It amazes me how many scrapbooking business owners out there still do not have their own website. While some people will make excuses that it costs too much, the real question is what is it costing you for NOT having a website?

Most websites now can be set up with little experience or knowledge and for less than $100 – and you can have your very own website up and running in about an hour. So, if you do not have a website yet for your business, this post is going to explain exactly how to do everything in just 5 simple steps.

Step 1: Choose Your Webhost

In order to set up a website, you first need webhosting. Choosing the right webhost is important, because the wrong one is going to cause hours of tears and frustration. I’ve done a LOT of research, and these are three companies I can confidently recommend to someone just getting started:

FatCow: FatCow is not the best in terms of speed or customer service, but they are the cheapest and easiest to use for a complete beginner. They are also 100% eco-friendly. What’s not to like about that? You can sign up for just $4.67/month (regularly $8.25/month) if you follow my referral link.

BlueHost: BlueHost is another popular option that is good for beginners and works perfectly with WordPress (which I’ll explain in the next step!). They are only $6.95/month.

HostGator: HostGator is another popular option that works well and offers 1 button install for setting up your website. If you only need 1 domain, you can get started for less than $4 a month, though multiple domains will need the $7/month plan.

Okay, so choose one of those three (they are really all pretty much the same, so just go with the site that seems the easiest for you to navigate) – and then sign up for your package and choose your domain name.

(Note: I am compensated for recommending these websites, but my opinion of all three is not based on that – these are the three I personally use for a number of my own websites, including this one!)

Step 2: Install WordPress

We are going to be using WordPress blogging software, because it is free, well documented, and lets you update and add new content to your site effortlessly. You can also do neat things like have photo galleries, forums, etc. etc. – the options really are endless! And, you can install it with just one click of a button!

If you followed my recommendations above and signed up for any of those webhosts, just google “how to install wordpress on fatcow” or “how to install wordpress on bluehost” or “how to install wordpress on hostgator” – you’ll get hundreds of free step by step instructions, videos, etc. etc. It’s really just a matter of finding the one click install button in your webhost control panel.

Step 3: Choose a WordPress Theme

A theme is basically just a template that controls the design of your site. There are thousands of free themes available out there, but be warned: free themes are often outdated, may contain spam/viruses/malware, and generally require php and html knowledge to make any customizations. So, I highly recommend an easy to customize paid theme that comes with lifetime updates and support.

Here are the places I trust (and personally use) for getting WordPress themes:

Elegant Themes: You get unlimited access to every template they have for $39.95 – that is a really good price just for one, but you get them all! You’ll be able to easily change colors & upload your own logo without knowing html using them, and they also have great support as well.

Theme Forest: There is an endless abundance of themes here, and this is where I found the theme for ScrapVenture. I could spend hours trying to pick just one theme from the hundreds they have, they are all good! Click Here to View Themes

Woo Themes: They have a lot of great themes here and I only wish they had more! They have a 3 for 1 offer, so you get three themes of your choice for $70 which is a great deal!

StudioPress: StudioPress is the pioneer in paid WordPress themes with support – and you’ll likely be a very happy customer if you like their designs. They don’t have a lot of bells and whistles, but they can be trusted.

This is the hardest part of getting your site ready. If you can choose a design, you’ll be on your way in no time!

Step 4: Install Your Theme

: Once you buy your WordPress theme, you are going to install it onto your site. Don’t worry – any theme you buy will have detailed step by step instructions, or you can just follow the directions here on How to Install a WordPress Theme.

Step 5: Add Posts, Pages, and Photos

: After everything is installed and working all that is left is adding your own photos and words to the page! There are also thousands of step by step tutorials and videos online for learning how to do all of this. See WordPress Lessons – the theme you purchase should also include directions for all of this.

If you do everything above step by step it really is not nearly as difficult as it may seem. And, if worse comes to worse, you can always hire a Ninja Blog Setup to do it all for you pretty cost effectively!

Have any questions about setting up your scrapbook business blog or website? Ask us in the comments section below!