Design Your Own Web Home Page

Step 1 - Choose a domain name & the BEST web host

One of the things you'll need to do is to buy a domain name and pick a trustworthy web host. The prices vary from host to host as well as the services. For most everyday sites, we have finally chosen our #1 all time best web host after YEARS of trial and error. But...

First of all, what exactly is a web host? A web host is a place where you can store your website online and makes it easy for the world to access your site.

For example, once you make your web pages using our free tutorials and free software, then you need to take them from your computer and put them online. That's what web hosts offer, they allow you to a place to store your newly created web pages. That space is on their computers which are directly linked to the internet. In fact, they literally help make up the internet.

At the same time you get the hosting, you'll also get to choose your domain name. The domain name is just your web site name, like www.designyourownweb.com. That tells everyone where we can be found at on the web. It's a unique address to your site.

Ok, so what you'll need to get started is to choose a web hosting company and also a domain name. Here's some suggestions:

Picking your domain name...

There are now over a billion websites out there, literally. So, the web is an enormous ever growing place, which can make choosing an effective domain name both necessary and a challenge. Most of the simple names are already taken. And in different variations. But, it's still possible to find great domain names with just a little searching.

Before picking your own domain name, here are some tips to help you brainstorm:


NEWS UPDATE!! - June 2010. I now recommend just one web host after having tried TONS of other ones. The one that I found to be the EASIEST to use and the most flexible has been Bluehost . In my opinion, they are simply the best web host out there. I just started yet another site with them and they are so much better than everyone else I have tried. Honestly, I wish I had all my sites with them.

Starting at only only $6.95 per month plus a FREE domain name and FREE SETUP, Bluehost is a great deal. It's perfect for beginners or advanced users. They now have added video tutorials which show beginners how to get started online.

You can even have multiple websites on one account. And you can easily set up your own WordPress blog, Shopping Cart, Web email, MySQL Databases, Forums, Picture Galleries and more at the click of a button.

Here's why I use bluehost as my own web hosting company...

For example, recently, I couldn't get a script to work, so I emailed Bluehost , and 3 minutes later they emailed back and said "No problem, we'll take care of it.".

About 5 minutes later, I get another email from BlueHost "Ok, it's all fixed. Anything else?". Other web hosts have not delivered even close to that level of support. In short, bluehost rocks! Bluehost is hands down the best web host I have found to date.

Yep, I am certainly a fan. In fact, I now host 7 different web sites with bluehost myself. I am also now an affiliate of bluehost. That's because I have used many other web hosting companies over the last 10 years and I have something to compare it to. None of them were even close in terms of support and options. They truly have everything you'll need to have your own website.

So, when you're ready to have your own website, simply click on the bluehost banner below and get started on your own web adventure...

Bluehost.com Web Hosting $6.95

Professional, Reliable, Easy to Use and Great Tech Support makes
bluehost our TOP web hosting choice for 2010!

Please note: You'll definitely want to avoid free hosting accounts, they are very spammy and those sites generally won't rank very well in the search engines (like Google), not to mention they put ads on your site and in your email which you have no control over. Steer clear at all costs. There is a reason it's free.

Also please note that there are many HORRIBLE hosting companies out there. JustHost, for example, is one of them. DO NOT USE JUSTHOST.com. They are one of the sleaziest web hosting companies. They have hidden terms and if you try to cancel they will NOT give you your money back in full (if any). Their security and speed totally suck. My one blog with them was hacked into. AVOID JustHost.com AT ALL COSTS. They are a company in the UK and are just terrible. There are so many better choices.

Also GoDaddy, although I WAS a fan of, I am NOT anymore. Some of my blogs hosted on GoDaddy were hacked a couple weeks ago, and they denied having any problems. But ironically my blogs on BLUEHOST were NOT hacked. SO there is a reason to choose a good hosting company.

USE BLUEHOST FOR SPEED, SECURITY, TECH SUPPORT, EASE OF USE, and RELIABILITY!!!!

Now, once you have a reliable web host, then you'll need a 'web page editor' to start making/designing your site...which, by the way, I forgot to mention that bluehost also has their own easy to use DRAG and DROP SITE BUILDER included in their hosting package. Another bonus!

Coming up next we'll introduce you to one of the most popular free desktop web editors - Nvu / Kompozer. Just please keep in mind, you do need a web hosting company BEFORE you can have your very own real working website online.