Introduction to web design

If you’re trying to build a website but find yourself confused by all the lingo, like “domain,” “hosting,” etc., you’re in the right place. Welcome to a little web design 101.

*Sidenote, I drop company names here, but I’m not associated. I just like to help and keep it real.

Think of your website like a residence.

The website itself is the house. The house has to sit on land somewhere—your website does too. The domain (URL) is the street address. 

There are 3 main parts to building a website: 

1) The domain = www.name.com (street address)

2) Who/what “hosts” the domain (where it lives)

3) The site itself (How you build it, which is often who hosts it)

The domain and website/hosting are 2 separate items, purchased separately. 

How it works

1. The domain + pricing

Also called “URL.” Most domains are very affordable, around $10-$20-$25. If the domain you want is popular and something other people might want - or it's a common name - it might be pricier—or unavailable.

Unavailable favorite domains have happened to us all. So if you find yourself in a similar position, you’re amongst friends. The key is to be flexible, adaptable, and creative. Some people buy domains they think others might want, and then offer them at a higher price (you might see this, it’s ridiculousness; don’t fall for it). In most cases, you’ll be able to purchase your domain for under $20.

Pro tip: You already know you can get a free website at Wix. But heads up—Wix forces your domain to include the word “wixsite” (www.yourname.wixsite.com/pickthiswordtoo) It sucks, but hey it’s free! And if this is what you can afford for now, go with it! Sweat the small stuff later. If you do have those extra bucks, I highly recommend buying your own domain. This removes the clutter and confusion of “wixsite,” plus it boosts your credibility and professionalism.

Wouldn’t it be weird if we went to “www.amazon.wixsite.com/buynow?”

2. Who/What hosts

To build a website yourself, you’ll sign up with company such as GoDaddy, Wix, Squarespace, and the like. These companies do 2 things:

1) They ‘host’ websites, storing them on their servers. This is the ‘land’ your website “lives” on.
2) They provide the tools you need to build your website, using their browser-based, user-friendly web design engine.

3. The site itself

The good stuff! Number #2 above has been an incredible boon for many folks like me, enabling us to build websites without needing code or a developer. You can certainly add code to further customize your site (I do) and do development work to it (I don’t) if you want. Ultimately this means you can learn to use these website building tools to make your own site!

These days, most website building companies offer free built-in templates. So the bulk of the design is already done for you. Genius. Where was this 20 years ago when I was young? To customize your template, click, drag, add your own copy, pick your fonts and colors, and upload your own images. Yes, it’s truly that easy.

They also offer several pricing tiers with various options so you can select the one that's right for you. The lowest ones are usually under $20/month.

• If you're just starting up an artist website or simple company website, go for the basic.

• If you want e-commerce (to sell items on your site), member login areas, etc., purchase a higher tier to access those tools.

You’ll create your site with a browser-based website builder, which you might have already seen in Wix. These same companies give you the option to buy your domain through them, which is usually a simple step by step process. Pretty easy. I recommend this option—when it's all under one roof, it’s easier to keep track of things like payments and renewals.