But building a website can be expensive, time-consuming and complex enough that it can make creating a website such a confusing task that causes you to burn out and give up on your hopes and dreams of creating a website. Thankfully we have put together a general guide to help you establish the best starting point in creating your website, buying a domain and installing an SSL certificate.

If by the end of the article you are still having trouble or we have missed something you can contact us for assistance with your website needs.

Step 1: Identify your website needs and specifications for your website

Before you start the creation process of making a website you need to plan your website effectively so that you can decide how your website is going to be built and on what platform. For example, if you want a simple one-page website that just provides some general information about your business you could make a static HTML website. A static HTML page uses very little server-processing power so you don’t need to invest in a high tiered web hosting account. For other websites with multiple pages or a complex page that displays dynamic information, you might be more suited using a CMS.

A CMS (content management system) such as WordPress or Joomla might be more fitting if you are trying to build a website with a few pages or an e-commerce website. WordPress and Joomla are free to download and install on your web host but they do require installation. WordPress and Joomla come with easy to understand instructions but they generally both need to have an Admin account created and connected to a database. More information in step 7 regarding the installer process if applicable.

Step 2: Register your domain name

If you haven’t already you will need to register a domain for your website that allows your users to find your website. Typically domains are titled after the business name followed by an appropriate TLD such as a .com or .com.au. There are tips to choosing the perfect domain name but generally speaking keep it short and clear what the business is or clear with the branding intention.

We do offer cheap domain registration from Webex Domains that charge flat fees for renewals and registrations so you don’t pay more than you should.

Step 3: Signup to a web hosting account

The next step is to signup for a shared web hosting account. We offer web hosting services for small and large websites. It is important to know the requirements of your website hosting established in step 1. Some web hosts like WebJex offer different types of web hosting types such as shared hosting, reseller hosting, VPS hosting and dedicated hosting. Buying a VPS hosting will still allow you to host a website but it will require you having knowledge of extensive UNIX/Windows OS knowledge to install the services needed to host your site. In the case of running a WordPress website, a typical shared hosting account will suffice and offer you database hosting and have PHP enabled which is usually the standard requirements for WordPress.

We recommend if you are unsure about the website hosting you need we recommend you send an e-mail or support ticket to the sales team of the web hosting provider you are enquiring about. They will be able to point you in the right direction.

Step 4: Install an SSL certificate

After you have your web hosting account setup and up and running you will need to install an SSL certificate. SSL certificate installation process is generally the same but the interface may appear to be different. Some web host will offer free SSL certificates. Premium SSL certificates are also available for a yearly fee which is different to free SSL certificates. However, for basic websites you can get away with free issued SSL certificate from providers like LetsEncrypt that essentially just enable HTTPS for your website. The benefit of having an SSL certificate is that it will make your website more reputable and trusted by visitors viewing your website.

Step 5: Create an FTP account

The next step is to create an FTP account to be able to upload your website files to your host.
If you are using a WordPress installer like Fantastico to install your site. You can slip this step but it might be beneficial to create an FTP account now. If not, you can do this later.

Step 6: Create a MySQL database (if necessary)

Same with if you are using an app installer like Fantastico the software will automatically create and link your site to a database. Having a MySQL database is necessary for websites like WordPress to have. The reason is the database stores critical information like user logins, site posts and pages that are dynamic.

Step 7: Upload website source files

You will need to install a FTP client like FileZilla or WinSCP to FTP to your website’s FTP folder.

Step 8: Run installer (if required)

If you are wanting to install WordPress as your website and your host is using cPanel we have a guide for you to follow that explains how to install WordPress in cPanel with the cPanel WordPress manager tool that is standard with cPanel.

What to consider before starting a website on a budget

We have listed the top things to consider before starting a website on a tight budget or if you generally just don’t want to spend a fortune on website-related costs. Typically websites can cost you around $280 AUD per year for budget hosting, domain registration and an SSL certificate. Pricing may vary but it is the minimal ballpark figure you should set as your minimal expense amount. Some web hosting providers will try and sell you on $4 per month plans but as time goes on more and more people take advantage of the pricing and the server your site sits on slows down.

