ensures user-friendly management and seamless customization, which will help to bring out your uniqueness while accommodating growth. It plays a pivotal role in elevating your site’s search engine optimization (SEO) efforts, which encourages an engaged user community, and putting safety and security first with constant updates. Mobile responsiveness, cost-effectiveness, and seamless eCommerce integration are also pivotal considerations. A thoughtfully chosen CMS has the capability to adapt to evolving needs and budget constraints, offering streamlined migration options if needed. Ultimately, the optimal CMS will result in efficient website management and performance optimization, leading to enhanced user experiences and showcasing the best of your work. For most users, it comes down to two options: WordPress, or a website builder such as Wix, SquareSpace, or Shopify.

Which CMS is right for you?

You’re probably wondering which of these is the best, and the short answer is that it depends on the user. When considering the vast array of website creation options available, WordPress and popular website builders offer various advantages. WordPress is renowned for its flexibility and extensive plugin library. It grants total control over design, functionality, and customization. It’s favored by those with technical skills who seek ultimate creative freedom. On the other hand, website builders cater to users seeking a simplified, user-friendly experience. They provide a curated set of templates and tools. This makes them good choices for beginners or managers aiming to quickly establish an online presence. While WordPress boasts unmatched scalability and plugin diversity, website builders excel in their interfaces and all in one solutions. This means they cater to various levels of technical ability and business needs.

If you do decide that a website builder is right for you, the next step is to choose one. If you’re unsure of which website builder to go with, then we recommend The Elite Web Co.,’s Website Builder. With their Website Builder, you can create your website whilst managing appointments, social media and emails all from one area. It includes many great features which make building an attractive website easy, even without prior design skills. It is also the most affordable website builder on the market, coming in under $10 cheaper than SquareSpace’s website builder.

2) Find a web hosting service

If your go with WordPress, your next crucial decision is the selection of a suitable web hosting service. A plethora of web hosting providers, including notable names like Bluehost, DreamHost, Hostinger, and Elite, present similar services. However, if you’re looking for a recommendation, then we recommend The Elite Web Co. Offering many different kind of hosting, from Dedicated Hosting to VPS Hosting, there’s a plan to suit every venture and budget. For most websites, especially new ones, we recommend choosing one of their WordPress Hosting plans. This is a great way to host your website with the software already installed and ready to go. To take a look at all of their hosting options, click here.

3) Get yourself a domain name

Securing the perfect domain name is a pivotal step in establishing your website. A thoughtfully chosen domain name, aligned with your brand or purpose, significantly contributes to visibility and memorability. When buying a domain name, opt for a concise, relevant, and easy-to-spell option that reflects your identity. Including relevant keywords can also enhance search engine discoverability. Choose a reputable domain registrar to ensure seamless management and renewal processes. With the right domain, you’re setting the stage for a successful digital journey.

If you’re looking for the best place to find your perfect domain name, I once again advise you check out Elite’s database of domain names. With the cheapest domain names on the market and a great range of top-level domains, you’re sure to find your ideal domain name with them.

For more information on choosing the right domain name, check out our guide on picking the winning domain name for your website.

4) Connect your domain to your hosting

The procedure for linking your domain name to your web host can differ based on where you acquired your domain. If your domain was obtained through your web hosting provider, the connection is automatic. However, if you have an existing domain, manual connection is required.

The great news is, if you brought both your domain and hosting from Elite Web Co,. the connection process is incredibly simple! The method to connect your domain does depend on what kind of hosting you have. In most cases, if you navigate to your account, then down to hosting – you will be able to follow step-by-step instructions to connect your domain. However, if you chose the Elite Website Builder, you can follow the instructions in this help article.

If you need to manually connect your domain, access the platform where you purchased your domain (e.g., GoDaddy). Access your domain’s settings and configure it to point to your hosting server. Your web hosting account typically provides name servers, also called domain name servers or DNS, which you input to direct your domain. This ensures that when users enter “www.yourdomain.com,” they access your chosen server’s content.

Once you locate the name servers, log into your domain settings and access the “DNS Settings” tab. Replace the current domain name servers with those supplied by your web host. After saving these changes, your domain should start directing to your hosting server within a few hours, sometimes even instantly.

5) Install WordPress

Now that you have connected and set up your hosting and domain fully, you’re almost ready to start building your website! Now you should install WordPress. If you took our recommendation and purchased WordPress Hosting, then you don’t need to worry about this step as WordPress was installed automatically.

Majority of the top-tier web hosting providers provide a convenient free one-click installation option for WordPress, streamlining the process of linking your domain and hosting plan with WordPress through one click. The method to access this feature hinges on your chosen hosting provider, usually accessible via your web hosting account or cPanel.

If you own an existing WordPress website and are transferring to a new hosting provider, the simplest approach is to take advantage of a WordPress migration service. Sometimes available free of charge through your web hosting provider, this service facilitates the migration. Nevertheless, certain hosts may charge an extra fee for this migration assistance.

What’s next?

By now you should have fully set up your own website! However, you will probably notice it is looking a little bare… To fix this, here are some next steps you can take to customise your website.

Choose your theme

Every WordPress website has a theme. A WordPress theme is what makes up the way your website looks. It is made up of many files (consisting of code, graphic elements, and style sheets) that all contribute in creating a style for your website. However, it is a common misconception that themes decide the look and feel of your website. The truth is that themes allow you to decide this. Rather than themes deciding what pages, posts and parts of your website look like, they give you the tools to do this yourself. They offer layouts and ways to present your content, whilst giving you the freedom to control and edit the more important parts.

Basically, they are a requirement if you want to start making your website look great. Which is why it is a great idea to start picking one out now. Certain themes will be better-suited to different types of website. For example, one of these themes will be great if you run a WooCommerce website.

Install some plugins!

One of the unique selling points of WordPress is it’s endless plugin depository. With over 60,000 free plugins available, and even more premium ones – there’s so much on offer that you can use to build and expand your website. One of the most popular plugins is Elementor: a drag-and-drop builder which gives you even more ways to visually customize your site! Made with beginners in mind, Elementor makes it easy for you to create something visually striking, even without design experience.

Create content

What’s a website without anything on it? Even if you haven’t got your design locked down, you can go ahead and start creating content to go on your website. This especially applies to those who blog. Since WordPress was originally designed for blogging, it is incredibly simple to start writing and publishing posts and other written content onto your website.

Now that you have a few ideas as to what your next steps could be, go out there and create something great! And, you’ll surprise yourself with how easy it is to host your own website.