A free, plain-English guide for a new business that isn't online yet. No jargon, no upsells — just the steps, in order. Most owners finish this in one afternoon.
Your domain is your address on the internet (like yourbusiness.com). Buy it yourself so you own it — never let a designer or a company register it under their name.
You don't need to write code. Any of these will do for a first site:
Start with a template close to your trade and swap in your own words and photos.
Use real photos of your work and your shop where you can. Real beats fancy, every time.
In your builder's settings there's a "connect a domain" option. Pick it, sign in to where you bought the domain, and follow the prompts. It usually takes 10–30 minutes of clicking, and the connection itself can take up to a day to spread across the internet — that's normal.
Open your Google Business Profile, edit it, and paste your website into the website field — that's what makes the link show up when people find you on Maps and Search. Add the same link to your Facebook and Instagram bios.
Most of your customers will see your site on a phone first. Open it on yours: is the number tappable, does everything fit the screen, does it load fast? If yes, you're live. You can improve it a little at a time from here — a simple site that exists beats a perfect one that doesn't.
I'm Dylan, a local website designer here in Salt Lake County. For new businesses I'm running a simple launch offer:
$199 — I build your first website for you (using the mockup I sent, adjusted however you want it), and put it live on your own domain, usually within about a week. And my first 3 customers pay $99.
You own the domain and the site — no lock-in, and if you ever want to move it, I'll hand you everything. Optional upkeep is available if you want it, but it's never required.
Just reply to my email and say the word. And if you'd rather do it yourself with the steps above — genuinely, good luck, I hope it brings you customers.