This is why here at WebJex we don’t believe in overselling our web hosting resources ethically and we have experienced ourselves frustrations when it comes to potentially being ripped off when it comes to web hosting. As an organisation, we have to have dedicated servers leased to us so we are always looking for the best deals on web hosting ourselves and that’s why we like to give our customers the best price to performance ration that you can get in the Australian web hosting market.

Website hosting cost

WebJex offers a standard business account for shared web hosting from $20.00 AUD per month. Which gives plenty of room for expansion and gives peace of mind that your website is going to be hosted on servers by us with fewer users than the standard hosting provider.

SSL Certificates to secure your website traffic communication

An SSL certificate is vital for securing your website traffic and it’s a ranking factor for search engines to give a slight advantage to websites who are SSL compliant.

WebJex
What to consider before starting a website

There are some advantages when using WordPress.com hosting or even another platform that sells their hosting. But you need to be able to understand the specifications of your web hosting you are buying and what the pro’s and cons are of that particular host.

Advantages of using WordPress.com Official Hosting

• No technical knowledge is needed to install WordPress.
• Range of plugins in the library available for an easy install.
• A huge range of themes available to be installed onto your WordPress site.
• Premium hosting resources – Your website is managed by the team behind WordPress so your web hosting performance will be top-notched.
• Reasonable cost for small businesses or FREE to get started with the WordPress free plan.
• A secure network with security always in mind.

Disadvantages of using WordPress.com Official Hosting

• Can work out to be much more expensive for web hosting in the long run
• You will have issues installing the plugins and themes you may specifically want because they breach the security of the network for other users who are hosting their WordPress website with WordPress.com.
• You don’t have root-level access to your WordPress installation.
• You will have issues migrating your website and plugin data to a self-hosted WordPress installation in the future if your website needs change.
• You are paying a premium for your hosting. Yes, the web hosting experience may be superior to many shared hosts. However, performance would not benefit you unless you’re a really big website.

Advantages of self-hosting WordPress

• Full access over the WordPress code. You can modify it for your own purpose in any way you wish that doesn’t breach WordPress terms and conditions of use.
• You can host WordPress with your web hosting provider of choice.
• Install your own plugins and themes from third-party providers and from the repository. You won’t be restricted by WordPress in any shape or form.
• Much lower running costs are available from shared web hosting providers.

Disadvantages of self-hosting WordPress

• Unless protected by specialised settings and plugins, your website could be at risk from exploits.
• WordPress will need to be updated along with all of your plugins and themes that you use on your site to ensure that your website remains secure.
• WordPress websites on low end-hosts can be slow, especially if there are a lot of websites being hosted on that same physical provider on that server.

How to choose between WordPress official hosting and self-hosted

If you’re still stuck in choosing if you should go with WordPress as a hosted solution by WordPress or if you should follow these guide rules to help decide which approach in hosting your WordPress website is right for you.

The bottom line: If you have the ability to watch tutorials on YouTube, follow instructions, and use Google then you would be able to learn the basics to run WordPress on your own privately hosted environment. However, that being said, some people who are less tech-savvy will struggle to grasp the concepts of web hosting and installing WordPress that they will be much better off hiring someone else or using a hosted solution.

When you should use WordPress.com hosting

• You are not confident with using any sort of web hosting control panel
• You are getting started with WordPress but not sure if the platform is right for you
• You aren’t on a strict budget for your website
• You are happy to pay for peace of mind even if it comes at a cost

WebJex
Difference between WordPress official hosting and self-hosted

You may be wanting to register a new domain for your business but you may be unsure if you should go ahead with a .com.au registration or a .com or another TLD. We hope to clarify the pros and cons of .com.au registration over conventional .com and other domain TLDs.

.com.au is a domain TLD that is regulated by Australia just like .us domains are managed by the US delegated departments. This for 99% of us doesn’t make a difference but if a lawsuit was to happen hypothetically they would have to go through Australian legal channels to get the domain taken down or seized. The US gov would act unlawfully if they tried to seize a domain that they don’t have jurisdiction over, although technically they managed many of the DNS servers in the world. However, the most likely outcome if the Australian gov failed to seize a domain the US would block the website from being accessible rather than unlawfully seizing it.

