Please note: I’m a Bluehost Affiliate Partner, which means when you click and sign up for Bluehost web hosting, I make a small commission at no additional cost to you. I’m so excited to share this post with you based on my experiences!
You’ve had this idea for awhile now…maybe you want to promote your business, sell your products, or share your photography with the world. It’s time to make it happen! Start creating. Build your website with Bluehost…now!
I’ve broken this down into a few, easy steps. Anyone can do it! But first, let’s talk about claiming your domain…your domain name, that is.
What is your site about? Choose your domain name.
Before you create a website, make sure you pick a domain name. Brainstorm, and then write down a few options you like. Your domain will be the first thing people see, hear, and read. Think of how you want to represent yourself, your business, or your hobby.
A domain name is the words you place in between the “www.” and the “.com” on your website (some websites use .org, .net, .info, and even .photo depending on the site’s purpose).
The domain name will appear on your business cards, and you’ll advertise it verbally. Make sure it’s something easy to say, read, and remember.
My domain name was twentysomething-vision.com when I started my blog. That means I asked people to visit “twentysomething dash vision dot com” before I had business cards to hand out. It was difficult to say, and people may have forgotten about the dash.
I did what I could since my number one option was already taken (sans dash). Luckily a year and a half later, I snagged the domain I really wanted: twentysomethingvision.com. I was so happy!
Bluehost provides a free domain name when you sign up for web hosting and they provide a free SSL certification.
This means your site will contain “https” in front of the domain, making search engines happy, and providing a secure connection between your web server and your readers’ browsers.
Ready to create your website account? Let’s get started!
How to sign up for Bluehost web hosting:
- Once you’ve clicked my link for your offer, click the green “get started now > ” button.
- Select your web hosting plan. There’s Basic, Plus, and Prime. I recommend the Basic plan if you don’t need a ton of bells and whistles. Read about each option and decide what’s best for you.
- Here’s the exciting part! On the next page, type in your domain name. I.e. Thisismyawesomesite.com. You can choose from a ton of options, such as .org, .blog, .info, .store.
- Next, enter your account information. This includes billing and contact information. If you’re creating a website for business purposes, I recommend entering your business address if you have one (not your personal address).
- Confirm your package information. This determines what you pay, and how long you’ll have Bluehost web hosting.
Here’s a detailed look at the Account Plan options. If you’re OK with the settings as is, then skip to step 6.
- The plan is automatically set to the Basic 36 Month Price. You pay less for more, but keep in mind you’ll need to pay upfront for three years of hosting.
- If you sign up for the Basic 12 Month Price, you’ll be able to get your blog / website started, but keep in mind that you’ll pay more for a shorter period of web hosting.
- Check or uncheck Domain Privacy Protection – This protects the personal information you use to sign up for the account. If someone searches for information on your domain, they’ll be able to view your information. This option protects your information, and someone will instead see Bluehost’s information.
- Check or uncheck Site Backup Pro – This is handy if you want to automatically backup your content. There are free plugins for this as well.
- Check or uncheck Search Engine Jumpstart – This provides reports and how-to on SEO (ranking on Google, Yahoo, Bing, etc.). There are free plugins for this, so I would recommend skipping it.
- Check or uncheck SiteLock Security – This scans your website for malware and presents a certificate on your site to put readers at ease. This might be a good option if you plan to setup an e-commerce site.
- Review your information, your total savings, and the total amount due.
- Enter your payment information.
- Read the Terms of Service, Cancellation Policy and Privacy Policy.
- Click “submit!”
- Create a secure password to log in to your Bluehost account.
- Choose a WordPress theme. In simplest terms, the theme is your website’s layout template. You can customize the theme by adding photos, text, email signup, and other fancy options later on (and you may download plugins to help).
- Congratulations! You did it. Start building your website!
Check out these screenshots for a visual walk-through:
Let’s get to it!
Sometimes we let fear get in the way of creating. Don’t let fear hold you back! There’s a supportive community of bloggers and creators around us to help.
Get your website up and running today with Bluehost. Let me know if you have any questions along the way.
I can even setup your WordPress site for you! Click the button below and we’ll get in touch. Happy creating!
I need help setting up my site.