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What is needed to make a website? Why is this system so cheap? We will cover what domain names are and what web hosting is. Additionally, I'll introduce other web building options out there for non-coder* artists.
*Non-coder: those us of without extensive HTML/CSS/coding capabilities.
Before we get too involved:
Do a Google Search on yourself/your name before settling on it.Before we get too involved:
Before you become too invested in whatever domain name you've chosen for yourself because I'm certain you have one in mind right now! Search whatever you're going by - your regular full name, nickname, alias, or art business name in private/incognito browsing. You could be competing with another person with the same name for attention. Sometimes your name will have unwanted attention attached already. More on this later in "Unavailable Domain Names/High Costs."
Private browsing clears all your browser preferences. Your browser uses "cookies" to store information about your preferences, habits, and actions on the internet so it can tailor things to you. To see an accurate view of you on the internet, you need to see it without your preferences.
What do I need to make a website?
What do I need to make a website?
In general, you need:
1. A domain. (A web URL / name for your site)
2. Website hosting. (A place to store the content you post on your website)
3. A website builder. (Some way to make the actual layout of your website)
You pay for all of these. In this proposed website system, you pay for a domain name, Google Drive is your free website hosting (up to 15 GB), and Google Sites is your free Website Builder.
With other website builders like Squarespace or Wix, (2) & (3) are bundled together and, they heavily encourage you to buy (1) with them as well.
For this proposed website system, you'll need a google account. Sign up for that here.
To use Google Sites and Drive, you need a Google Account. This account gives you access to the whole Google Suite (Docs, Slides, Sheets, Forms, Drive, etc.)
What is a domain?
What is a domain?
A domain is a URL that appears in your search bar. It's your website's name.
Think of it as the plot of land that a physical store sits on.
You need a title/deed for that land, which for a website is a web address - a URL. Something like, "https://www.insert-website-name-here.extension." You can purchase domain names through a domain registrar. Various registrars offer a wide array of features, but they're more or less the same. Different places will offer varied tech support quality, deals with known website builders (like Wix), and more.
You have to renew your domain name each year or set up auto-renew. Using a WHOIS lookup search on ICANN's website, you can find out when any given domain name was registered and by who.
Different domain registrars/ providers sell domain names at different prices. It'll cost somewhere between $5-$30 CAD/ year usually. Shopping around you will find different rates on the same URL. Some extensions will be cheaper than others; for example, .com is more expensive than .art or .store because it is more commonly used (aka in demand). Sellers include GoDaddy, Porkbun, or Google - many more exist so give it a quick search. I use Porkbun for my websites because they seem like a nice small USA company.
Some web hosting providers will offer you a "free" domain name (i.e. Wix, Tumblr, Squarespace, and Google Sites.) However, they will have a watermark ad attached to them or limited usage attached to them. It could an extension to your URL (www.yourwebname.insertcompanyhere.com; ex: .tumblr, .blogspot, .weebly) or a banner ad like Wix. These extensions make sites seem less professional. The company's goal is to get you to spend money with them - the capability of their free trials will work to this end.
What is website hosting?
What is website hosting?
Web hosting is the storage/place for the content you put on your website. Assets like images, text, video, etc. used on the website. If a domain is the land/address of your site, website hosting is the physical building that stores all your stuff.
You can purchase website hosting through a variety of providers separately from a domain name provider. Technically, you could even host the website on your computer - I know nothing about this, so I won't be explaining it (not an IT professional here).
When you pay for a popular website builder (Squarespace, Wix), you pay monthly for their web hosting and use of their website builder tools.
For our purposes, you will be hosting your website through Google Drive. With a Gmail Account, you gain access to 15 GB of storage for free (and you can purchase more if need be). Of course, you have to have a Google Account to use this system. 15 GB is relatively large; for average users like you and me, this limit won’t be an issue.
What are the options for web builders are out there? Why use a different web builder?
What are the options for web builders are out there? Why use a different web builder?
There are tons of web builders out there with various customization options for different levels of business. Keep in mind what you need when selecting a website building method. See the next section for specific options.
Consider your art practice's business needs. Ask questions like:
Do I want a simple portfolio?
Am I selling my work at all?
Do I sell over social media? Is that method sufficient? Do I want a website to sell through?
Do I need full integration with sales where purchases are automatically sorted into a spreadsheet for me?
Am I too lazy to do that work manually? Or are there too many orders to keep track of regularly?
Do I have the time to sort orders manually? Am I making regular sales in volume?
Can I afford a more expensive website? Does my website cost eat a significant portion of my profits?
If I calculate the yearly costs of each of these methods, which makes sense for me? How much revenue do I make yearly?
