Building Your First Website: A Business Owner’s Guide to Getting It Right From Day One
Creating your first business website can feel overwhelming when you don’t know what steps to take or when to take them. The good news? Website creation follows a predictable process when you understand what needs to happen and who’s responsible for each step.
Getting your domain and hosting setup right from the beginning prevents costly complications later and ensures your website launch goes smoothly. Let's break down exactly what you need to secure and how to connect everything properly.
Securing Your Domain Name
Your domain name is your website's address on the internet. Think of it like your business's street address—once you choose it, changing later creates confusion for customers and complications for your business. Getting this foundation right from the start saves you headaches down the road.
Domain Selection Strategy
Before you start searching for available domains, understand what makes a good business domain:
Choose something memorable and easy to spell over something clever but confusing
Avoid hyphens, numbers, or anything that requires explanation when spoken aloud
Stick with .com if available—it's still the most trusted and recognized extension
Keep it short enough to fit comfortably on business cards and marketing materials
Ensure it reflects your business name or what you do
Here’s Where You Can Check Domain Availability
GoDaddy
The largest domain registrar with over 84 million domains under management. GoDaddy offers competitive pricing, 24/7 customer support, and additional services like email hosting.
Best for business owners who want comprehensive support and additional services in one place.
Namecheap
Known for transparent pricing with no hidden fees and excellent customer service. They include free domain privacy protection (which hides your personal information from public records) with most domain purchases.
Best for cost-conscious buyers who want straightforward pricing and privacy protection included.
Google Domains
Google’s domain service integrates seamlessly with other Google services like Google Workspace (Gmail for business). Clean interface and straightforward management tools.
Best for businesses already using Google services or those who prefer simple, no-frills domain management.
Domain Registration Process
Once you’ve chosen where to purchase your domain, the registration process is straightforward:
Use the platform’s search tool to check if your preferred domain is available
If your first choice is taken, try variations or consider different extensions
Purchase immediately when you find an available domain—good names get taken quickly
Register for 1-2 years initially to keep costs manageable
Save your domain registrar login credentials in a secure location
Consider adding domain privacy protection to keep your personal information private
Critical Note: Don’t connect your domain to any hosting or website builder yet. This connection happens in the next phase, and doing it prematurely can create technical complications.