How To Create Your Own Website

Description

If you've always wanted to build a personal or business website , this course is going to teach you exactly what you need to know. 

The Quick Start Website is a step-by-step video tutorial course to help you get your first WordPress website up and running. It is a thorough overview of the WordPress interface and is designed for small business owners, self-employed professions and any other individuals who want to build their attractive, high quality websites, quickly.

In order to create a self-hosted WordPress website, under your own domain name, you will need to purchase a domain name and web hosting, though we will show you exactly what you need to do to set that up.

Typically domains will cost you $10 per year and web hosting will cost between $7-10 per month (though I can get you 25%%%% off!). You will be able to use the same hosting account for all your websites, both business and personal.

I will show you how to install WordPress onto your web hosting account. How to customize WordPress by changing the theme/ colours to match your business brand or mood, adding extra functions with plugins and widgets and add custom images and logos.

I will teach you to create the 5 key pages that a website should have. Each page we create contains different functions which can be used on ANY page of your site such as adding images, video, contact forms, Google maps, testimonials, Social Media Icons, plus much more

Who Is This Course For?

If you've always wanted to get a website for your business or for a personal interest then this is going to be the course for you.

If you already have a WordPress website and you have some features which you would like to add, but you don't know how to, then this course will help you - I am also happy to make extra tutorials for anything not covered in the course!

Beginners who want to get their off-line business on-line

It Is Probably Not For You If:

• You are very proficient with WordPress already, though there is a chance that you may learn something new!

Who is the target audience?

• Introductory/ Beginner
• Intermediate

Requirements

• Computer (Mac or Windows), Internet Connection
• No prior knowledge - just a desire to have a website!

What Will I Learn?

• Be able to register a domain name and change its nameservers
• Be able to sign up for web hosting
• Be able to install WordPress
• Be able to customise WordPress

Curriculum For This Course Expand All Collapse All 31 Lectures 04:41:09 + – Welcome To The Course 2 Lectures 04:34 An introduction to the course and what it includes. Welcome & Introduction To The Course Preview 04:34 The Quick Start Website Planner helps you to gather all the important information for your website to save you time later on. This planner guides you through the creating on the 5 most common pages on a website: Home Page, Contact, About Me/Us, Testimonials,  Products/Services. Quick Start Website Planner 10 pages + – Domain Names 2 Lectures 13:50 Background information on Domain names, answering questions such as: What is a Domain Name?, Why do I need one?, How do I get one?, How long so I register it for?, What if I already have one? Bit Of Background - Domain Names 04:44 Lecture Objective: By the end of this lecture you will be able to register a domain name with a domain name registrar.
I will show you step-by-step (using screen capture) through the choosing and registering process so that you know exactly what to do. Domain name registrars are pretty similar in the way that they operate so this knowledge is transferable. I have used GoDaddy in this lecture as is the main registrar that I use. It is based in the US but can be used in other countries too (I am in the UK). Domain Registrars: GoDaddy 
Namecheap 

• • • 123 Reg

 

How To Register a Domain Name For Your Website Preview 09:06 + – Choosing and Signing Up for Web Hosting 4 Lectures 17:51 Background information on web hosting, such as: What does a hosting company/ web host do?, How do I choose a good one? What if I already have a hosting account? Bit of Background - Web Hosting 02:32

Lecture Objectives: To enable you to sign up for a web hosting account (using Hostgator)

In this video I will show you how to sign up for webhosting with Hostgator using an existing domain name. I like to use Hostgator as is uses CPanel (so it is really easy to install WordPress), it has a reliable service, with 24-7 chat support and it's packages allow unlimited domains, unlimited disk space and unlimited bandwidth.

Don't forget to use promo code: QuickStart25 (25% off) or QuickStart994 ($9.94 off)!

Resources

Hostgator *

Disclaimer

I sometimes use *affiliate links on my courses. This means if you decide to make a purchase, I will get a sales commission - it doesn't cost you any more to buy this way (in fact you can save money). But that doesn't mean my opinion is for sale. EVERY affiliate link on this site are to products that I've used and found useful. Please do your own research before making any purchase online.

How Get Web Hosting For Your Website Preview 08:36 Lecture Objective: Be able to log in to your web host's control panel (cPanel)

In this video I will show you how to log in to cPanel which is the control panel which allows you to control different aspects of your web hosting. I use Hostgator as my web host but any host that uses cPanel will operate in a similar way.

How To Log In To Your Web Host's Control Panel Preview 03:16

Lecture Objective: To enable you to setup email addresses using your own domain name

In this video we show you how to set up free email addresses using the already purchased/ owned domain name with Hostgator's CPanel and then to forward it to another email account. Emails which contain your domain name look more professional than a free email address. 