Your answer for these will depend on the scale of your business/art practice. It will change over time. Always do the math for cost. Refer back to the landing page for all the things this Google Site portfolio is good for.
DO THE MATH
BUY WHAT MAKES SENSE FOR YOUR BUDGET.
I too thought I could avoid math by going to art school. But, it turns out I actually need math because I became an entrepreneur instead.
Google Sites gives you a basic website to work with. It has no built-in extra integration features. If you need a basic portfolio (or don't mind getting creative with solutions), Google Sites will operate well for you.
I'm using Google Sites for small-scale, low sales. I have the time currently to manage my orders manually on my spreadsheet. I use embedded HTML Paypal buttons to make web sales possible. Right now, my priority is having a portfolio up where it is clear that my work is for sale.
Choosing a Website Builder Resources
Choosing a Website Builder Resources
A useful guide by Spark Box Studios on website builder options out there. Honestly, they've written the list better than I have, so I'll let them take it from here.
Additional Websites not in SparkBox Guide:
Carbonmade.com
Carrd.co
+ single page layout free up to 3 websites
Free Video by Stewart Gauld
*Note: Deviantart might seem like an option, but in 2021 it is no longer a thriving professional art community. If you're a digital artist, it might be suitable, but there is a large amount of NSFW art on site.
Unavailable Domain Names/High Costs
Unavailable Domain Names/High Costs
A domain name under normal circumstances isn't too expensive and will likely be under $30 CAD.
But of course - we're here now because there are some not-so-normal circumstances to consider. So here are some reasons why your desired domain name isn't available or costs more money.
1. High Cost: Supply and Demand issue
Your Desired Domain Name is a name that's in demand. As such, the price tag on that name is high no matter the domain extension. Company names, real words, famous names, etc.. Usually joke end extensions (ex. .sucks) are pretty expensive too.
Some people even make money off domain names by purchasing possible common names that a company may need or already use, and then selling them to the company at a higher rate. Apple bought the domain iphone.org back in 1999 to avoid issues. Jeb Bush, who ran for president, unfortunately had his name swiped long ago; it was up for resale at $250,000. In the 2015 election, it was redirecting people to Donald Trump's site.
Are you willing to fork out $2000 for a bad middle school joke?
2. Unavailable: Someone has taken your name and the prime extension.
People with fairly unique names won't have this issue, but sorry to all the Jane Smiths out there - someone else is you too.
Sorry Jane Smith. All the good ones are taken.
3. Unavailable: Your name is taken, and it's got a reputation already attached to it.
Whenever you decide online life is the life for you, do a Google search of yourself. You might be surprised to find that it's not your local newspaper achievements on the page, but a porn star, murderer, etc., you share the same name with. My poor professor encountered this. Good or bad reputation, sharing the same name with someone or something else who's 'famous' is a problem for you starting out. People will struggle to find you in the sea of search results that already exist for these other individuals. Ideally, you want to be the first search result on the page by default. After that, you'll have to find another name to go by.
Sorry to all the Gina Gersons out there.
What do I do if it's unavailable/too expensive?
What do I do if it's unavailable/too expensive?
There's a few actions you can take, but be aware there's a limit to what you can actually do.
1. Just go by another name entirely.
Use an alias, a nickname, or add a small extension to your name. For example, become "Janesmithart.com," or "Plainjanestudio." Be like Beeple or Banksy and use a nickname alias. Something you still identify with and can be a memorable brand. Make the spelling easy!
Even a man selling a $69 million NFT doesn't have "Beeple.com".
2. Ask the domain name holder if they're willing to sell.
You can buy your domain on the Aftermarket or ask the owner directly. Note that you are at the whim of the person who's selling - they can raise the price on you for the domain. You'll just have to try and find out. You can find the owner of a domain by doing a WHOIS search on ICANN's website.
Note: If you want to do (3) instead, contacting the domain seller might make them want to hold onto it instead of letting it expire.
And there's the reason we're called "Printmaker's Library".
3. Pounce on the domain name when the one-year registration expires.
Using a WHOIS search on ICANN's website, you can determine the ownership information of any given domain. If the website that holds your domain name doesn't look particularly upkeeped, there's a big chance they'll lapse on the domain registration. You can wait until the website name's renewal date and try to scoop it. Mind you, auto-renew exists now, so this might not happen.
My aforementioned professor waited until the one-year registration expired and managed to get the domain name and dethrone the porn star.
Google has your back for the steps.
Website Basics Checklist
Website Basics Checklist
Did I buy a Domain?
Did I do a Google Search of my desired name?
Did I record my Domain's renewal date somewhere safe?
Do I have a Gmail Account?
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