The Very Simple Steps To Starting A Website (Even If You’re Not Techy)

Starting a website today is way easier and cheaper than most people think. You do not need to know how to code, and you do not need to be “good with computers.” If you can write an email, you can follow this guide.

This simple walkthrough will show you the basic steps to go from idea to a live website you can share. No tech jargon, no deep setup, just the parts that matter.

You can do the whole process in a day or a weekend. By the time you finish reading, you will know exactly what to do next to get your site online.

Get Clear On What Your Website Is For

Before you sign up for tools or buy anything, pause for a moment. A clear purpose keeps every other step simple. Your domain name, design, and content all get easier when you know what you want the site to do.

Think of your website like a small shop or a flyer. If you do not know what the shop sells, you will not know what to put in the window. The same idea applies online.

You do not need a perfect plan. You just need a simple one. One main goal, a simple topic, a basic list of pages. That is it.

Once those pieces are clear, choosing a platform, writing content, and hitting publish feels much lighter.

Decide the main goal of your website

Start with one main goal. Not ten, not even three. Just one.

Common goals for a new website:

Share a hobby or interest
Start a blog
Sell products
Offer services
Build a portfolio
Share info for a local group or club

You can always add more later, but one main goal helps you pick the right layout and tools.

Ask yourself, “What is the number one thing I want people to do on this site?”

Examples:

“I want people to book dog walking sessions.”
“I want people to read my blog posts about saving money.”
“I want people to contact me about tutoring.”

Write that goal in one short sentence on paper or in a notes app. This tiny step will guide every decision you make next.

Pick a simple topic and audience

Next, narrow your topic and decide who the site is for. A focused topic makes your website feel clearer and easier to plan.

Instead of “pets,” try “dog walking for busy owners in Chicago.”
Instead of “art,” try “portfolio site for a graphic design student.”

Think about:

What you want to talk about or offer
Who will care the most

Write it out in two quick lines:

“This site is for [who].”
“They want to find [what] when they visit.”

For example:

“This site is for parents in my neighborhood. They want to find simple info about my babysitting services and prices.”
“This site is for small local cafes. They want to see my past logo designs and contact me for new projects.”

You are not locking yourself into this forever. You are just giving your website a clear target for version one.

Make a quick wish list of pages

Now create a small wish list of pages. This prevents you from getting lost in endless options later.

Most beginners can start with 3 to 5 pages, such as:

Home
About
Services or Products
Blog or Gallery
Contact

You might not need all of these at first. For a basic service site, you could start with:

Home
About
Services
Contact

For a simple portfolio:

Home
Portfolio or Gallery
About
Contact

Write your page list next to your goal. Keep it simple. You can always add more pages once your site is live.

Choose a domain name and website platform the easy way

With your goal and page list ready, you can handle the two “tech” choices: your domain name and your platform. These choices do not have to be hard or expensive.

You need three basic pieces:

A domain name
A website platform or builder
Hosting (sometimes included with the platform)

We will keep each one light and clear.

Pick a simple domain name people can remember

A domain name is the address people type into their browser to visit your site, like yourname.com.

Good domain names are:

Short
Easy to spell
Easy to say out loud

A few quick tips:

Keep it as short as you can while still clear
Avoid numbers and hyphens if possible
Try to match your name or your main topic
Choose .com if you can, but .net or .co can work too

Examples:

chicagodogwalker.com
emilydesigns.com
northsideyogastudio.com

You can use any big registrar search tool to see what is available. If your first choice is taken, try simple changes, like adding your city or niche.

Decide if you want a website builder or WordPress

Next, you pick where you will build your site. There are two common options: an all in one website builder or self hosted WordPress.

Website builders (like Wix, Squarespace, or Shopify for stores):

You pay a monthly fee
Hosting is included
You use drag and drop tools
Good for beginners who want something quick and simple

WordPress (self hosted):

Software you install on a hosting account
Often a bit cheaper month to month
Offers huge control and many plugins
Better if you want lots of features or plan to grow big

If you just want a clean, basic website and you do not like tech, a website builder is usually the easiest path. If you enjoy tools and want more control, WordPress is a strong choice.

There is no “wrong” option here. Pick the one that feels less stressful.

Sign up for hosting and connect your domain

Your website files need a place to live. That place is called hosting.

With most website builders:

You pick a plan
Hosting is built in
You connect your domain inside their settings

They often have a simple guide that walks you through clicking a few buttons to connect your domain.

With self hosted WordPress:

You sign up with a hosting company
Many hosts offer a “one click WordPress install” button
After that, you connect your domain to your hosting account

If this part sounds scary, remember you do not have to do it all from memory. Your host or builder will have step by step prompts on screen. Take it one small step at a time.

Build your basic pages and get your website live

Now for the fun part. Time to turn those empty pages into a simple, real website.

You are not trying to build the most beautiful site on the internet. You are building a clear first draft that people can use and that you can improve later.

Choose a clean template and set your main menu

A template is a ready made design for your site. Most builders and WordPress themes give you many to choose from.

Pick a template that:

Looks clean, not crowded
Fits your main goal (portfolio, blog, local business, etc.)
Works well on phones

Avoid spending hours changing tiny details. You can adjust colors and fonts later. For now, keep it simple.

Set your main menu to match the page list you wrote earlier, for example:

Home | About | Services | Blog | Contact

Choose:

One main color that fits your brand or taste
One easy to read font for most text

Simple design beats fancy design that confuses visitors.

Write simple content for your core pages

You do not need flowery copy. Clear and honest words win.

Here is a basic plan for each core page:

Home page

In the first line, say who you are and what the site offers
- “I help busy Chicago dog owners with daily dog walks and pet care.”
Add one button or link for your main action, like “Book a walk” or “View my work”

About page

Share a short, friendly story in plain language
Explain who you are, why you do this, and how you can help the visitor

Services or Products

List what you offer in clear sections
For each item, explain what it is, who it helps, and the key details (price, how it works, or what is included)

Contact page

Include at least one clear way to reach you: contact form, email, or phone
Add your city or service area if that matters

For basic SEO, use natural keywords people might search, such as “dog walker in Chicago” or “freelance logo designer.” Put them in some headings and in the first few lines of the page, but write for humans first.

Add must have basics like contact, mobile view, and privacy

Before you hit publish, do a quick check.

Look over:

Contact options: Send a test email or form message to yourself
Mobile view: Open your site on your phone and tap through each page
Simple legal pages: Add a privacy policy and other basic pages your region might need

Most website platforms have built in templates or simple generators you can use for these legal pages. You do not need to write them from scratch.

Hit publish and share your new website

At some point, you have to stop tweaking and push the button.

Most platforms have a clear “Publish” or “Go live” button. Click it. Your site is now online.

To get your first visitors:

Send the link to friends and family
Add it to your social profiles
Put it in your email signature
Share it in a small local group if it fits

Treat this as version one. You can update text, images, and pages any time. The important step is to get it live.

Conclusion

Starting a website comes down to a few simple moves: set a clear goal, choose a basic topic and page list, pick a domain and platform, build a few key pages, then publish and share. Nothing in that list requires deep tech skills.

You do not need to wait for “someday.” You learn by doing and by making small updates over time. That is how every strong site grows.

Pick one next step right now. Maybe it is writing your one sentence goal, or spending 30 minutes today searching for a domain name. Do that one thing, and you will be much closer to your first live website than you were yesterday.