Tip: If you do not want to have the web hosting but require a business email address you can choose to add on an email address when you register your domain. 

How To Set Up Email Addesses Using Your Own Domain Name 03:27 + – Changing Name Servers (For Domain NOT Registered with Web Host) 1 Lecture 03:03

Lecture Objective: To enable you to get your domain name to point to your web hosting (changing nameservers) - NEW for 2017

(You do not need to do this if you registered your domain with your web host)

In this video you will be shown how to change the nameservers of your domain address to point to your web host - this means that if you buy a domain from a one domain name registrar you can then buy your web hosting from another provider - and just change the location that your domain points to.

What is a nameserver?

You could say that in basic terms that a nameserver is the Internet’s equivalent of a phone book. Nameservers make it possible for an Internet visitor to access your website using a domain name (the name of your site), instead of having to remember a series of numbers (like phone numbers), this makes finding websites much easier and more accurate. 

Information specifying which domain name matches which IP address is maintained in a directory by a nameserver.

When you set up your web hosting account you will be emailed the details of your login information plus your nameservers for that account.

I usually register my domain names with GoDaddy but buy my web hosting from Hostgator. Changing the nameservers is easy. You only need to login your 'My Account' where you purchased your domain name and change the nameservers to the settings that your web host gave you. In this video I show you where you can find your nameserver information and how to set the domain settings with them.

How To Get Your Domain To Point To Your Web host (Changing Nameservers) - NEW 03:03 + – Installing and Setting Up WordPress 6 Lectures 50:18 Lecture Objective: How To Install WordPress Using cPanel - Fantastico And QuickInstall MethodsIn this video I will  walk you through installing WordPress onto your domain, and within a separate directory. The easiest way to do this is with Fantastico Deluxe which is found within CPanel. I demonstrate this using Hostgator's CPanel. I will also cover the Quick Install method too. Installing Wordpress With Your Web Host's cPanel 13:14 Lecture Objective: Enable you to install WordPress is unable to do it through your web host's cPanel

Installing WordPress Manually (If NOT using cPanel) 15 pages Lecture Objective: Be able to log in to WordPress Control Panel In this video you will be shown how to log in to Wordpress's control panel which is where you create posts, pages and change the way your site looks and works. Open your internet browser and type in your domain name followed by /wp-admin e.g. privatetutoring.me/wp-admin and press 'Enter'
NB. If you installed WordPress into a separate directory (e.g. blog) then you will need to include that in the URL  e.g. privatetutoring.me/blog/wp-admin Now put in your username and password which were set up in the installation process. 
Roboform (saves your usernames and passwords)

Log Into The Wordpress Dashboard (Administration Area) 04:07 Lecture Objective: To familiarise you with the different parts of the WordPress interface and how it affects your website. Introduction To The WordPress Administration Dashboard 21:15 Lecture Objective: To enable you to update plugins and themes, and upgrade your WordPress version.  Dealing with Updates - Plugins, Theme & WordPress 06:27 Lecture Objective: How to Change the Permalinks (Permanent URLs) of Your Website

What is a permalink? A permalink is the name for a permanent URL (or the link to the website or page etc.) As a default in WordPress the URLs are made up of a combination numbers and question marks, which does not make them very user friendly.  You can change the way that this is displayed and it is recommended that you change the way they are displayed before entering any content onto your website.

If you do not change the permalinks then you will have a page name which does not really say much about the page. If you give someone the link without changing the permalinks it will read something like http://jennifersbailey.com/?page_id=12, - not very pretty nor user friendly. By customising the permalinks will mean that the page will automatically take on the page name - now the same page’s URL is http://jennifersbailey.com/about-me. Much better!

It is possible to edit each permalinks later, for example if you move your posts or pages, but for the sake of ease it is better the change the settings before you add content so all of the future permalinks use the same format.

Getting SEO Friendly Links (Changing Permalinks/Permanent URLs) 05:15 + – Quick Start Customisation & Content 14 Lectures 02:32:40 Lecture Objective: To be able to choose and install a WordPress theme (upload, search and featured methods).

