Custom Domain & Website for Less Than $2!

Have you ever wished that you could start your own business?  Or maybe while pinning craft ideas on Pinterest, or browsing for vintage jewelry on Pinterest, you thought to yourself "I could do that" , but  don't even know where to begin?  By the time you are finished reading this post, you will have the information you need to build your own website, and have it up and running for less than $2!!  These are the same resources that I used to create my own website, The Curvy Ginger, for a total cost of $1.37.  If you want a visual interactive example of what your $2 will get you, click here.

Sure, there are options to create a free blog or website, but those options do not allow you to create your own custom domain, or to monetize your website.  Instead, you will just be an extension of some other website, like www.godaddy.com/curvyginger, instead of www.curvyginger.com.  Branding yourself is so important when starting a business, and it's much easier to do that with a custom domain name.

 Before I started The Curvy Ginger, I spent countless hours researching the ins-and-outs of making money online and trust me, if you are looking to brand yourself or your product, and plan to use your website as a money-making tool to grow your business, you need to have your own your domain name.

Follow these steps to create a professional, custom website for less than $2

•      Choose a Great Domain Name
• This is the fun part!  Choose a name that represents you or your product, that will be easy for potential visitors to remember.  Next, try to choose a .com domain if at all possible, since that is what most people will expect your domain to be.
• You want potential visitors to be able to find you easily.  For example, if your name is Amy and you plan to sell cupcakes on your website, you might choose something like cupcakesbyamy.com instead of amymakesdeliciouscupcakes.com.
•  If your desired domain name is available, you can purchase it for as low as $0.99 with 1&1 by clicking here!  This amazing offer makes you the owner of that domain name for the next year, no strings attached!  I chose  my domain name, curvyginger.com, and my total including taxes and fees was $1.37!!

• Find a company to host your website

Now that you have the domain name for your website, the next step is to decide on web-hosting.  The easiest route is to let GoDaddy do the hosting, since they do offer complete web-hosting services at reasonable prices.  Since I was working with a budget of $2, I chose HostBuddy.  HostBuddy offers free web-hosting for the first 30-60 days and I was able to transfer my domain from GoDaddy to HostBuddy in a matter of minutes!  To start your free hosting with HostBuddy, click here!  

• Build your website

There are many platforms available to build your custom website that include easy templates to get your business online in no time.  WordPress is one of the most popular choices, and the best part is, it's free!  Be sure to go to WordPress.org for the free version, by clicking here.  There are many templates to choose from, all of which can be fully customized, free!

For those of you that have a bigger budget to work with, the sky is the limit for getting your business started. I chose the above options because they offered professional results within my budget.  If the steps I've given seem a little overwhelming or complicated, check out Bluehost.  They offer plans for as little as $3.49/month, which includes the domain name, the hosting, and WordPress templates, all in one place.  To check out what BlueHost has to offer, click here.  Of course, you can also get all of this with 1&1, so be sure to check out their current specials when you purchase your $0.99 domain!

Starting your own business is a huge step, but being afraid to take a chance will only leave you wondering what could have been.  Don't let money be an obstacle when pursuing your dreams.  Believe in yourself, take a leap of faith, and remember it's never too late to change your life.

If you are like me, and love finding great products and services on the cheap, visit my website www.curvyginger.com for more ways to get the most out of every dollar, by clicking here.

Thanks for reading, and please Spread the Love!