One of the most frequent questions I get is “How much does a website cost?” A custom website job is pricey for a number of reasons: creation of custom graphics/look, time put into coding, making sure that the site works on multiple and popular browsers, and ensuring optimal search engine placement.
Obviously, if you’re just starting out, you probably don’t want to sink thousands into a custom website, so here’s what I recommend to my clients that want an affordable and effective website:
1. Web Hosting & Domain Name
Think of it as buying a house (web hosting provider) and having an address (domain name) so people know where to find you.
I highly recommend Dreamhost for website hosting. They are very affordable, the control panel is easy to navigate (easier setup for step 2), and you get an insane amount of storage space, bandwidth, and other features.
When you sign up with their webhosting service, the domain name registration is included. Make sure you pick a memorable domain name (web address) for your website!
2. Content Management System
With a Content Management System (CMS) installed on your website, there’s no need to “build” a website from scratch. The building blocks are there, and all you need to do is add content.
For this, I recommend the most popular CMS, Wordpress. And with Dreamhost, Wordpress is super easy to setup. Just log in, go to “1-click Installs”, select “Wordpress” and follow the additional steps that are given to finish your Wordpress setup.
The advantages of using Wordpress:
- Front page is your “blog” – keep your fans updated with daily posts
- Ability to add as many pages as you’d like (merch store, music, about, touring schedule, etc.)
- Update your website from your web browser
- There are a ton of free plug-ins that you can install for your particular needs (i.e. music players)
- There’s an endless list of free Wordpress themes that you can install to change the overall look of your website. (The Dreamhost package comes with a nice assortment.)
3. Wordpress Themes
Sure, you could choose one of the many free Wordpress themes out there, but if you really want a powerful and custom website, I recommend using The Thesis Theme for WordPress.
For $87, you’ll get the most robust, customizable and search engine optimized theme available on the market. You’ll also gain access to their support forums to ask questions (setup, adding graphics, etc.) and view online tutorials on how to take advantage of Thesis’ amazing features.
The Bounce Down uses The Thesis Theme, and as far as I’m concerned, the Search Engine Optimization alone is worth the asking price.
A Final Word On Website Design
Think about your favorite websites… they’re probably very simple in design and content driven, right? There’s no need to overload your website with a million graphics. Add a simple banner with your logo and focus on your content because that’s what will bring your fans/customers back for more.
The Really, Really, Really Easy Step-by-Step Guide to Building Your Own Website
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