For more info about Weaver II (free theme)

For more info about Experts Theme (premium theme)

Can't find your logo's colours? Upload the image here and it gives you the colour codes: http://imagecolorpicker.com/

Choosing & Changing The WordPress Theme 08:49 Introduction to Weaver II Theme 03:44 Lecture Objective: Install plugins using 'search', 'uploaded' or featured plugins. Ultimate TinyMCE (free) can be downloaded from here. It is also listed in the 'Popular' list of plugins so you don't have to upload it if you don't want to. Ultimate TinyMCE Pro (premium) can be downloaded here . (Aff link) Installing WordPress Plugins (Adding Extra Functions) 10:45 Lecture Objective: To quickly customise your theme - choose from many sub themes, change the background colour & image, change the header, choose from static front page or post page. How To Quickly Customise The WordPress Theme 12:02 Lecture Objective: To create the 5 key pages that a website is likely to have: Home Page, Contact Us, About Us, Testimonials, Products/ Services.
This lecture is about adding the navigational structure of the website and the type of content that is suggested for each page. In future videos I will cover adding content.  Create Basic Website Structure (Adding Pages) 10:12 Lecture Objective: To add a contact information, a contact form (plugin) and a Google map (plugin) to a page or post. 
In this lecture I will show you how to set up a contact page that contains a contact form which emails visitors' messages to you (Contact Form 7), a Google Map displaying your business location (WP Google Maps) and how to add them to your 'Contact' page. I also cover how to get the information to display in two columns.   Adding Content - Contact Us Page (Contact Form & Google Map) 14:08 Lecture Objective: To set up a testimonials/ statements on your website both on a page and in the sidebar. Be able to choose from rotating and listed testimonials.
I will show you a free plugin (Testimonials Widget) to install which gives you the versatility to add numerous testimonials, with images,  to your website - they can be in a list or in a rotating form, they can also be added to the sidebar so that they display on every page of your website. As it is possible to put statements into categories this plugin can also be used to adding special offers or product information, not just testimonials.  

Adding Content - Testimonials (Rotating, Lists & Sidebar) 11:30 Lecture Objective: Set up the 'About' page, set a 'Featured Image', and also insert other images onto the page/post.

In this lecture I walk you through customizing the 'About Me' page which we set up in a previously. About me pages should have an image, so we will use the featured image option to include one. We will then add an addition image (using the 'Add Media' option) into the body of the page, edit and align it (and then delete it). 

As this page is all about informing the visitor about you and your business I will also show you how to include Social Media Icons within the sidebar showing your visitor how to find you on social media platforms (such as Facebook, Twitter, YouTube etc.) These icons will also appear on every page of your website.

Adding Content - About Me/Us Page (Inserting Images/Social Media Icons) 14:36 Lecture Objective: To Create a Products/Services Pricing Table Which Links to Other Product Pages

In this lecture I will show you how to install a plugin (Price Table) which creates an attractive visual which displays products/ services and their features. This table can link to additional 'child' product pages which can be navigated to via the buttons on the pricing table or the primary navigation bar. I will also insert and image, align it and reduce it in size.

Adding Content - Product/Services Page (Pricing Table) 14:10 Lecture Objective: To be able to insert and video (from YouTube & Media Library) into a page/ post

In this lecture I demonstrate how to insert a YouTube video into a page and also an uploaded video in your media library. Inserting a video from an external source is the best way as videos in your Media Library can put a strain on your web hosting and bandwidth (though Hostgator does give you unlimited bandwidth). If your visitors are likely to have the option to view videos hosted on YouTube or other external sources blocked by their companies then your may have to consider giving other ways of viewing your content.

I also include inserting an image and making it a hyperlink to the video. This method can be used for making text in a page or post into a hyperlink and connecting to other pages within your website, or external sites. I found the free images at: http://findicons.com

Adding Video & Hyperlinks To a Page/Post 11:38

Lecture Objective: How to Insert an Image Slider and a Call to Action Button

In this lecture I show you how to create an image slider and insert it onto the home page (or any page) using short codes. I also show you how to insert a call to action button using the same technique.

I will also cover how to order the pages on your primary navigation bar using the 'Page Order' plugin.

Adding Content - Home Page (Insert Image Slider) 18:18

Lecture Objective: How to include a blog page on your website which contains all your blog posts.

In this lecture I show you how to create a blog page, how to write posts, schedule them, and make one of the 'Sticky' (similar to a pinned post).

How To Add A Blog Page Containing Posts 11:17

Lecture Objective: How to remove the 'Powered by WordPress' and default footer and replace them with text & hyperlink or your choice.

HTML to copy: Website designed by Jennifer Bailey

How To Change The Default Footer (Weaver II) 04:36

Lecture Objective: In this video I show you how to insert a floating social media share bar so that your visitors can share your content.

How To Add A Floating Social Media Share Bar 06:55 + – Course Conclusion 1 Lecture 00:00 Lecture Objective: To enable you to know how to proceed with your website/ promotion/ traffic generation after you have completed this course. Course Summary & Next Steps 3 pages + – Extras 1 Lecture 05:53 Lecture Objective: How to back up your website(s) using the web host's cPanel

In this lecture I show you how to use the Backup and Backup Wizard in order to carry out full or partial backups of your websites/files and databases (and how to restore them).

How To Back Up Your Website(s) Using cPanel 05:53