Have You Created Your First Website?
Creating your first website can seem like a big headache.
But it doesn’t have to be that way.
With only three steps you can get closer to your goal.
The first step is determining the website’s features. If it’s your project, you can choose all the features you need. However, if you are working on a customer’s website, ask them some questions to get a better understanding of their needs.
Some of the questions you can ask are:
- What is the website capable of doing? (Displaying content, login/ signup, commenting, user-generated content)
- Who will be updating the website’s content?
- What’s their budget? (time and money)
- Do you have a specific website design
- Are you willing to use templates or themes?
Choosing the Right Technology for the Job
Next, you need to choose the technology.
The website development field is full of tools you can use to create websites.
Some of the tools require learning how to code, while others don’t.
1. No-Code Website Development
WordPress content management system(CMS) is commonly used to create blog-type websites, company or business websites, and e-commerce websites while writing zero lines of code.
WordPress CMS allows you to update websites’ content and design without touching code.
Even expert web developers can choose to use no-code tools for projects with tools that already meet their needs.
Ignore those who say WordPress is not for real developers.
2. Website Development With Code
When you dive into the world of code, you can build websites from scratch or use themes and templates.
Once you learn at least one coding language, you can confidently modify static websites.
I usually recommend starting with HTML before proceeding to CSS and Javascript.
If you later decide to go deeper, you can dive into backend languages(PHP, Python, Nodejs), website frameworks, static site generators, and Content Management Systems.
Website Hosting and Publishing
Finally, you will need to choose an “online” home for your website popularly called website hosting.
You can get paid WordPress Hosting like Bluehost as well as free WordPress hosting.
With HTML, CSS, Javascript, and static websites, you can get Netlify Hosting with a Generous Free plan.
For websites with Backend systems, you can use hosting services from DigitalOcean, Vultr, and Linode.
Conclusion
It is important to know a website is complete if it does what it is supposed to do.
As long as you(and your customer) are satisfied with the website you created, the tools don’t matter.
Useful Resources
1. How to Make a Simple Button in HTML & CSS
2. Modern CSS Button Examples From Popular Websites
