Learn/Getting-a-Website-for-the-First-Time
To clear up a popular misconception, you don't buy a website - you lease it. This is a different message from the people in the business to 'sell' you websites. Basically, you can lose your website if you don't pay your rent. (see Virtual Property) All of your hard work in building a name and reputation, your identity, can be gone in an instant.
Ok, now that we have that on the table, let's discuss what you will need to consider when you've decided to start your first website.
Generally, people who don't have a website already (and even people who do!) confuse the two pieces needed and think they are one piece.
First, you need to decide on and procure a website name. This is commonly called a domain name, and is obtained through a Registrar.
The name you choose is important, as it will be the online home for you and what name people will know your website as. Take a look at our article on this here.
- see a list of registrars.
Second, you need to Host an actual website on someones server (an actual machine).
Two steps: think of your (1) website name as a pointer to your (2) content which is the website. Some companies will do both for you.
Website names (step 1) generally cost ~$10 a year - sometimes more, sometimes less. The cost for hosting a website (step 2) is pretty much the wildcard expense here. It really depends on what you want the website to do.
- Do you want a website as an online business card?
- Do you want to try and host a community on your website?
- Are you selling goods or services?