How To Publish a Website in 9 Easy Steps 

Key takeaways: 

• Publishing a website involves more than hitting “Publish”—you need a domain, hosting, and a connected platform. 
• You can use a website builder, a content system like WordPress, or build it from scratch with code. Choose what fits your comfort level, budget, and goals. 
• Before launching, plan your content, design your brand, and test everything. Then, help people find your site by submitting it to search engines and using SEO basics. 

Are you planning to put your website live but aren’t sure where to begin? You’re in the right place.  

Publishing your website means making it publicly accessible on the internet so people can visit, interact with, and explore it. This is the last step in bringing your online presence to life.  

The idea of launching a site might sound overwhelming–but don’t worry. This guide will break down the steps on how to publish a site confidently.  

Step 1. Choose how you want to build your website 

Before publishing your site, you’ll first need to decide how you want to build it. With today’s technological advancement, creating a website has never been easier and faster.  

Listed below are the main options on how to create your website and their benefits: 

Website builders 

Website builders are becoming more popular nowadays because of their quick and easy setup. Web builders offer drag-and-drop interfaces, pre-made templates, and built-in tools, which makes them ideal for beginners. On top of that, choosing a website builder to create your website doesn’t require you to have coding knowledge – just a few clicks and your website will be up and running!  

Pros: Web builders are user-friendly and allow for fast website set-up without technical skills needed.  

Cons: Despite being user-friendly, website builders also have their own limitations. Since they offer pre-made templates and built-in tools, they only have limited customization compared to coding.  

Content management systems (CMS) 

Another way to create your website is by utilizing tools, such as content management systems (CMS). One of the well-known examples of CMS is WordPress, a popular open-source platform with thousands of themes and plugins.  

A CMS is a powerful software used to create, manage, and organize website content with greater control and flexibility. However, unlike website builders, using CMS to create your website requires you to have a basic to intermediate technical understanding.  

Pros: Choosing CMS in creating your website can be advantageous as it is scalable, customizable, and has a large base of support community.  

Cons: The downside of CMS is that it has a slight learning curve since it may require you to manage plugins.  

Manually-coded websites 

If you’re up for a more challenging way of creating your website, then this option is for you. The last option to create a website is to manually create it through coding. This method will require you to use HTML, CSS, and possibly JavaScript to build your site from scratch. This approach is best suited for developers or businesses with custom needs.  

Pros: Opting for this method means you have total control and customization of your website.  

Cons: While it’s highly customizable, manually creating your website might be time-consuming and expensive since you’ll be hiring professional developers to build your website. 

In creating your website, it’s important to determine which option will work best for your business. You need to think of the pros and cons, and the possible outcome once you finally decide which method you will use to build your website.  

Step 2. Secure your domain name 

After carefully choosing which method to use in creating your website, it’s time to get your website a unique domain name. A domain name is your website’s unique address (e.g., yourbusiness.com), and it’s how people will find you.  

It’s important to register a domain that’s short, memorable, and relevant so your brand stands out in the competitive marketplace. Make sure you choose a domain that fits your brand’s purpose and values so you can instantly send a message to your potential customers.  

You can buy your domain through a domain registrar accredited by the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN). 

While .com is the most recognized and popular domain in the market, newer options like .store, .design, or .solutions will surely help you display a distinct online presence. New options can help you enhance your branding and specificity, improve memorability, location targeting, and more.  

Step 3. Choose a reliable hosting plan 

Now that you have secured your domain name, it’s time to choose a reliable hosting provider that stores your website files and makes them accessible online. Below are the most common types of web hosting plans, their features, and benefits.  

Hosting type	Definition	Best suited for	Pros	Cons
Shared hosting	Choosing this option means your website lives with other sites on one server, sharing resources.	This option is best suited for beginners, personal blogs, and small sites with lighter traffic.	Since this hosting type is fully dedicated to your website, you have full control over the server, maximum resources, and maximum performance with enhanced security.	Because you’re sharing one server, you’ll have limited resources and less control. Additionally, your website’s performance can be affected by other factors.
WordPress hosting	This type of hosting is specifically designed for WordPress sites, and it often comes with extra features.	WordPress hosting is an ideal option for WordPress users of all sizes seeking optimized performance and support.	This hosting type is pre-configured for WordPress, which often includes WP-specific tools and support.	This type of hosting is ideal for high-traffic websites and large businesses that need maximum control and power.
VPS hosting	Opting for this hosting type means you get a virtual private server – a dedicated portion of a physical server. This means you have more control and resources.	This is an ideal choice for growing businesses and sites that need more control and resources.	VPS hosting gives you more control and resources than shared hosting. Additionally, it has better performance and security.	Choosing VPS hosting means you need to have technical knowledge on how to manage resources. To add, opting for this type of hosting can be expensive.
Dedicated hosting	Choosing a dedicated web hosting means renting the entire physical server just for your website. This means you have all the control in customization, and you have more resources.	Since this hosting type is fully dedicated to your website, you have full control over the server, maximum resources, and maximum performance with enhanced security.	Since this hosting type is fully dedicated to your website, you have full control over the server, maximum resources and maximum performance with enhanced security.	Dedicated h hosting is the most expensive hosting since it requires you to have significant technical expertise to manage it.

