What are the proper steps for hosting a pre-designed website?
I have decent programming skills, but I haven't delved into web development much. A friend solicited my help in creating a business card site for her. Fortunately, there is an excellent design template that I can utilize and I am also familiar with designing and various scripting languages. In fact, I can even deploy it on a local server.
However, I'm unsure of where to host the site for free. The ideal solution would be a simple hosting option for a static website that doesn't involve any fancy extras, advertising, or designer elements. Ideally, all you would need to do is upload the folder with your files and enjoy the end result.
A free tariff plan for an exceptional beget hosting is available. Another option can be found here - https://pages.github.com/
One important consideration when choosing a hosting provider is the level of support and reliability offered. It's always worth doing some research and reading reviews before making a final decision.
Free hosting may seem appealing, but it often comes with hidden costs. The expenses associated with maintaining server replications, supporting RAID arrays, and configuring server settings can add up quickly. It is important to remember that high-quality hosting is rarely, if ever, free. Despite the existence of native options like GitHub, it is unwise to assume that any free hosting service is entirely trustworthy.
In the end, it is usually more cost-effective to pay for quality hosting, rather than attempting to cut corners with a free service. If you truly cannot afford professional hosting, you may consider investing in a server and learning how to service it yourself. However, even this option requires the purchase of a dedicated IP, which can add to the overall expense.
I am genuinely baffled by developers who earn a good salary yet hesitate to spend a mere $5 per month on renting a VPS server that allows them to host anything they wish. Admittedly, certain applications like neural networks may require specialized hardware, but for most purposes, a basic server can be easily procured at very little cost.
It is understandable to want to save money wherever possible, but it is important to consider the long-term benefits of investing in quality tools and resources. Moreover, spending a small amount of money on a reliable server can ultimately save time and effort in the long run, allowing developers to focus their energy on more important tasks.
Here are the proper steps for hosting your website:
1. Choose a suitable web hosting service: Look for a web hosting provider that offers free hosting for static websites without any complex features or advertising. There are several hosting providers such as GitHub Pages, Netlify, Vercel, and Firebase Hosting that offer free hosting for static sites with easy deployment options.
2. Sign up and create an account: Once you've selected a hosting provider, sign up and create an account. This will give you access to the platform's dashboard and settings.
3. Upload your website files: After creating an account, you can upload your pre-designed website files to the hosting platform. Most hosting providers allow you to upload files via their web interface or through integrations with Git repositories.
4. Set up DNS and custom domain (optional): If you have a custom domain for the business card site, you can set up the DNS settings to point to the hosting provider. This step is optional but can give your website a professional touch.
5. Test and launch your website: Once your files are uploaded and everything is set up, you can test your website to ensure that it's working as expected. After testing, you can launch your website and share it with your friend and the world.
By following these steps, you can host your pre-designed website for free without the need for any fancy extras or designer elements. This straightforward approach will allow you to focus on showcasing the business card site without getting bogged down by the complexities of web hosting.