So, you’ve decided to own a piece of the dot com pie? Awesome, now let’s make it happen!

1. The first thing you need is a domain. You can register a domain at domain registrar companies such as Godaddy.com, Name.com or Namecheap.com. The best domains have already been registered, so you may want to browse our domains at the vineyard for some ideas. Sedo.com and Afternic.com are other places where you can purchase domains – but watch out for inflated prices!

2. Next, you’re going to need a host. We recommend going for a hosting company like HostMonster or HostGator which are reliable for the most part and cost about $6-9 per month. You will be getting access to your very own cPanel where you can view e-mails and upload files. Keep your password in a safe place, and never give it out to anyone.

3. Now’s the time to set up a website! If want to start a blog, we recommend using the free script which you can download at http://www.wordpress.org. The read me file will contain all the information you need to install the script on your cPanel.

4. Now that you’ve set up the script, you may want to give it a unique look. There are plenty of free wordpress templates to be found on Sponsored Templates or you can purchase one at ThemeForest. If you want a custom design, you can hire a wordpress designer instead. It should cost you no more than $100 and a good place to find them are on webmaster forums such as Digital Point – choose someone with a high iTrader – it is similar to eBay’s feedback system. Also be sure to ask for their portfolio so you know what standard of quality to expect.

5. Now for the fun part – login to your admin panel at http://www.yourdomain.com/wp-admin and add new posts! Your blog is live and kicking!

6. You can promote your website through word of mouth, by using signatures in forums like The Freelance Forum, by spreading the word via Twitter, by signing up to traffic exchange programs like Surf Sieve, or by purchasing advertising. The more people that read your blog, the better!

You should feel proud of yourself – you’ve made it this far and are now a pro!

More tips for the professional:
1. Keep updating your website with fresh content. Google loves websites with fresh content and you will get more visitors. If Google hasn’t listed your website yet, add your url!
2. Always keep backups of your website in case something goes wrong with your hosting provider. There is a convenient “Backups” link which you should find in your cPanel.
3. The domain you choose should be short and memorable, and preferably a .com
4. Remember to renew your domain at the domain registrar every year!
5. Add a statscounter to your website to track how many people visit your website. We recommend a free script from sites such as Google Analytics or StatsCounter.