Not too long ago, creating your own website meant hiring a developer or learning to code. But today, anyone can build a professional-looking, mobile-first website, without needing any technical knowledge. Whether you are starting a business, or simply creating a portfolio, you can design and customize a site via drag-and-drop, easy-to-use website builders, like the one offered by DomainKing.ng. In this post, we will share a step-by-step guide on how to build a website using this tool.

Step 1 – Choose your domain name

This is where it all begins. A domain name is the address people type into their browser to find your website (like www.domainking.ng). In the simplest terms, it’s your website’s unique name on the internet, and once you register it, nobody else can claim that same name for their website.

It’s important to pick a fitting domain name because it represents your brand, helps people remember your site, and makes you look professional. Here are some tips that’ll help you make the right call:

Simple, short, and sweet: Short, easy-to-spell names are better. Avoid special characters or numbers.
Relevance is key: Choose a name that embodies what your website is about, whether it’s a blog, a business, or a portfolio.
Go local with .ng: Choose a .ng domain to not only signify your local connection, but also rank higher in local search results.
Use keywords: Incorporate relevant keywords to help people find your website through search engines. For example, if you’re creating a website about Nigerian fashion, some good domain name ideas can be “NigerianFashion.ng” or “NaijaStyle.ng”.
Check availability: Once you have a name in mind, see if that domain name is available. If it’s not, consider variations. But remember, typos can confuse visitors, so it’s generally recommended to avoid them.

Step 2 – Select your hosting plan

If your website is a house, and the domain name is its address, then a website hosting is the land you’d be building it on. Web hosting services provide the storage space and technology needed to keep your website running and accessible 24/7.

Without hosting, people wouldn’t be able to visit your site. That is why choosing the right hosting plan is a must—it affects your website’s speed, reliability, and overall experience for visitors.

Different types of hosting plans

There are different types of hosting plans to choose from. For example:

Shared hosting: This is a basic, affordable option where your website shares server space with other sites. It’s a good choice if you’re just starting out with a blog or a small business site that doesn’t need a lot of dedicated computational resources.
WordPress hosting: This one is specifically built to make WordPress sites load faster and stay secure. It’s a great option if you plan to use WordPress to build your site and want a smooth, optimized setup.
Reseller hosting: Perfect for those who want to resell hosting services to others. You purchase a large amount of server space and then create sub-accounts for your clients. Note: If you are just interested in building a website for yourself, then a reseller hosting won’t be a viable option for you.

If you are based in Nigeria, we recommend checking out the hosting options offered by DomainKing.ng. They provide reliable hosting options for all types of sites.

Step 3 – Choose between a website builder and a CMS

At this stage, you need to decide how you’ll actually create your website. There’s no shortage of website development tools, but when we consider ease-of-use, two options stand out:

Website builder: A tool to create a website quickly with pre-made templates and easy drag-and-drop features. It’s perfect for beginners since you don’t need any coding knowledge. You can design and customize your site by simply choosing colors, fonts, and adding images or text where you want, all from a visual interface.
CMS (Content Management System): A CMS is a more advanced and flexible tool for building and managing a website. WordPress and Contentful are popular examples. CMSs allow you to create highly customizable sites, but they often come with a bit of a learning curve. Go with a CMS if you want to have maximum control over your site’s features, but are willing to put in some time to learn.

Why use DomainKing.ng’s website builder

If you are looking for the easiest, fastest, and most affordable way to create a modern, feature-rich website, then DomainKing.ng’s website builder is your answer. Here’s why:

No coding skills needed: DomainKing.ng’s website builder makes creating a website easy and accessible to everyone. With its drag-and-drop interface, you can design and customize a complete site—no coding skills needed.

Get started (and done) in no time: With pre-designed templates and drag-and-drop features, you can get your site up and running in just a few minutes.
Affordable: It costs far less than hiring a designer and a developer.
Mobile-friendly designs: All templates are mobile-responsive, so your site will look great on phones, tablets, and desktops.

Built-in SEO tools: Native SEO tools and analytics will help you improve your website’s search engine ranking and track its overall performance.

Step 4 – Design your website

Design is where your website starts to take shape. A well-designed site not only looks visually appealing but also makes it easier for people to navigate and find what they need. Here are some tips to design great websites:

Customize to make it your own: Choose a relevant template and then use your brand colors, logo, and unique images to give it a personal touch, and make it memorable. For example, here are some fashion-themed templates available via the DomainKing website builder:

Domain King's Site builder fashion themed templates

Focus on user experience: Keep the layout clean and simple, so that visitors can easily move around your site without confusion.
Ensure responsiveness: Your site should look good and work well on all devices—smartphones, tablets, and computers. With DomainKing.ng, you don’t need to worry about this; their website builder ensures that your site is automatically responsive.
Choose readable fonts: Select fonts that are easy to read. Avoid using too many font types, as this can make your site look messy. The DomainKing website builder offers several options to customize text; see this screenshot:

