Starting a website is very simple. Anyone needs to consider just three main components for any kind of website.

·         Domain Name– To access the site on web, visitors use the address, known as a domain name. A domain name represents Users brand or business.

·         Web Hosting– After Users domain name registered, a web hosting package will be purchased and users domain will be pointed to the web hosting account of user by changing the name servers for that domain name, and visitors to users domain can access the website hosted at his web hosting company.

·         Website– A website is a file coded with HTML to display images, text, audio, videos and other multimedia elements.

In this article, reader will see some of the most popular and simple ways to start a website, using Hostgator.

Ways to Start a Website using Hostgator

• HostGator’s Site Builder

Hostgator offers Weebly Website Builder for free with all their Shared hosting plans. The whole process will be completed in just few minutes. Once website is set, changes can be publish directly to website.

Pros: Fast and simple with no technical knowledge required.

Cons: Limited options of design, unable to customize, and advanced features offered are sparse.

• Website Templates

HostGator has an amazing collection of over 4,450 website templates and designs for free. User will download the desired template, edit it using an HTML or text editor and then upload the template through FTP to HostGator account so as to publish the web page(s).

Pros: Customized tons of templates.
Cons: ‘tweaking’ is required to offer the desired look to the template.

• WYSIWYG (What You See is What You Get) Site Builders

A WYSIWYG Editor builds a website for user, in the same manner as document is created in Microsoft Word. This is quite cheap offer, here to start with, user is not required to pay hundreds of dollars as the de facto standard is Adobe’s Dreamweaver. Some of the free and open source alternatives like Mozilla’s KompoZer is offered.

A website can be build using KompoZer by inserting various elements like headers, images, paragraphs, labels etc. without involving any complications of HTML code. This code can be easily edit as well. If user is not a beginner, templates can be received by users online and open them with KompoZer to tweak the layout & look.

Pros: It is free of cost. Easy to get started with no HTML required.
Cons: Time is consumed to learn the advanced features of the software like Dreamweaver or KompoZer.

• CMS (Content Management System)

CMS is considered as an excellent option for the websites, which require adding of content continuously, or looking for the advanced features. To offer the best CMS experience, a Managed WordPress environment is considered, in which themes and plugins available will be actively curated, automatic caching, security of website via SiteLock, and automatic backups with CodeGuard is offered for a single low cost, on monthly basis.

WordPress, Drupal & Joomla are the major CMS’s available to install on shared hosting. On Hostgator, the most popular option is WordPress. It can be installed in a single click via QuickInstall feature of Hostgator.

WordPress is easy and user friendly CMS. It has tons of themes and plugins available for free to create almost every type of website.

Pros: Can be easily installed & started, it is highly customizable. Things are organized and very simple to add the new content and update pages.
Cons: CMS requires editing of PHP/HTML/CSS code, if out-of-the-box options are not working for website.

• From Scratch (HTML/CSS/PHP)

A website can be created from scratch. It offers several no. of tools and scripts to assist users. If Users wish to build websites on their own, this is a correct option.

Pros: Complete control over the website and its look and feel of web pages.

To Start a Blog is as simple and easy. Most of the web hosting companies allow their clients to start a blog using their services. Here, we have chosen Hostgator. In this article, following steps states how to start a blog using Hostgator.

http://wap.sitegeek.com/hostgator-ds

 

Step 1 Select the Web Hosting Plan

To start a blog, Hostgator offers three hosting plans, namely, Hatchling Plan, Baby Plan, Business Plan.  Every user or client has different needs, so user must choose the plan accordingly. If user is having a business, Business plan is suitable to him. If user wants to build only one site, Hatchling plan is good, as it allows a single domain. Baby Plan is good, when user wish to build multiple websites, as it allows for unlimited domain names. However, Baby Plan is recommended when user is a beginner and just started learning how to start a blog. So, here we have chosen the Baby Plan, click on Sign Up button and now like to move to step 2.

Step 2 Select a Domain Name

Now, User is taken to the HostGator Order Wizard. Here, in the first box, user will fill out their domain name, which is the name of the website. User must select “Register a New Domain” tab.

Step 3 Fill out the Hosting Package Information

In the first box, User will out their hosting package information. If user wish to change the plan, it is permitted. Here user needs to laid emphasis on “Billing Cycle”. The more months for which user pay for up front, the cheaper rate month.

In this step, a username and a security pin will be created by a user. This username will be used to login to HostGator account which is the back end of the website.

 Step 4 Fill the Billing Information

Now, in this step, User will enter the billing information. It comprises Users name, e-mail, address, state, mode of payment.

Step 5 Select Hosting Add-ons

Some Hosting Add-ons are given like SEO, Sitelock, Codeguard, Domain Privacy Protection and user needs to choose among them. Domain Privacy Protection is highly recommended as it will protect users personal information and user himself from a WHOIS lookup on your site.

Step 6 Fill HostGator Coupon Code

Now, User needs to enter the coupon code, before confirm the payment and create an account. Fill the coupon code and receive 25% off instead of 20% that they offer. Press “Validate” on the coupon code and get extra 5% deducted from the total at the bottom. (It is applied on the selected coupons)

Step 7 Review Order Details & Create Account!

Now, it’s time to review the order details. User needs to make the payment for Domain Registration, Web hosting plan and Hosting Add-ons (if applicable). Other amounts based on what is chosen in the previous steps.

Now, User will read the HostGator Terms of Service and check the box that says “I have read and agree to the Terms of Service, etc…”, then click on Checkout Now! button. Now, User will get emails having some URL’s for accessing the Control panel in his provided email address.

Step 8 Install the WordPress

To install WordPress onto the website, User will go to main page of Hostgator and click on the button “HostGator Billing Login”or move to Customer Portal of Hostgator.

In the login, enter the billing information. Users username must be the email address which he receive his billing information sent to, and password must be included in one of the mails which user received after created his account in Step 7.

Once logged into the portal, a number of tabs appears on top, User will click on the Hosting tab. After it loads up, an option appears under “Special Offers” that says Get Started with WordPress Today. User will Click on the same. It will take User to a page called “QuickInstall”. Now, User will click on the “Continue” button and then fill few text fields.

But, User must be sure that domain name is chosen in the “Application URL” section. Now, Check the box that says “Enable Auto Upgrades”. Then complete “Admin Email”, “Blog Title”. Lastly, enter the first and last name and click on the “Install Now” button.

When WordPress installs, a progress bar appears. When it is finished, user will get the information on where to access WordPress login, username, password to sign in. Now URL of WordPress page appears, go to the URL and sign in.