How to Start Building a Website: A Beginner’s Guide to a Solid Foundation

Building your first website can feel overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to be. With the right tools and setup, you can launch a professional, secure, and accessible site that’s easy to manage and grow. Whether you’re starting a blog, online portfolio, or small business site, this guide will walk you through the essential first steps.

1. Choose a Reliable Hosting Service

Your hosting provider is the foundation of your website’s performance and reliability. Look for a host that offers:

• Excellent uptime (99.9% or better)
• Fast load times
• Responsive support
• Free SSL certificates
• Easy WordPress installation

InMotion Hosting has been my go-to hosting service for years.  I’ve tested the others with my largest, highest traffic site and InMotion was hands down the best performing. 

2. Install WordPress (Or Your Preferred CMS)

Once you have hosting set up, most providers offer 1-click WordPress installation. WordPress powers over 40% of the web and is beginner-friendly while still being flexible enough for advanced development.

3. Install a Backup Plugin

Did you ever see the meme that had the devil and Jesus both feverishly typing away at a document.  When their computers both crashed, the devil agonized over the loss of his work.  Jesus looked up and smiled.  Jesus saves! 🙂

You too need to save your work my friend.  A backup plugin protects your hard work in case something goes wrong—such as a plugin conflict, malware attack, or user error.  Pro Tip:  always perform a back up before making theme or plugin updates.  Ask me how I know…

My Recommended Backup Plugin:

UpdraftPlus – Easy to use and allows you to store backups in Google Drive, Dropbox, or email. Schedule automatic backups to stay safe without lifting a finger. 

4. Install a Security Plugin

Security is non-negotiable. A quality security plugin helps block malware, brute-force attacks, and suspicious logins.  Yes even your tiny little website that has zero traffic is a target for malicious intruders. 

My Recommended Security Plugin:

Wordfence – Offers firewall protection, login security, and malware scanning. The free version is powerful and suitable for most small sites.

5. Add an Accessibility Plugin

Approximately 20% of website users may have some form of disability. This estimate is based on the fact that around 20% of the US population has a disability, and it’s reasonable to assume similar proportions online, according to Mightybytes. An accessible website ensures everyone, including users with disabilities, can navigate and interact with your site effectively. This not only improves user experience but also supports legal compliance. 

My Recommended Accessibility Plugin:

Accessibe – Provides a simple toolbar with font size adjustments, contrast toggles and many other accessible adjustments.  And the biggest benefit with Accessibe is that if you receive a demand letter for failure to comply, they represent you.  It’s money well spent.  There are free plugins available as well.  Be sure to have something though.

6.  Privacy and Cookie Policies

Another must have on a website, especially if your business is in California.  The privacy compliance laws are continually changing and getting stricter.

My Recommended Compliance Provider:

Termly — also not free but they too will represent you in the event you receive a demand letter.  I’ve had clients receive them over petty things.  Termly handled everything. Free options are available from other providers.  Just make sure you have something.  

7. Set Up a Child Theme

If you’re using a pre-made WordPress theme (which most people do), a child theme lets you safely customize your site’s appearance and functionality without losing changes during theme updates.

The easiest way to create a child theme is with a plugin.  You can do it using code but for most people, the plugin is the simple solution.

Final Thoughts

Starting a website is a smart move for your personal brand or business, and laying the right foundation is crucial. With quality hosting, essential plugins, and a properly set-up child theme, you’ll avoid common pitfalls and set yourself up for success.

Need help setting up your site? Let’s chat! I help small businesses build websites that are secure, optimized, and built to grow.