Building a Website Step by Step

Everybody has a website these days, but how do you even build one? In this article, I try to give a structured, easy to understand process of where to start building a website.

5/15/20252 min read

If you’re a small business owner in the US looking to build a website, the process can be broken down into four main steps: choosing a domain name, selecting hosting, building the site, and publishing. Here’s a detailed, up-to-date guide with the most popular options at each stage.

Step 1: Choosing and Registering a Domain Name

Pick a memorable, relevant domain name that reflects your business and is easy to spell.
Popular domain registrars for small businesses in the US include GoDaddy, Namecheap, IONOS, Hostinger, and Domain.com.
Many hosting providers (like Bluehost and Hostinger) offer a free domain for the first year when you sign up for hosting.

Step 2: Selecting Website Hosting

Shared hosting is the most common and affordable option for small businesses starting out.
Top hosting providers for small businesses in the US (based on popularity and reviews) are:
- Bluehost: Highly recommended for beginners, affordable, and includes a free domain and SSL certificate.
- SiteGround: Known for excellent customer support and reliability.
- HostGator: Affordable, scalable, and easy to use.
- Hostinger: Budget-friendly and offers an all-in-one website builder package.
- GoDaddy: Well-known for domain and hosting bundles.

Step 3: Building the Website

Website builders are the most popular way for small business owners to create a site without coding. The top choices in 2025 are:

Wix: Most popular all-in-one builder, very easy to use, with lots of templates and a free plan.
Squarespace: Great for design-focused businesses, excellent for online bookings and portfolios.
Shopify: Best for businesses focused on online sales.
Hostinger Website Builder: Easiest for beginners, includes hosting and domain in one package.
GoDaddy Website Builder: Good for quick setup and social media integration.
WordPress (with hosting from providers like Bluehost or SiteGround) is also extremely popular for small businesses needing more customization and scalability.

Step 4: Publishing and Maintaining the Site

Once built, preview and test your website for usability and mobile responsiveness.
Publish your site using your website builder or hosting provider’s tools-usually just a click away.
Maintain your site by regularly updating content, checking for broken links, and keeping plugins/themes up to date.

Most Popular Choices Statistically (US Small Businesses)

Quick Tips

Wix and Squarespace are statistically among the most popular website builders for US small businesses due to their ease of use and all-in-one packages.
Bluehost is often recommended for those wanting to use WordPress, which powers a large percentage of small business sites globally.
GoDaddy remains a dominant player for domain registration and bundled hosting solutions.

By following these steps and choosing from the most popular, well-supported platforms, you can efficiently launch a professional website for your small business that’s easy to manage and scalable as you grow.