Section 1: Start Here – Do this first to Build your Church WordPress Website
No matter what kind of custom website you want to create, you will need website hosting.
Whether you use a software to create your website, hand-code your site using a simple html editor, or use the free WordPress software – you WILL need a website hosting company (cheap and reliable).
This means you will pay a yearly minimal fee to cover your website hosting and domain website address name ownership cost.
In case you are not familiar with website hosting, it acts kind of like a hard drive online. When you download the free WordPress software from WordPress.org to your computer, you will need a place to put those files online where people can access them to see your website.
Your website hosting account provides that online location for your files to be served to those who want to view the content, graphics, audio, video and documents on your website.
Website hosting also allows you to create email addresses branded with your website name. Most web hosts give you at least 100 email addresses connected with your website address to use included in your account.
So instead of pastor@yahoo.com, yours could be something like pastor@yourwebsitename.com. Obviously you would have your actual website address at the end of the email. This helps you look more professional by getting rid of an email address like pastor@yahoo.com or Gmail.
You will also have access to many other tools in the administrator side of your website. This includes access to an Easy WordPress Install option.
Now you may be thinking… ”I don’t want to have to pay for website hosting to create my website.” The truth is that neither do I! But, whether you pay someone to setup a site for you or you do it yourself using WordPress, you WILL have to pay for website hosting to get the job done. It may just be included in what you pay to a website development company.
Can you create a website without having to purchase website hosting?
Yes, there are options for creating websites without having to purchase website hosting. You can even create a WordPress website for free without an initial hosting cost at WordPress.com
But, you WILL sacrifice functionality. When you use the completely free option you have some restrictions.
First, you will have a website address that is not customized but adds .wordpress or something similar to the website address. Instead of having a website at www.yourwebsitename.com, you will have a website at yourwebsitename.wordpress.com
It can be difficult to inspire the confidence you want from your Church Website Visitors that you have a professional site with that kind of website address.
You can purchase additional options to connect a customized domain name and more to a free WordPress.com site, but then you are starting to spend money for a “free” website.
You are also limited on the theme design options you can use with your WordPress.com site. This restricts your design options to the themes they were willing to offer you for free, which is VERY limited. That is one of the main reasons I choose to use the free software available at WordPress.org that I install myself. With WordPress.org you can use any free or premium purchased theme that you can find on the web.
I would rather spend a small amount of money on website hosting and do it the more customized way than nickel and dime my way through WordPress.com or other similar sites like Blogger.com.
In the end, it is up to you. But, this tutorial is about creating websites using website hosting and the free WordPress.ORG software. Even if you choose the other route, the information in the upcoming sections will still be valuable to your WordPress experience.
We will secure a church website domain name and purchase cheap church website hosting next and then be able to move forward in the process and build your church WordPress website.