How to Host a Website

Learning to host a website is pretty straightforward. It might seem like a daunting task at first, but it’s not like you need all the technical know-how of running a server to set up web hosting for your own website. You can be up and running your website in hardly any time at all, if you can just follow some instructions (of course you can).

I will show you how! I give you the step by step instructions on how to set up your hosting, and even what sort of hosting package you’ll need. Watch the video below to get started.

Watch the video and then go to Hostgator to set up your hosting.

>> Go to Hostgator and set up your account. <<

Below I provide you the step by step instructions in written format with screenshots. But before I go over the steps again, I want to go over a couple different options you have:

1. Free Web Hosting

I don’t recommend you go this route. Of all the options, I see it as the least desirable. Why? Because these hosts add links and ads to your website that you have no control over. Some of the ads may even be a little “fishy,” if you know what I mean. These hosts also tend to be notoriously unreliable, come with frequent downtime, and go out of business overnight. That’s not the prescription for a stable host for your website, especially if this is your business site.

One exception – if you just want a simple website that you want to share amongst your family and a few friends, a free host may be the way to go. Just make sure they’ve been around awhile and won’t plaster your site with any offensive links or ads.

2. Host Your Website from a Computer at Home

If a free host is the least desirable option, this is a pretty darn close second. Most people won’t be able to get over the technical hurdles. It’s a fairly big deal to maintain a server, and if you aren’t familiar with how to do something like this from your own computer (and I assume you’re not, if you’re reading this), I honestly wouldn’t even try. The time and effort and required knowledge is just too much.

And you’re really not going to be saving any money. The money you put into a machine running 24/7 will cost just as much or more as an inexpensive paid hosting plan.

3. Have a Local Hosting Company Host Your Website

This may be an option for some people. A local company will provide you with web hosting, sometimes from their own servers, more often as a ‘reseller’ of another, larger company’s servers.  There’s two potential problems with this approach – price and technical support. These smaller, local companies either can’t provide you support, because they don’t have staff 24 hours a day/on weekends, or charge through the nose to give you something you can do for  yourself for less than $10 a month.  Sometimes you get the worst of both worlds – an expensive hosting reseller that doesn’t provide you any support.

If you absolutely must have a local company host your website for you, then make sure you do your homework. Talk to other customers they have or to folks that have used them in the past. If you can’t find a satisfied actual customer, stay away! Ask them about how their tech support works (phone, web chat, etc) and when it’s available. Also make sure you get a decent hosting package for your money. Lastly, don’t pay too much for your web host. It’s just not worth it.

Ok, I told you I would show you how to host your own website, let’s get on with it!

How to Host a Website – Setting Up Your Own Web Hosting

The web host that I use for this site and all of my other sites is HOSTGATOR. They are a very reliable host and I have hosted many websites with them for many years. I recommend you try them, and this guide is based on their service.

Go to http://www.hostgator.com

You will see a big rectangular yellowish-orange button in the center of the page that says “View Web Hosting Plans.” Click that button/link and it will take you to a page that shows the shared web hosting plans as seen below:

If you have a single domain, all you will need is the Hatchling Plan. Go ahead and click ORDER NOW for that plan. If you know you need more than one domain/website, pick the BABY plan. The instructions for both plans are the same. Once you pick your plan, you will be prompted to the next step to choose a domain. If you already have a Domain Name, go to that box and enter your domain name and click CONTINUE TO STEP 2. The box is shown below:

If you don’t have a domain yet, and want to register one with Hostgator, enter your desired domain under “Register a New Domain” and follow those steps.

In the billing information screen, create a username, password and enter your billing information for payment.

Your hosting plan will be available usually within one hour after payment. Check your email for important information that Hostgator will send to your about your account. KEEP THIS EMAIL. The information in this email should be kept secure, as anyone with this information can access your website’s files!

Now, it’s time to connect your domain and web host.

At first, this may come across as complicated – DON’T SWEAT IT! This is pretty straightforward step and is really no more difficult than typing in a password or filling out a form in a website.

NOTE: If you registered a domain with Hostgator, you can SKIP THIS STEP. Get to work on your website!

Here’s what you do, assuming you have a domain registered with GoDaddy:

Go back to www.godaddy.com. Login if you are not already logged in as shown below:

Once you’re logged in, move your cursor over the Domains tab, which is the first tab on the bar of tabs and then go down to Domain Management and select.

Next you will need to select your domain name by clicking on it, where you will be taken to a new page related to your “domain information.”

There will be a section about Nameservers. Click on “Set Nameservers.”

A pop up window will appear on Set Nameservers as shown below:

Click on “I have specific nameservers for my domains”. You will need to fill out the boxes Nameserver 1 and Nameserver 2 with the information you were given by Hostgator via email. The other Nameserver slots should be left blank.

Your nameservers will look something like this: NS111.WEBSITEWELCOME.COM and NS112.WEBSITEWELCOME.COM, although you will have a different numbers for the NS111/NS112 part.

Once that has been done, click OK and you are ready to proceed to the next step. These changes should take effect within 2 hours. It may take more time, but if you experience problems in this regard, feel free to contact the GoDaddy support staff for assistance.

That’s it!! That’s how you host a website.

If you’re still not sure, re-read the instructions to make sure you understand them and you haven’t missed something. If you are still unsure, drop me a line in the comments below or definitely feel free to call GoDaddy support to have them help you. You may wait a few minutes on the phone, but I have always found GoDaddy support knowledgeable and helpful (and I’ve always waited LESS than 5 minutes on the phone to get a live person).

Now that you’ve got your domain and web hosting set up, get to work on your website! I suggest installing WordPress – it’s free, simple, and powerful.

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