Apart from that legal aspect having a .com.au domain just gives your consumers the belief that you are a proper Australian business because Australian .com.au domains have to be registered with an ABN. This creates additional trust with this particular TLD as overseas scam agencies have trouble registering these domains and the ownership of the domain and the business can be looked up.

The only requirement for .com.au registration is that you need an ABN

You need to have an Australian Business Number for .com.au registration and it should be noted that the ABN holder is the legal lessee of the domain. Usually, the registrant is the owner of the domain but .com.au is a domain that falls out of this rule.

We do facilitate a chown (change of ownership) of domains but we need to have a conversation with both parties involved and there are fees involved.

Consider buying an SSL certificate for your .com.au Domain Registration

Because .com.au is a more reputable and trusted TLD for Australian consumers you might also want to invest in having an SSL certificate for your website. WebJex shared hosting offers cPanel auto-SSL certificates that are issued from cPanel. We don’t charge extra for this service with our web hosting but we also do encourage you to consider purchasing a premium SSL certificate which is backed by a warranty in case the encryption is ever breached and you are looking at fines or financial loss the warranty with a premium SSL certificate will help your business in damage control. If you just want a basic SSL certificate to make your website compliant with payment vendors we also recommend LetsEncrypt.

WebJex
.com.au Domain Registration FAQ

SSL certificates work to keep your connection secure

SSL certificates encrypt your web traffic between you and the server. This is done through the SSL protocol https:// which uses port 443 on your device to establish that secure connection.

SSL certificates increase your user’s confidence with your brand

Another reason why you need an SSL certificate is trusted websites have the reputation of using SSL on their websites and it really does lift the trust between the site and the user. It could be said that visiting a website with SSL does create a kind of virtual handshake between a website and a user.

SSL certificates make your website faster

SSL because of its technical aspects make loading pages slightly faster because it splits the traffic between two protocols and is a more constant direct user to server connection than the normal HTTP:// requests over port 80. It is just that SSL is a more efficient technology than HTTP.

SSL certificates stop prying eyes

Keeping your connection from prying eyes is reduced greatly by using websites that use https:// enabled on their site. This prevents from typical spying and having what you do on these websites monitored by hackers.

SSL certificates are cheap

SSL Certificates are cheap and are sometimes free. There are benefits to paying extra for an SSL certificate.

Getting an SSL certificate

You can ask your web hosting provider for assistance with installing the certificate on your account. cPanel hosting usually offers an auto-SSL certificate which is issued by cPanel for your domains and subdomains for a few months and then is renewed. It may be beneficial to purchase a retail SSL certificate for your domain because not all SSL certificates are the same.

SSL certificates are needed for compliance

Many e-commerce providers who provide secure API’s and process payment information securely so you wouldn’t be able to run an e-commerce website without it. And if you are collecting any kind of user data like names, addresses, and phone numbers then you definitely need an SSL certificate. Users would be hesitant of handing any information over on a non-secure website. It’s the strongest reason why you need an SSL certificate.

In fact, if you don’t take precautions to protect users data you can be held liable for security breaches and you could be fined a huge sum of money depending on the size of the breach. Having a paid SSL certificate that is issued by a premium provider they offer insurance if the SSL is ever breached. For example if the SSL connection is decrypted by any means (which is an unlikely scenario) they will pay out a lump sum to cover liability costs such as fines and legal fees.

This might be a reason to choose a premium SSL provider rather than a free provider such as Let’sEncrypt or cPanel SSL certificates. From personal experience from using premium SSL certificates and free certificate providers there are pros and cons but if you’re just running a simple blog and not collecting data or processing private information you could justify just using a free SSL certificate.

If you are running a e-commerce website than a strong reason to get a premium SSL certificate is that your site will become targetted by hackers and known exploits. Hackers would go above and beyond to hack into your website if you become a big enough business to virtually rob of personal information. Most businesses that have serious sized security breaches lost their reputation and trust. Usually, it becomes such a big PR issue for the business that it never goes away.

WebJex
7 Reasons why you need a SSL Certificate

What is Cpanel, and why does it exist?

cPanel exists for one reason and only one purpose, and that’s to provide reliable automation software for web hosting providers like WebJex. cPanel offers very economical web hosting software that makes web hosting accessible and easy to use to a vast audience. Some might say that even your grandma could learn how to use it.
cPanel builds their software primarily for web hosting companies powerlifting offer economical web hosting services to provide cost-effective hosting for their customers.

