Twenty five years ago, when I was just starting out as a lash tech, makeup and eyebrow artist, I faced the same challenge many entrepreneurs face today: I needed a professional online presence but couldn’t afford to hire someone to create it for me. Back then, there were no drag-and-drop builders, no AI assistants, and definitely no YouTube tutorials walking you through every step. It was trial, error, and a lot of late nights figuring out how to make WordPress do what I wanted it to do. Social media didnt exist! There was no Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitch, Tik-Tok or Facebook group to ask questions in. Facebook didnt go live until 2024. In the mean time posting pics and going pack and forth required you to be stationed at a computer, and sometimes an external hard drive for your pictures, usually in a library. In the 1998–2000 period, the primary way people connected to the internet was through dial-up modems, which used a standard telephone line and made an annoying sound to establish a connection. Access was generally slow and expensive. Cell phones didn’t have the high speed internet connections that we enjoy today and the picture quality was awful. Website and graphic design were college classes amd you needed to know how to code to build a website. You needed to hire a photographer, graphic designer, printer, and a website designer, and then pay the insane cost of TRYING to do business. In the 1998-2000 era, a basic website cost a few hundred dollars for a very simple, template-based site to a few thousand dollars for a custom-built, feature-rich online presence, then you had to pay to have it hosted. There were so many learning curves and ways for creative people to capitalize off of their skill set, but the market always finds a way to make it cost prohibitive for those of us on a super tight budget with limited creative skills. Looking back, here’s what I wish someone had told me before I built that very first website:
1. Your Domain Name Is Forever (So Choose Wisely)
I went through three domain changes in my first two years because I didn’t think strategically about my business / domain name. Each change meant losing search engine rankings, confusing existing customers, and reprinting all my business cards. I would suggest you use no more than 3 or 4 words. Do a google search for the word ( just type it in the search bar). when it comes back look at the number underneath it in the left hand corner, the higher the number the better the word. If you can find 2 to 4words, 3 would be the best, that you can use to name your business the more memorable it will be and the more value it will have. I strongly suggest that you come up with as many versions and spellings of the name as possible and choose the best three. Three is the magic number because you can use all 3 names at the same time. You can have the best URL/ Domain Name / Website Address be the main .com and you have have the other 2 .coms directed to the main one. This way you have a better chance of stopping someone from trying to copy your name/ business idea. Do NOT do a search for a domain name using the domain name search (I know it sounds crazy) but if you do, and you choose to not buy it, the company doing the search for you will buy it. You would have the opportunity to buy if from them for an an additional fee + whatever they deem the value of it is. Its intellectual property, and it had a value. Website address / URLs/ Domain names have a value just like real estate. People buy, sell and trade domain names all the time. Some hosting companies will pay you a fee to host ads on the sites / domain names you arent using.
What I’d do differently: Take time to think about where my business might grow. Choose a name that can evolve with you. Choose a name that has nothing to do with my business, and consider how naming my business can impact my ability to secure bank loans.
2. Cheap Hosting Will Cost You More in the Long Run
My first hosting provider cost $3/month. Sounds great, right? Wrong. The site went down constantly, customer service was non-existent, and loading times were so slow that potential clients would leave before seeing my work. Im currently using Hostinger to host all of my websites. Its provides budget-friendly hosting plans packed with features like a custom-built, modern control panel (Hpanel), LiteSpeed caching, and AI tools. Hostinger offers good server performance and high uptime, making it a reliable option for new websites. Their website builder includes AI-powered tools that can help with content creation, boosting productivity The only negative for me is the customer service is available only via live chat and is often chatbot-run, which can make it difficult to get timely human assistance or a resolution to complex issues.
What I’d do differently: Spne a little more time researching hosting companies to fin the best fit for the long run. Switching hosting companies can be a headache. .
3. Mobile-First Isn’t Optional Anymore
In 2003, nobody was browsing websites on their phones. By 2010, I was losing clients because my site looked terrible on mobile devices. I had to completely rebuild everything.
