# Launching your first website

> A step-by-step guide to taking your first website from a new Ruachost hosting plan to a live, secure site on your own domain, with a matching email address.

Source: https://helpcenter.ruachost.com/getting-started/guides/how-to-start-a-website-on-your-hosting-plan/

New to websites? This guide takes you from a new hosting plan to a live website on your own domain, step by step. Most people finish in an afternoon.

## Step 1: Get a domain and hosting

You need two things:

- **A domain name**, your website's address, such as `yourbusiness.com` or `yourbusiness.com.ng`. See [How to order a domain name](https://helpcenter.ruachost.com/domains/guides/how-to-order-for-a-domain-name/).
- **A hosting plan**, where your website's files live. For most first websites, a WordPress hosting plan from [ruachost.com](https://ruachost.com) is the easiest start.

If you order both together, your domain is connected to your hosting automatically.

**Already have a domain somewhere else?** Point it to Ruachost by changing its nameservers to the ones in your welcome email. See [How to change domain nameservers](https://helpcenter.ruachost.com/domains/guides/how-to-change-domain-nameservers/). The change can take a few hours to work everywhere.

## Step 2: Log in to cPanel

Your welcome email has your cPanel login details. You can also open cPanel from the client area: **Services → My Services**, click the plan, then **Log in to cPanel**. See [How can I access my cPanel?](https://helpcenter.ruachost.com/cpanel/getting-started/how-can-i-access-my-cpanel/)

## Step 3: Choose how to build your site

| Option | Best for | How to start |
| --- | --- | --- |
| **WordPress** | Most websites: business sites, blogs, portfolios, online shops | [Installing WordPress](https://helpcenter.ruachost.com/wordpress/guides/how-do-i-install-wordpress-on-cpanel/) |
| **Website builder (SitePad)** | A simple site built by dragging and dropping, no code | [Accessing the website builder](https://helpcenter.ruachost.com/getting-started/guides/how-can-i-access-my-website-builder/) |
| **Upload your own files** | A site a developer built for you, or a site you made yourself in HTML | [Uploading files with File Manager](https://helpcenter.ruachost.com/cpanel/files/uploading-and-downloading-files-using-cpanels-file-manager/) |

Not sure? Choose **WordPress**. It's free, has thousands of themes and plugins, and grows with you.

> **Tip:**
Moving a website you already have from another host? We'll move it for free. See [Moving your website to Ruachost](https://helpcenter.ruachost.com/getting-started/guides/migrating-an-account-from-another-web-host-to-ruachost/).

## Step 4: Build your pages

Start with the pages most visitors look for:

- **Home:** what you do, and who it's for, in one or two sentences.
- **About:** who you are and why people should trust you.
- **Services or Products:** what you offer, with prices if you can.
- **Contact:** phone, WhatsApp, email, address and a contact form.

Want to sell online? See [Launching an ecommerce website](https://helpcenter.ruachost.com/getting-started/guides/launching-an-ecommerce-website/).

## Step 5: Preview before you go live

If your domain doesn't point to Ruachost yet, you can still see your site. See [Previewing your website](https://helpcenter.ruachost.com/getting-started/website-troubleshooting/previewing-your-website/).

## Step 6: Turn on HTTPS

Every Ruachost hosting plan includes a free SSL certificate, which adds the padlock and `https://` to your site. It's usually installed automatically once your domain points to us. See [Your free SSL certificate](https://helpcenter.ruachost.com/ssl-security/ssl-certificates/how-to-install-ssl-certificate-on-your-site-using-lets-encrypt-ssl/).

## Step 7: Create your email address

Make an address on your own domain, such as `hello@yourbusiness.com`. It looks more professional than a free email address. See [How to create email accounts in cPanel](https://helpcenter.ruachost.com/email/webmail/how-to-create-email-accounts-in-cpanel-webmail/), then add it to your phone: [iPhone](https://helpcenter.ruachost.com/email/webmail/setting-up-your-websites-email-for-ipad-and-iphone/) or [Android](https://helpcenter.ruachost.com/email/webmail/setting-up-your-websites-email-on-android-devices/).

## Step 8: Check everything works

- Visit your domain on a computer and a phone.
- Click every link and send a test message through your contact form.
- Send and receive an email from your new address.

## Step 9: Get found on Google

Tell Google and Bing about your new website so it appears in search results. See [Getting your website on Google and Bing](https://helpcenter.ruachost.com/getting-started/guides/getting-your-website-on-google-and-bing/).

## Step 10: Keep it safe

- Keep WordPress, plugins and themes up to date.
- Use strong, different passwords. See [Creating a strong password](https://helpcenter.ruachost.com/ssl-security/website-security/creating-a-strong-password/).
- Your site is backed up automatically. See [Restoring files, email and databases using JetBackup](https://helpcenter.ruachost.com/cpanel/files/restoring-files-email-and-databases-using-jetbackup/).

## Need help?

Our support team is available 24/7. See [Contact support](https://helpcenter.ruachost.com/getting-started/guides/contact-support/).

## Related articles

- [Shared hosting quick start guide](https://helpcenter.ruachost.com/getting-started/guides/shared-hosting-quick-start-guide/)
- [Managed WordPress quick start](https://helpcenter.ruachost.com/getting-started/guides/managed-wordpress-quick-start/)