Step 4. Connect your domain to your website 

Right after you secure your domain and set up your hosting, the next thing you’ll need to do is connect your domain to your website. This is what makes your website publicly accessible when someone types in your domain name. 

To connect your domain to your website, you have to configure your domain name system settings first.  The DNS acts as the Internet’s phonebook. When someone enters your domain name, the DNS decodes it into a numerical IP address that points to your web server. If your DNS isn’t properly set up, your domain won’t know where to send visitors.  

There are two (2) DNS settings you need to update:  

• Nameservers. These direct your domain to the right hosting provider. If your hosting provider is Network Solutions, you’ll use our nameservers (e.g., ns1.networksolutions.com) 
• A Records. This DNS setting connects your domain to your website’s actual IP address. It ensures that when someone searches your domain, they land on your website and not on a blank page or error screen.  

Common issues when connecting your domain 

Even with the right setup, things could sometimes go wrong. However, staying calm and following the steps below will help fix issues immediately: 

• Your site isn’t loading? Always check that your nameservers are pointing to the correct hosting provider. If you’re switching from a previous host, it’s possible that the old nameservers are still active.  
• Changes not appearing yet? DNS changes don’t take effect immediately. It usually takes 24 to 48 hours before changes are fully propagated across the internet. This process is called DNS propagation, and it’s completely normal. 
• Secure connection errors (HTTPS)? If you see a warning when you’re trying to visit your site, make sure you’ve installed an SSL certificate and that your DNS records include the appropriate setting for secure access.  

Step 5. Plan your website content 

As you continue building your site, you also need to create a website content plan so you can design what type of content you need and how it will be delivered effectively. 

A website content plan is a strategy that governs all the content published under your website. Through this plan, you can ensure that all your content is cohesive, addresses your audience’s needs, and aligns perfectly with your brand.  

Here’s a step-by-step guide to get you started with a website content plan:  

• Identify your website’s goal. What is the main goal of your website? Do you want to sell something? Share information? Get leads? Identifying your goals will help you ensure that your content efforts are measurable and aligned with your objectives.  
• Define your audience. Who’s it for? Every post should directly speak to your core audience. Address what they are looking for and provide solutions to their problem through your site’s content.  
• Create a sitemap. Develop a logical framework for your website’s content and point out the important sections and their interrelationships. Creating a sitemap would allow you to visualize this structure. 
• Generate content inventory. For each identified section, strategically enumerate potential content topics. This phase should prioritize comprehensiveness over selectivity. 
• Implement search engine optimization (SEO). Point out the relevant keywords that prospective users look for in online searches. Incorporating these words strategically will enhance your discoverability. Maximizing tools like Google Keyword Planner can be helpful in this process. 
• Diversify your content formats. Plan for a variety of content delivery methods for your website. This can include blogs, visual media, and even interactive elements. This approach can help you cater to diverse user preferences, which helps increase engagement.  
• Establish a content calendar. Implement a schedule for creation and publication for your website’s content. Following a content calendar ensures the timely and consistent deployment of your website’s content.  
• Implement quality assurance. Before publishing your content, make sure to have every piece checked to ensure clarity, accuracy, and alignment with established objectives.  

Step 6. Design and brand your website 

Once you have secured the technical matters of your website, it’s time to start designing and branding it. Here’s a breakdown to effectively design and brand your website: 

• Define your brand identity. Clearly point out your brand’s purpose and core beliefs. Also, determine the tone of voice you want to convey (e.g. friendly, professional, playful). 
• Craft your visual identity. To leave a mark online, creating a logo, choosing the right color palette, and typography are all important. Choose a limited color scheme (2-3 primary colors) that reflects your brand. Select readable fonts that go with your brand’s personality and maintain this consistency across all website elements.  
• Prioritize intuitive user experience. Make sure to design your website for easy navigation and seamless flow across all devices (mobile-first). 
• Embrace a sleek and focused design. Don’t exaggerate the design of your website. Focus on simplicity and clarity to highlight your key message and avoid overwhelming visitors.  
• Maintain consistent visual elements. Apply your brand’s visual identity uniformly across all website content and pages.  
• Implement effective and clear calls to action. Don’t forget to guide users with clear prompts and continuously refine your website based on the feedback and data you received.  

