Creating a Startup Website with Minimum Cost
By News & Articles

A website is a crucial asset for any business, especially a startup as 98% of small businesses do have a website. A website can help people find a new startup and learn what they have to offer them. Having a website might seem like a big expense but when you are just getting started you can create one with minimal cost.

1. Understanding Your Website’s Purpose

The website you are going to build will be an important tool for business. You have to make it like a tool that can attract and help your customers.

  • Showcase: For showcasing a product or a service.
  • Lead Generation: To collect information from visitors.
  • E-commerce: To sell products online.
  • Portfolio or Brand Credibility: To show your expertise, previous work, or company values.
  • Information or Blog-Based: To provide valuable information and build an audience through blogging.

2. Choosing a Domain Name and Hosting Provider

Once you are clear on the purpose for building the website the next steps will be choosing a domain name and a hosting service. 

  • Domain – it will be the name/address of your website, like (www._.com). 
  • Hosting – it will be a service that will host your website and make it accessible on the internet. 

These two are the foundation of a website. But the important thing is to make smart choices here. Let’s begin with the domain first.

While choosing a domain name keep the following things in mind. 

  • Try to keep it short and simple. As the shorter names are easier to remember and type. 
  • Avoid unusual spellings and complicated words. 
  • Avoid adding numbers and hyphens. 
  • Check it’s available using online tools and social media to ensure uniqueness.

Once you’ve finalized a domain name, it’s time to register it. Check the availability of your domain name and register the domain name request using an online registration service.

Hosting the Domain

Now that you have a domain, you’ll need a hosting provider to make your site accessible online. 

Here are some budget-friendly hosting options you can consider:

  1. Bluehost

Bluehost offers affordable beginner plans. Plus they also offer a free domain for the first year. The downside is their sudden increase in prices upon renewal and the lack of backup features.

  1. Hostinger

The platform is famous for very low introductory plans. Plus, their control panel is very easy to use and allows various CMS for free. They also provide unlimited free SSL and an email account. The only downside is the limited features in the basic plan. But as a startup, I think it still is a good option to consider. 

  1. SiteGround

The platform is known for excellent performance and solid uptime. Especially recommended for WordPress websites. But it is a little expensive and provides less storage as compared to the previous two. 

3. Selecting a Website Builder or CMS

After registering a domain and setting up the hosting the next step is to start building your website. Fortunately, there are many website builders and Content Management Systems (CMS) that can help you create a professional site without spending a lot of money. 

Let’s take a look at some popular options that fit different needs and budgets.

1. WordPress

WordPress is considered the most popular and reliable CMS platform. Nearly 40% of the websites are built using WordPress. It is free to use. All you need is a host and a registered domain. It is highly customisable and offers many plugin options.

2. Wix

Wix is another popular website builder that you can consider using. Like WordPress, it also offers a drag-and-drop interface. The platform is considered ideal for beginners who want to create a website quickly. 

3. Open-Source CMS Options 

If you need a highly customizable solution and want to add advanced functionalities on a budget then you can go for Open-Source CMS options e:g Joomla and Drupal. Since these are open-source platforms, you have full control over your website.

4. Installing Themes and Templates

Themes are like the wardrobe of a website. They give it style, structure, and personality. WordPress directory has thousands of free and affordable themes. As a startup, you can go for free options, but you could also consider a premium in the future.

While choosing a theme you must consider the following things. 

  • Look for a simple, clean design
  • Choose a mobile-responsive theme
  • Consider your brand’s colors and style
  • Look for customization options
  • Read reviews and ratings

Here are the 6 most popular and reliable options. 

  1. Kadence
  2. Astra
  3. GeneratePress
  4. Neve
  5. Divi
  6. OceanWP

All of these are mobile responsive, SEO friendly, and easy to customize. You can find hundreds of customization tutorials on YouTube that can assist you in making a catchy site.

How to Install a Theme in WordPress?

