How to build a website on GoDaddy

A high-quality website is an essential tool for any business or individual that wants a strong online presence.

GoDaddy is a renowned web hosting and domain registration service that also offers a user-friendly website builder platform. In short, it is a one-stop shop for anybody looking to get online.

Whether you have years of experience, or you’re just getting started in the online world, this article will provide some basic introductions to how you can start using GoDaddy effectively.

Step 1: Create a GoDaddy account

The first step to get you started with GoDaddy is to visit their site and create an account.

As you can see in the image above, GoDaddy allows new users to create accounts using quick sign-in options, such as Facebook or Google, as well manually with the ‘Continue with Email’ option. Bear in mind that, if you don’t want your new site to be connected to your Google or Facebook accounts, you should choose the manual ‘Email’ option.

Once you’ve signed up, you can begin to explore the various services and features the brand offers, including:

Domain registration – where you can find and purchase the domain name you want for your website
Website hosting – where you can find a hosting provider for any new site you plan to build
Website building – where you can use GoDaddy’s web builder platform to actually build a site.

You should familiarise yourself with these products, as well as with the GoDaddy site in general to learn a bit more about the range of tools and settings that you can manage from your account.

You can visit our GoDaddy website builder review to find out more about how we found the product before you get started.

Step 2: Register your domain with GoDaddy

One of GoDaddy’s core services is their domain registration platform, and they are very well-known in the UK for it.

To register a domain with GoDaddy, you can follow these steps:

Find a domain
Register your domain
Complete registration

Read on to follow all three steps, or click one of the options in the list above if you’re ready to skip ahead.

Find a domain

Search for available domains: using GoDaddy’s domain search tool, you can find domain names based keywords you choose. These can be terms related to the website you plan to launch, if you don’t yet have a brand name in mind, or can be specific terms based on your brand.

Bear in mind that you might not always be able to choose the exact domain you want, so it might be worth considering some suitable alternatives in case.

Register your domain

Once you’ve found the domain name you want – including choosing whether you want the site to be a .com, .co.uk, or some other prefix, such as .shop – you can register.

At this stage, you’ll be able to see how much the domain will cost, and for what term you can own it.

As you can see in the image below, GoDaddy also provides an AI tool for domain searching. It asks you a few simple questions about your website and will make suggestions based on your answers.

Complete your domain registration

Completing your registration will require you to submit the correct information, including how long you want to purchase the domain.

Make sure to review all of the information you submit, and pay attention to the additional services on offer, such as privacy protection.

Step 3: GoDaddy website hosting

If you are planning to use an alternative CMS platform, such as WordPress, then you may want to choose GoDaddy as your host provider. If you do, you can install WordPress with just a few clicks and get access from there.

GoDaddy also offers Shared hosting that is not tied to WordPress, as well as advanced hosting solutions. Additionally, it offers a WordPress e-commerce hosting plan for those looking to launch an online store.

Managed hosting may also be an option; it provides dedicated resources for its users along with enhanced security features and expert support.

If you want to find out about other providers, you can also check out our best hosting provider page for comparisons of top brands.

Step 4: Building your GoDaddy website

Once you’ve completed the steps above, you can start building your new website using the GoDaddy website builder tool.

For anyone looking to launch a site, this sort of website builder could be a good choice. They are designed for those people who want to get online, but who don’t have the experience or expertise to develop a website themselves.

GoDaddy’s website builder is this sort of product, allowing its users to use templates and a CMS system that makes the process of getting online simple.

With GoDaddy’s web builder, you can choose a template, add content and images, and customise the design of your site for usability. You’ll also be able to add additional functionality if you want to add advanced features, such as quizzes, calculators or e-commerce functionality for example.

If you want to compare GoDaddy to some other options, then visit our best website builder to get a better view of the whole market. Or, if you’re more interested in launching an online store, take a look at our best ecommerce website builder page.

The sections below provides an overview of the basic steps you’ll need to step to get your site launched with GoDaddy’s website builder.

Choose a template
Customise your website
Add and edit pages
Optimise for SEO
Preview and publish

Either continue on below to read each step in the building process, or click on any of the links in the list above to skip ahead to the part you care about most.

Choose a template

As you begin using the GoDaddy website builder, the platform will ask you a few questions.

First, you can choose what sort of features your website will need. This might mean that you want to sell online, or that you want to take online appointments. Next, you’ll be able to say what sort of industry your website falls into. For example, you might be a photographer launching an online portfolio.

Finally, you’ll be asked to provide the name of your project. Once you’ve answered those questions, GoDaddy will begin generating a basic template for you to start working from.

Customise your website

Once GoDaddy has generated a template for you to use, you can begin customising it. Everything you see can be edited. From the website title to the buttons on the front page.

You can also make changes to your website’s overall theme. You can play around with different colours, fonts and button types to make sure your new site looks exactly as you want.

Once you’ve made all the changes you want to make, it’s time to begin populating the site. Make sure to try different things out, making changes to ensure you’re as pleased as possible with the result!

Add and edit pages

Some websites will only need a few pages. A homepage and about us page may be enough, for example, if you just want to advertise your services. Or, perhaps you just need a homepage, menu and reservation page. Whatever you need, it’s easy to add and edit new pages using GoDaddy.

In the image above, you can see the first step to creating a new page. In the image below, you can see some of the steps you can take next. GoDaddy offers a range of pre-built sections that you can add to your site to provide your audience with the information they need.

