So, you’ve got yourself a domain name? Brilliant! You’re now one step closer to building your brand online — be that to show off your skills as a freelancer or to sell your products and services as a small business.
From here, getting your website live really isn’t as tricky or as time-consuming as you might think. Let’s take a look at what comes next.
Let’s get ready to build your site
When you register a domain name from 123 Reg, we can help you get started with a free one-page website. Why do you need a one-page website? Well, businesses worldwide have been creating Coming Soon pages for years to let their audience know they’ll soon be online and to create buzz at the same time. Before diving in, think about your site’s structure and what pages you need.
For a simple business site, you might only need:
- Homepage
- About/company info
- Contact page
- News or blog
If you’re selling products, you’ll also want product pages, an order form, and maybe a help or support page.
What to know now you’ve got a domain
Before jumping into building your site, it’s worth getting familiar with a few simple terms. Don’t worry – they’re easy to understand and will help you make better choices as you go.
☐ What is web hosting?
Hosting is where your website “lives”. It stores all your content and delivers it to visitors when they type in your web address. Without hosting, your site can’t go live.
☐ What is a website builder?
A website builder is a simpler way to get your site online – no tech skills needed. Just choose a design you like, customise it with your words and photos, and hit publish. Hosting’s built in, so everything’s in one place.
We may be a little biased, but 123 Reg’s Website Builder is one of the best options around. More on that later.
☐ What is WordPress?
WordPress is a popular tool (CMS, or content management system) that helps you build and manage your website without needing to know any code. It’s often included with hosting plans and gives you lots of flexibility, especially if you want to blog or grow your site over time.
1. Start building
Depending on your skills and budget, you’ve got a few options when it comes to taking that new domain name online.
A. With Website Builder
The easiest option is to use a tool like 123 Reg Website Builder to create your site.
Just pick a design you like, customise it with your own words and images, and publish it with a few clicks.
No coding or tech setup needed — it’s all taken care of. Just choose a template, make it yours, and go live. All templates are responsive too, so your site will look great on phones, tablets and desktops.
If you’re looking to create a full-featured ecommerce website, then you should opt for Online Store Builder, which offers all the benefits of a website builder combined with the tools you need to sell worldwide.
See also: How Can I Make an E-commerce Website?
B. With Managed WordPress
WordPress is one of the most popular tools for creating websites, blogs, and even online shops. While WordPress itself is free to use, you’ll need a host to get your website online.
That’s where Managed WordPress Hosting comes in – it includes extra features like automatic updates, backups, and security, so you can focus on building your site without worrying about the tech stuff in the background.
Learn more about Managed WordPress Hosting from 123 Reg
C. Build it yourself from scratch
If you’re a more advanced user and comfortable with code, you can also build your site from scratch using HTML, CSS, or any other tools you like. Just don’t forget — you’ll still need web hosting to get online.
Hosting stores your website files and makes them accessible to the world. Most packages include useful extras like email, security features, and one-click installs for WordPress and other popular apps.
This option’s great if you’re confident with tech and want complete control over your site.
Learn more about Web Hosting from 123 Reg
2. Get your site online with hosting
Once your site’s ready, it needs hosting to go live. If you’re using Website Builder or Online Shop, hosting is included. Otherwise, look out for:
- Entry-level hosting for simple sites (10MB+ storage is enough)
- Upgrade options as your site grows
- Unlimited bandwidth for larger sites with high traffic
- Reliable support and security from your hosting provider
3. Set up your professional email
You’ll probably want a professional email address that matches your domain. Still using your old Yahoo email? Might be time to let it go.
This is your business now – and setting up email on your own domain shows you’re serious. You can use it to stay organised, manage contacts, track tasks and sync calendars.
You can buy professional email on its own, or get it free with Website Builder and most hosting plans.
See also: Why Every Business Needs a Professional Email Address
Don’t forget your SSL certificate
An SSL certificate is what gives your website that little padlock icon in the browser — and more importantly, it keeps any data sent between your site and its visitors secure.
These digital credentials are a must if you’re selling online or asking for contact details. It builds trust with customers and helps you get found on search engines, too.
Luckily, Website Builder and most hosting plans from 123 Reg come with an SSL certificate as standard, so you don’t have to set it up separately. Just check it’s enabled and you’re good to go.
What next?
Getting your website live is just the start. Here’s what to do next:
☐ Optimise for search engines so people can find you.
☐ Make sure you set up a Google Business Profile so customers can more easily find you online — and on Google Maps.
☐ Start a blog and use social media to build your reputation and share useful content.
☐ Consider using pay-per-click (PPC) ads to drive more traffic. Check out our guide to the biggest ads platform, Google Ads.
☐ If want more data about your performance, set up Google Analytics to see how your site’s doing.
Wrap up
Getting online doesn’t have to be a headache. With Website Builder, it’s quick, simple and actually pretty fun. Before you know it, you’ll have a site that shows off your brand and helps people find you online.