Step 7. Test your website 

Ensure to check the following before going live so your website can perform seamlessly when some types in your domain. 

• Test all links. Make sure internal and external links work correctly. 
• Check for mobile responsiveness. Your site should look great on phones and tablets. 
• Fix typos or grammar issues. First impressions matter! 
• Optimize images. Keep file sizes reasonable for fast loading times. 
• Verify SSL certificate. Make sure your site shows as secure (HTTPS) in browsers. 

Step 8. Launch your website 

When your website is finished and ready for an audience, you can hit the Publish button for it to go live. Keep in mind that the method you use to upload your content depends on how your website was built.  

Let’s break it down: 

• Website builder 

If you used a website builder, the process is as simple as it gets. Once your website design is ready, click the Publish button.  

Your website goes live instantly using the domain you’ve connected to.  

Choosing a website builder to create your website is a one-click solution designed to remove the technical guesswork. 

• WordPress 

Built your site with WordPress? Here’s what to do: 

1. Log in to your WordPress dashboard. 
2. Navigate to your page or post. 
3. Click Publish (or Update if you’re making changes). 
4. Your content will be live on your domain within seconds. 

Make sure your WordPress hosting is active and correctly linked to your domain through DNS settings. 

• Manual upload for HTML/CSS or coded sites 

If you built your website manually using HTML, CSS, or other coding frameworks, you’ll need to upload your site files directly to your hosting server using: 

• FTP (File Transfer Protocol) tools like FileZilla 
• Network Solutions cPanel, which provides direct file upload access 

Make sure your root folder (often named public_html) contains your homepage file (typically index.html) for the site to display properly. 

Step 9. Make your website discoverable 

Publishing your website is just the beginning. To draw visitors, you must make your website available on search engines like Google and Bing. 

Submit your sitemap via Google Search Console 

Google Search Console is a free tool that helps you get your website listed on Google. Here’s how it can help you get discovered: 

1. Visit Google Search Console. 
2. Add your domain as a property. 
3. Submit your XML sitemap (yourdomain.com/sitemap.xml) 
4. Monitor indexing and keyword performance. 

Submit your sitemap via Bing Webmaster Tools 

Bing Webmaster Tools does the same for Bing. Here’s how you set up your site after it’s verified: 

1. Go to Bing Webmaster Tools 
2. Add your site and verify ownership. 
3. Submit your sitemap and review insights. 

Search engines can index your website more quickly and better when you submit it, which is very useful for new domains. 

Apply SEO basics to improve visibility 

Following some basic SEO best practices can truly boost your site’s visibility and help it rank higher. To get your site noticed, here are some of the tips you can follow:  

• Use keyword-rich titles and meta descriptions for each page. 
• Structure your content with proper headers (H1, H2, H3) to help both users and search engines navigate your site. 
• Write helpful, high-quality content that answers your target audience’s questions. 
• Keep your content updated to show search engines that your site is active and trustworthy. 
• Include internal links between pages and external links to credible sources when appropriate. 

Common roadblocks when publishing a website (and how to fix them) 

We know launching a website doesn’t always go off without a hitch. Here are some common issues users face—and how to solve them quickly: 

The website isn’t showing in search results 

• Submit your site to Google Search Console and Bing Webmaster Tools. 
• Make sure your robots.txt file isn’t blocking crawlers. 

The website is slow or timing out 

• Optimize large image files. 
• Minimize unnecessary scripts or plugins. 
• Consider upgrading to a more robust hosting plan if traffic is increasing. 

 The website won’t upload properly 

• Check that file names are correct and organized properly in your server directory. 
• Avoid using special characters or spaces when saving filenames.

Launch your website with Network Solutions  

Now that you’ve learned the essential steps to publish your website—whether it’s choosing the right platform, securing a domain, or optimizing for SEO—you’re fully equipped to get your site up and running. 

At Network Solutions, we offer everything you need to bring your site to life. Choose from a range of affordable hosting plans, find the perfect domain name that suits your brand, and use our easy-to-use website builder to design a site that fits your vision. Ready to make your website a reality? We’re here to support you every step of the way. 

Frequently asked questions