Starting a website can feel intimidating at first, but it gets simple fast once you understand the basics.
A live website needs two core pieces: a domain name (your web address) and
web hosting (where your website files live).
After that, you’ll use a website builder to design your pages. Most beginners choose an easy online builder
(like our Website Builder) or WordPress. More advanced websites can be built with custom code or desktop tools,
but those options usually require more time, cost, and experience.
One important tip: some website builder services lock you in by making it difficult to move your site later.
Web Host Pro avoids those tactics. You keep control of your domain and your website, and essentials like SSL are not used as surprise add-ons.
To start a website, you need a domain and hosting. The domain is your address (like example.com). Hosting is the server that stores your site. Once your domain points to your hosting, your website can be reached online.
Domain registration reserves a name (like yourbusiness.com) so it can point to your website. Without a domain name, visitors would need to use a server IP address or a subdomain. After registration, you connect the domain to your hosting so it loads your site.
A web host stores your website files and delivers them to visitors over the internet. Hosting runs on servers that stay online 24/7, so your site is available anytime. A simple way to think about it is: hosting is the “home” your website lives in.
There are four common hosting types:
shared hosting, reseller hosting, VPS, and
dedicated servers.
The main differences are performance, resources, and how much control you need.
For beginners, shared hosting is often the easiest place to start. As your traffic grows, many websites
upgrade to VPS or dedicated servers for more power and flexibility.
A dedicated server is a full physical server reserved for one customer. It offers maximum control and performance, and it’s ideal for large websites, high traffic, or advanced custom setups. Dedicated servers typically require more technical management than beginner hosting.
A VPS (virtual private server) is like having your own server space inside a larger server or cloud cluster. It offers more power and control than shared hosting. VPS plans are a common upgrade for growing sites, but they usually come with more responsibility than shared hosting.
Reseller hosting lets you host multiple websites under one main account, then create separate accounts for clients or projects. It’s popular with agencies, freelancers, and anyone managing multiple websites that need separate access.
Shared hosting places your website on a server alongside other websites, with resources shared between accounts. It’s usually the most affordable option and a great starting point for beginners. Higher-quality shared hosting limits the number of sites per server to keep performance strong.
Free web hosting is usually a form of shared hosting with strict limits and fewer features. It can work for a simple personal page, but it often lacks performance, reliability, and professional tools. Many free services also restrict scripts and features you may want later.
Hosting a website from your home computer is possible, but it comes with major downsides: security risk, maintenance time, power usage, and reliability issues. It can be a learning project, but it’s rarely the best long-term option for a business website.
Most beginners start with shared hosting or a website builder, then upgrade as their site grows. If you’re building your first site, the best approach is to launch something simple, learn the basics, and improve over time.
Tip: Choose a platform you can move later (domain control + export options) so you’re never locked in.
Let’s see what you remember. No stress, just fun.