Whether you intend to display your photography portfolio online, or display a calendar of events, there are a range of professionally designed options to choose from.

Once you’ve chosen these sections, you’re then able to edit everything. The text, images, colours, links and anything else you need to customise can be easily changed.

Optimise for SEO

Search engine optimisation (SEO) is a vital marketing process for anyone who wants their website to rank on Google and other search engines. Luckily, GoDaddy offers a built-in tool to help.

GoDaddy’s SEO tool allows you to connect to Google’s tracking tools, monitor specific keywords that matter to you, and include business contact information on your website.

Preview and publish

Once all of the steps above have been completed, it’s time to preview your site one final time before setting it live.

As you can see in the images above, you can preview your website to see how it will appear on both desktop and mobile devices. This is vitally important as, in the modern world, a huge number of users use their mobile phones to access websites.

Once you’re happy with your preview, you can set your website live. Remember to check every page you’ve added, as well as all of the individual sections to make sure that every feature functions as expected.

Step 5: GoDaddy email hosting

If you operate online, then a professional email address that matches your name can be an excellent way to add credibility and professionalism to your activity.

GoDaddy offers email hosting plans that integrate with your website. With GoDaddy, you can set up personalised email addresses for you and your team members, allowing for professional communications across your operations.

Step 6: Website security

Protecting your website from potential threats is important, whether you’re launching a business website or one for personal use.

GoDaddy provides a range of security solutions that are designed to protect your online assets:

SSL Certificates – enable SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) certificates to encrypt the data that is transmitted between your website and its users. SSL certification ensures secure browsing and can boost your performance in search engines.
Website security – make use of GoDaddy’s security services to scan your site for malware, vulnerabilities or potential breaches. With web security, you can protect your site from hackers and malware.
Backup solutions – backing up your website is an important way to secure yourself against data loss. GoDaddy offers auto-backup options to ensure your files are secure. In the event that your site goes down, a backup will allow you to bring it back.

How much does it cost to build a GoDaddy website?

One of the best things about building a website with GoDaddy is that there won’t be any surprises when it comes to price.

Plan	Features	Cost
Basic	Website security Custom domain On-the-go editing 24/7 customer support Analytics	£6.99/month
Standard	All Basic plan features SEO tools Additional social media connections Email marketing sends	£8.99/month
Premium	All Standard plan features Recurring online appointments Group events Payments for appointments Email and text reminders	£11.99/month
Ecommerce	All Premium plan features Product listings Flexible payments Shipping options Discount and promo features	£12.99/month

GoDaddy offers four main plans, with prices varying across those options.

GoDaddy’s basic plan allows users to create a website that includes a custom domain, content and design tools, SSL certification, connections to unlimited social media platforms and a unified email inbox with website chat.

The Basic plan costs £6.99/month

GoDaddy’s Standard plan includes everything that’s in the Basic plan, with built-in SEO added in, along with limited social media posting options and up to 500 email marketing sends a month.

The Standard plan costs £8.99/month

GoDaddy’s Premium plan includes everything from the Standard and Basic plan but adds the ability to book recurring appointments. The limit on social media posting is also removed; you can start sending up to 25,000 emails monthly.

The Premium plan costs £11.99/month

GoDaddy’s Ecommerce plan includes everything from the Premium, Standard and Business plans while also allowing you to sell online. It provides support for product listings, flexible payments, shipping options and discount and promotion features.

The Ecommerce plan costs £12.99/month

How to use GoDaddy: Final thoughts

GoDaddy offers a range of services, tools and resources that will allow users – both advanced and beginner – to establish and manage their online presence with ease.

With the advice above, you should be able to navigate GoDaddy’s platform, from domain registration to website security. Take time to test everything and make changes to see what works best for you. Once you get the hang of it, using GoDaddy can be fun as well as rewarding.

And, just as importantly, remember that the work doesn’t end once your website is published. Make sure to monitor it regularly to make sure it’s performing as expected. Think about how you can keep everything up-to-date and interesting. The most popular websites are published every day; you don’t necessarily need to aim for that benchmark, but consider that thought if you want to make sure your website works and performs as well as possible.

How to use Godaddy: FAQs

How much does GoDaddy website hosting cost?

GoDaddy offers a range of hosting options. The cheapest plan comes in at £3.99/month. The most expensive plan is £26.99/month.

As you’d expect, what’s included in GoDaddy’s hosting plans varies considerably across price points.

You can take a look at our best website hosting provider page to compare brands.

What kind of customer support does GoDaddy offer?

GoDaddy offers a 24/7 customer support phone number to a number of countries around the world.

The UK number is +44 20 7084 1810

The US number is +1 480 366 3549

GoDaddy also has an on-site chat option, along with a general Help Center where you can find answers to common questions.

Does the GoDaddy website builder include hosting?

Yes, the website builder plans from GoDaddy include website hosting. This is common to most website builders.

Can I edit my GoDaddy website from my mobile phone?

Yes, the GoDaddy website builder app allows you to create, edit and update your website from your phone.

Bryn Glover

Bryn is the founder and editor of WebsiteJumpStart. He has worked in the digital field for over a decade and was editor for Startups.co.uk - the UK's leading small business website - and for NerdWallet UK before launching WebsiteJumpStart to help people and businesses get online with ease.

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