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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.

Ready to build a Website?