Need help setting up my first website from scratch

General
1

I’m trying to set up my first website and I’m feeling stuck on where to start and what tools or platforms to use. I’m not sure if I should use WordPress, a website builder, or code it myself, and I’m confused about domains, hosting, and basic setup steps. Can someone walk me through the process or share a simple beginner-friendly setup guide?

2

Start simple and get something online first. You can always redo it later.

Here is a straightforward path.

  1. Decide what you want the site to do
    • Personal site or portfolio
    • Blog
    • Small biz / service info
    • Online store

Your choice affects tools, so write that down first.

  1. Domain name

    • Use Namecheap, Porkbun, Google Domains (if still available in your region), whatever looks ok on price and UI
    • Look for .com first. If taken, try something short and easy to say aloud
    • Turn off auto‑renew later if you quit the project

  2. Hosting options
    Easiest path for a first site:

    • Use a website builder that includes hosting and SSL
      Examples:
      • Wix
      • Squarespace
      • Carrd (great for a simple 1‑page site)
      Pros:
    • No server setup
    • Templates that look decent
    • Built‑in support for SSL and contact forms
      Cons:
    • Less flexible
    • Monthly fee

    Slightly more control:

    • Use WordPress on shared hosting
      Common hosts: SiteGround, DreamHost, Namecheap, etc
      Pros:
    • Huge theme and plugin ecosystem
    • Good for blogs and simple biz sites
      Cons:
    • More stuff to maintain
    • Higher risk of breaking things with random plugins

    Coding it yourself:

    • Good if you want to learn HTML, CSS, JS
    • You host it on Netlify, Vercel, or GitHub Pages
    • Cheap or free
    • Takes longer, and you do everything by hand

For a first site, I would say:

  • If you want ease, pick Squarespace or Wix
  • If you want to learn web dev, code a simple static site and host it on Netlify

  1. Minimum tech stack for a hand‑coded static site

    • HTML for structure
    • CSS for styles
    • A text editor like VS Code
    • GitHub account
      Steps:
    • Make index.html with simple sections: header, about, contact
    • Push to GitHub
    • Connect repo to Netlify or Vercel
    • Add custom domain in Netlify panel, update DNS at your domain registrar

  2. Domain and DNS basics

    • Registrar is where you buy the domain
    • Host is where your files live
    • In registrar, set:
      • Nameservers: point to host if host manages DNS
        or
      • A record: points your domain to an IP from your host
      • CNAME: for www subdomain to main domain
        Most builders give a step by step DNS guide, follow that and do not overthink it.

  3. What I would do in your shoes

    • Step 1: Write down the content for 3 pages on paper: Home, About, Contact
    • Step 2: Buy domain from Namecheap
    • Step 3: Start a Squarespace free trial
    • Step 4: Pick a template, replace text and images, delete sections you do not need
    • Step 5: Connect domain using their guided setup
    • Step 6: Publish, then improve slowly

  4. When WordPress makes sense
    Use WordPress if:

    • You want a blog with many posts
    • You expect plugins like forms, SEO tools, membership, etc
      Pick:
    • Managed WordPress hosting if budget allows
    • A simple, supported theme like GeneratePress or Astra
    • Keep plugins under 10 to avoid breaking stuff

You do not need a perfect stack. You need something online, even if it is a one‑page site with your name, one paragraph, and a contact link. Then you iterate from there.

3

You’re overthinking tools a bit. The real “first decision” is: how long do you actually want to babysit this thing?

@waldgeist gave a solid roadmap, but I’d tilt it slightly differently:

  1. Start with content, not tech
    Open a doc and write:

    • What’s the site for in one sentence
    • 3–5 things a visitor should be able to do or learn
    • Rough copy for: Home, About, Contact, maybe one extra page

    If writing that feels painful, you’re not ready to argue about WordPress vs Wix. Tech is easy compared to actually deciding what you want to say.

  2. Decide your “maintenance budget”
    Rough truth:

    • “I want to tweak stuff once a year”: use a website builder
    • “I don’t mind updates & bugs & logins & backups”: WordPress or hand‑coded
    • “I want to learn web dev”: hand‑code or at least a static site generator

    I slightly disagree with the idea that you can always redo later. You can, but you probably won’t if you pick something painful to maintain. So pick something that matches your actual attention span, not your idealized super‑productive future self.

  3. My quick decision tree

    • You want: portfolio, simple service site, basic info
      → Squarespace or Framer
    • You want: blog with lots of posts, maybe comments, possible plugins later
      → Managed WordPress hosting only, not cheap shared stuff
    • You want: to learn HTML/CSS/JS and don’t care if it’s slower to launch
      → Hand‑code a static site and throw it on Netlify/Vercel

    I’m less of a fan of Wix than @waldgeist. It works, but it can get messy and slow. Squarespace or Framer feel cleaner and less annoying over time.

  4. Domains without the headache
    Easiest way to not go insane:

    • Buy the domain from the same place you’ll host or build, if possible
      Example: use Squarespace for both builder + domain so you avoid half the DNS confusion.
    • If you do buy at a registrar like Namecheap, just follow the builder’s “connect domain” wizard click by click. Don’t try to “learn DNS” first, it’s a rabbit hole.

  5. A concrete “do this today” plan
    If your goal is “get something live in a weekend” and not “become a dev”:

    • Write rough content for Home / About / Contact
    • Pick Squarespace or Framer trial
    • Choose the simplest template, not the fanciest
    • Replace all placeholder text and images with yours, delete extra sections
    • Only after the layout feels ok, then buy/connect the domain

    If your goal is “I want to learn to code even if it’s slower”:

    • Learn just 3 things: basic HTML tags, basic CSS, and flexbox
    • Use VS Code, make a super barebones index.html
    • Host on Netlify from a GitHub repo
    • Iterate slowly, don’t start by trying to rebuild some fancy theme you saw

  6. One thing no one tells you
    The first version is supposed to be kind of bad. That’s not failure, that’s the point. If it does the basic job:

    • Recognizable name
    • Clear what you do / who you are
    • Way to contact you
      it’s already better than 99% of the “I’ll launch a site someday” ideas.

Pick one path in the next 24 hours and commit to it for at least a month before second‑guessing. Tool hopping is how people end up with no site at all.