Some people might go as far as to say that they empower the world to be able to sell cheap web hosting. But make no mistake! cPanel and WHM provide nothing short of an actual superior web hosting automation experience for web hosting providers and website owners.

20% of websites on the internet use cPanel

Did you know that 20% of websites rely on Cpanel and WHM? cPanel provides such things as e-commerce company website personal blogs of the application hosted by making this process super-efficient 60 seconds or less it cuts down on the costs of doing business. This is enabling people globally to have the little gold website for a few dollars a year you get inexpensive hosting better service and a common interface regardless of which hosting provider you use that uses cPanel.

cPanel could be summarised as a tool that allows almost anyone to run a hosting company as simple as few button presses and in a few clicks. cPanel has turned a once complicated and a very expensive process into what is considered now as simple standard.

cPanel is a program that runs on Linux based web hosting servers. It’s currently the industry standard, and it’s used by most web hosting companies out there. Now. It’s designed to make managing your web hosting account much easier by using a graphical interface with lots of different tools in it.

WebJex
What is cPanel?

An SSL Certificate given to an organization is based from the Root Certification. The same Root Certification should be present on the end consumer ’s pc in order for the issued SSL Certificate to be trusted. The browser and OS vendors work with Certificate Authorities, or so the Root Certification is embedded within their applications.

Complete User and Organizational Factors of View 
For end users, SSL could hardly be simpler. Safe web addresses start with “https://” rather than just “http://”.

Users see a padlock symbol inside their own browser. And that’s about it.

In comparison, for organizations conducting email servers, e-commerce sites or hosting system administration resources, it’s a little more involved.

To authenticate themselves to customers and customers, and prove to customers they’re working with the right thing, organizations need to acquire an SSL Certificate.

The Goal: To Establish Trusted Interactions Online 
In case the local Root Certification, as well as the remote-issued SSL Certificate, aren’t correctly matched, the browser displays messages to the consumer concerning untrusted mistakes. When they’re matched, the user can move with confidence.

The 2 parties (the local consumer ’s browser and the remote webserver) first swap a symmetric encryption key. “Symmetric” means the same key is used to encrypt data that’s transmitted and decrypt it on arrival at the other end. The “forward secrecy” assembled to the system ensures the short term symmetric key cannot be deduced from the long-term asymmetric crucial, for further protection against hacking.

Types of SSL Certificates

Three types of SSL Certificates exist.

1. Extended Validation (EV) SSL Certificates

These are issued only following the Certificate Authority has verified the exclusive right of the business to use the domain name concerned and also a number of additional aspects:

The legal, physical, and operational Presence of the business
Consistency between the organization’s identity and official documents
Good authorization by the organization of the issuance of the EV SSL Certification

2. Organization Validation (OV) SSL Certificates

These include checking the right of the business to use the domain name, and a few, but not all, of the rest of the verification done in case of the EV SSL Certification above. End-users may see additional info on the organization.

3. Domain Validation (DV) SSL Certificates

Lastly, these restrict verification to checking the right of the business to use the domain name concerned. Consequently, end-users will just see info concerning the encryption, maybe not about the organization.

WebJex
What is a SSL Certificate and why you should have one

Nevertheless, the problem with shared hosting will be its vulnerability to security risk because you’re sharing the server with numerous websites and you do not usually know who they’re and what they’re up to. If one website is attacked by virus, all the websites in that server would be affected as well. Then there’s the unmanaged hosting. Users of this kind of hosting will become the administrator of their very own server in a dedicated hosting service condition. This could be the choice for all those that need more bandwidth, storage and features that free and shared hosting don’t have.

With a dedicated hosting, users may have as many databases and e-mail address as they like. It generally comes along with 500GB to 1000 GB of bandwidth capacity per month plus a generous amount of disk space. Nevertheless, the problem lies on whether you know how to run your very own server or not. If you don’t know how, you’ll have to hire someone else to do the administrative task for you.

WebJex
Types Of Web Hosting