What I do differently: I design for mobile first, tablet second, and desktop third. Most of your visitors are on their phones or tablets. Most poeople dont have computers in their homes and most likely wont use their work computer to do any unauthorized web surfing. If the WordPress template or page builder you want to use isnt responsive then don’t use it. Its that simple. All responsive website templates allow you to see what the website looks like on the phone, tablet, and desktop, You are allowed to make edits to each version without the changes being seen on the other versions. Some of the best page builders and templates Ive used are Elegant Themes (Divi), Divi Express, Themeify Evanto, Kadence, Enfold, Avada, and Be Theme. What works for me may not work for you. You have to sift through the long list of website templates/ page builders.
4. Content Is King, But Consistency Is Queen
I spent years perfecting my website designs and style, but often neglected to update my portfolio regularly. Sometimes I just didnt have the time. Potential clients and current clients would call asking questions about things that was still in business because my latest work samples were six months old. Running a business while constantly updating your website can be very taxing.
What I do differently: Fresh content shows you’re active and current. I use a variety of Ai platforms for research and idea development,Magai is my favorite because it combines access to ChatGpt, ChatGpt4, ChatGpt5, Gork3, Gork4, Lima4. Mistral, Nemotron 708, Nova , Preplexity, Youtube Video Transcription, DeepSeek, and Gemini for ONE price!!!! I pay $20 per month! I think it’s well wroth the money considering all of the platforms you have access too. I also use the free version of Notion as a spot to plan out my work, notes, scheduling, and a bunch of other things all for FREE. I also added an Ai chatbot to answer questions and make suggestions in the most human tone possible.
5. Learn the Basics, Even If You Hire Someone
I thought once my site was built, I was done. Then I needed to add a new service page, update my contact information, and change a photo. Each tiny change required calling my developer and paying $100+ for five minutes of work. Same situation when it came to redesigning my logo’s, and taking photo’s of my clients and products. The cost of these needed services can be outrageous when you’re doing it all on your own with no help and limited funds. The game can be wicked, you almost never meet the person doing the work for you so communication is almost always via txt-message or email, never by phone. I prefer to be able to speak to the person working on my projects because a lot gets lost in translation. I have a good idea of what to expect and how things should look so being able to speak to someone is very important for me. Ive had a lot of success using college students in graphic design majors, Fiverr and Upwork didnt exist then. They are both excellent options for those that can afford it.
What I’ve done differently: The game can be wicked. A lot of people pretend to know how to build a website just to take your money. I taught myself how to build websites so I could avoid paying somebody to do a half ass job. When you know how to do the thing that you pay somebody to do, it makes it easier to spot whats wrong and how it should be. That keeps your service provider on their toes. I started out with wordpress because it was free! Then I started paying to use WordPress themes and page builders like Elegant Themes (Divi), Divi Express, Themeify, Astra, Kadence, Enfold, Avada, and Myoisis. The life time subscription is always the best way to go, if you can afford it. life time subscriptions to website template and page builders that make building a website easier. Noe of the wordpress themes and page-builders work the same. Some have a steeper learning curve than others. I watch youtube videos that demonstrate how to build a website using that particular theme., it helps out tremendously.
The Bottom Line
Building a website isn’t just about having an online presence—it’s about creating a digital foundation for your business growth. Every decision you make in those early stages will impact your business for years to come. Its also your virtual / digital real-estate and your intellectual property and it has a value. You can make money selling add space on your site (depending on what type of website you have). Its also your social media platform.
That’s exactly why I started Kingsbrdg Media Group. I’ve made all these mistakes so you don’t have to. I know what it’s like to bootstrap a business, to need professional results on a startup budget, and to feel overwhelmed by technical decisions.
Ready to build your website the right way from the start? Let’s chat about how our 20+ years of experience can save you time, money, and headaches.