Domain King's Site builder - choosing the right font type

Limit colors: Stick to 2-3 main colors for a consistent look. Color overloads can be distracting and look unprofessional.
Add high-quality images: Use clear, high-quality images that complement your content well. Blurry or low-quality photos can make your site look less trustworthy.
Include a Call-to-Action (CTA): To make people stick around for longer, and/or boost conversions, every page should guide visitors on what to do next—whether that’s reading a blog post, contacting you, or making a purchase. DomainKing makes this easy to do, with so many built-in CTA button options available:

Domain King's Site builder - CTA button options

Step 5 – Add important pages and content

With the structure and design of your site now in place, it’s time to start adding content. Here are the main pages you should start with:

Home page: This is the first impression. Briefly explain who you are, what you offer, and why visitors should stay. Use clear headings, visuals, and a strong call-to-action.
About us Page: Share your story, mission, and what makes you unique. This is where visitors get to know you, so keep it friendly and authentic.
Services or products page: List your services or products, with short descriptions, key benefits, and prices if possible. Make it easy for visitors to understand what you offer.
Contact page: Include all the ways to reach you—phone, email, social media, or a contact form. If you’re a local business, add your address and map.
Blog (optional): A blog can help attract more visitors through useful content related to your industry. Share tips, news, or tutorials that add value for your audience, and establish you as a thought leader in the space.
Testimonials or reviews page: If you have positive feedback from customers, display it here to build trust and show credibility.

SEO best practices for content

While writing the content for your site, follow these simple SEO tips to rank high in search engine results:

Add keywords related to your business in titles, headers, and throughout your content, but avoid overloading them.
Google favors content that answers users’ questions and delivers tangible value. So, prioritize content quality and value-richness over everything else.
Each page should have a unique title and meta description that includes your main keyword. Moreover, break up sections with headers to make content easier to read and scan.
If you are using AI tools in your content workflows, make sure to fact-check and edit the generated content for accuracy and quality. Don’t publish AI-generated content directly as it can be off-putting, especially for the more informed readers.

Step 6 – Set up security for your website

Even though security steps often come later in the website-building process, they’re arguably the most important part of managing a website. Without proper security, your website will be vulnerable to hackers, malware, and data breaches, which can harm both your visitors and your reputation. Follow these tips:

Get an SSL certificate. It encrypts data shared between your site and visitors to protect information like passwords and payment details from hackers.
For your website’s admin panel and any other access points, use complex passwords that mix letters, numbers, and symbols. Avoid using defaults (e.g., admin, admin), common words, or personal info.
Create regular backups of your website to protect against data loss due to unforeseen incidents.
If you have multiple people logging into your site, give each user the minimum level of access they need to perform their tasks.
Keep your website’s software and plugins updated to the latest versions. This will ensure that you don’t miss out on any security patches, bug fixes, or latest features.

Step 7 – Launch and promote your site

You’re almost there! Before you make your website public, take a few final steps to verify that everything looks and works as it should.

Preview each page and section to double check that it looks the way you want. Check for any broken images, missing content, or layout issues.
Click through all the links, buttons, and navigation menus to validate that they’re working properly.
Go over your text to check for any spelling or grammar errors. Clear, error-free content makes your site look professional.
Ensure that your site loads quickly. Slow sites can lose visitors, so if you are having problems, consider using a speed optimization tool or plugin.
Confirm that your SSL certificate is active, security plugins are in place, and that you have a recent backup ready.

How to promote your site

Post-launch, you can leverage different techniques to bring visitors to your site:

Announce your website launch on social media. Post a link with a catchy description or a short introduction to let people know why they should visit.
If you have a contact list, send out an email introducing your website and its purpose.
Keep optimizing your content for relevant keywords. This will help people find your website through Google and other search engines over time.
If you’re a local business, register for a Google Business profile and list your website on Nigerian business directories to reach more people in your area.

Why choose DomainKing.ng’s website builder over hiring a web designer

As we mentioned earlier, for most Nigerian users starting out, DomainKing.ng’s website builder is a fantastic and cost-effective way to kickstart their online journeys. Let’s recap the key advantages:

Save on cost and time: It can be expensive to hire a web designer, especially if you’re just starting out. With DomainKing.ng’s website builder, you only pay a low monthly fee. Plus, you can build your site within minutes, instead of waiting weeks or months for a designer.
Hassle-free setup: The builder comes with drag-and-drop features, so you don’t have to worry about learning any complex tools. Just pick a template, add your content, and customize it to match your style.
Quality technical support: If you run into any issues, you can always count on the support team for instant help.

Conclusion

Tools like the DomainKing website builder have made it easier than ever before to build a website. Whether you are a business owner looking to establish a digital footprint, or a blogger wanting to share your thoughts with the world, you now have the power to create a professional-looking site in just a few clicks.

How to Build a Website in 7 Easy Steps: A Beginner’s Guide

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