To install a theme on your WordPress site first, you need to log in to the dashboard. You can do this in two ways. Either login into the dashboard directly from your hosting or else visit the address: [yourdomainname/wp-login]

Once you have logged in to your WordPress dashboard go to appearance in the sidebar and click on themes. 

After this click on Add New Theme button on the top.

After clicking you will see a bunch of themes in front of you. Choose one or search if you have a name in mind. Upon hovering the mouse over a theme you will see an install button. Click on it to initiate the installation process. 

Once installation is completed you will see the Activate button in place of Install. Click on it to activate the theme on your website.

5. Essential Plugins to Enhance Functionality

WordPress plugins are like apps, and tools that can help you add more features and bring more functionality to your website. 

Here are some of the must-have plugins for basic website features. 

  1. Akismet – to protect your site from spam.
  2. RankMath or Yoast – to generate XML sitemap and SEO optimization.
  3. WPForms – for making contact forms.
  4. Google SiteKit – for connecting your website with a search console and Google Analytics.
  5. Imagify – to optimize the images on your website.
  6. Litespeed Cache – to boost the speed of your site.
  7. Classic Editor – a basic text editor.

6. Creating Quality Content 

Content is the heart of the website. It is what makes a website successful and turns readers into customers. You can create content yourself with a few helpful tips, tools, and a touch of creativity.

Here are some straightforward tips to help you write effectively:

  • Keep It Simple: Use simple language. Avoid technical jargon or long sentences. 
  • Focus on Benefits, Not Just Features: Tell how your product or service can provide a solution to the visitor.
  • Make It Scannable: Use short paragraphs, bullet points, and subheadings to break text.
  • Add a Call to Action (CTA): Every page should have a CTA that guides your visitors to the next step.

Leverage Assistance Tools

If you think that writing is not your strength then consider getting assistance from online tools. They can help you craft professional-looking content. 

To make content creation easier, here’s a quick and simple workflow you can follow:

  1. Draft a Template

Start with titles and headlines, divide and outline your content into bite-sized chunks. You can use AI text generators to give you ideas.

  1. Use a Paraphrasing Tool for Variety

If you feel like phrases are being repetitive or want to add more creativity to your content consider using a paraphrasing tool like Editpad by doing this you can make your content sound more unique and interesting.

  1. Edit with Grammarly

After drafting, run your content through Grammarly to check for grammar, spelling, and readability issues.

  1. Refine with Hemingway

Use the Hemingway Editor to enhance the readability of your content.

7. Using DIY Graphics and Free Images

People make impressions on websites in just 0.05 seconds after visiting them. Visuals are the main factor in this scenario. They play a huge role in making your website look appealing and professional. 

But, like many startup owners, you might not have a budget to hire a graphic designer. Nor there is a need to pay for high-priced stock images. 

Thankfully, you can eliminate this hurdle by using free tools like Canva. They are made for people who want to create attractive graphics without needing any design background. 

Here’s why Canva is ideal for startups:

  • Easy to use
  • Ready-to-use templates
  • Free and affordable options

If you are not satisfied with the images in the Canva database then there are various options to explore. Rather than paying for stock photos consider using these top sites for free images:

  1. Unsplash
  2. Pexels
  3. Pixabay
  4. Freepik
  5. Burst by Shopify

8. Testing and Launching Your Website

Once you have finished designing your website and have uploaded all the content the final step is to test it before launching. This will ensure that your website is functional, fast, and user-friendly. 

Below is a testing checklist on which you should focus. 

  1. Functionality Testing
  • Check all links are working
  • Test all the forms and buttons
  • Check for any interactive elements, like image sliders or embedded videos
  1. Speed Testing
  • Use Google PageSpeed Insights to test the speed of your website
  • If the speed is slow then optimize images and files. I would recommend using a combination of plugins i.e., WPRocket, Perfmatter, and Imagify. 
  1. Cross-Device and Cross-Browser Testing
  • Test your site on a variety of devices like smartphones, tablets, desktops, laptops, etc. 
  • Check your website from different browsers like Edge, Chrome, Firefox, Safari, etc. 

This will help you identify any potential issues regarding layout, structure, and readability.