As an entrepreneur or small business owner, having your website is necessary to expand your reach and boost your visibility. Deploying your website means having a custom URL or link. Custom URL/link means a unique, branded web address that represents your website instead of a default subdomain. 

If you are new to digital branding, then you might think that creating a website with a custom URL/link would be either expensive or too technical, and that you will have to invest your time in understanding the entire process. However, with the advancements in website development, developing and deploying a website has become easier, all thanks to AI-powered website builders! 

With different methods, you can not only get a custom URL but also the necessary tools to build, deploy, and maintain the website. So, let’s understand how you can create and deploy your website with a URL/Link?

Two Methods to Create a Website with a URL

There are two ways to build a website with a URL. The first way is to choose an AI website builder that provides custom domain registration. The second way is to register and purchase a domain name, build your portfolio, and connect your domain to the website using DNS settings provided by your hosting or site-building platform. 

The following easy steps will assist you in creating the URL for your website. Let's begin: 

Method 1. Use an AI Website Builder, like Neo 

For those entrepreneurs who desire a quick, easy, and professional solution at the lowest price point, AI, no-code website builders are the perfect choice. With Neo AI website builder, you can get to work quickly, easily building, hosting, and publishing your small business's full-featured website in minutes.

Step-by-Step Process:

Step 1: Visit the Neo AI Website Builder

Click on “Try it Yourself for Free” on the Neo AI Website Builder platform. No coding or design experience is required to start.

Step 2: Choose Your Business Category

You’ll then be asked to enter your business category. A quick type in a short description like ‘personal coaching’, ‘bakery services’, or “eCommerce and retail”, etc. 

Step 3: Describe Your Business Idea

Describe your business idea or your brand in a simple prompt. The prompt should be clear, concise, and straight-to-the-point.

Step 4. Choose from a Range of AI-designed Templates 

Select from a selection of ready-made templates, perfect for your line of work. These are professionally made layouts that can be customized easily with Neo’s website builder. 

You can enter your logo, images, text, and color scheme. With Neo, there is the Gen AI assistant that enables you to produce SEO optimized content for Home, About, Services, Testimonials, and Contact.

Step 5: Choose a Custom Domain

Once you are done finalizing your website, Neo allows you to register your custom domain name for free. With a .co.site domain extension, you can easily register your domain name, like “yourbusinessname.co.site”. This will become the custom URL/Link you wish to get associated with your website. 

Neo ensures your website is fast, secure, and scalable, with global availability and high uptime. Your custom domain will not only reflect your brand but also deliver a reliable browsing experience to your visitors.

Step 6: Publish and Go Live

Once done, click “Publish,” and you have a professional site live with a URL. All technical details, like hosting, SSL, and mobile responsiveness, will be handled by Neo.

Entrepreneurs who need speed, simplicity, and sophistication all in one package, Neo is the perfect choice for you.

Method 2. Purchase a Domain Name and Build Your Website

Another method is by purchasing a domain name from a domain registrar and then building a website. The website can be built using a range of approaches, like as hiring in-house developers, outsourcing website development to an agency, or you can use a no-code/low-code website builder to build a website. 

Step-by-Step Process:

Step 1. Get a Domain Name. 

You can register your desired domain name with a domain registrar. With a domain registrar, you have to flexibility to buy a domain name of your choice along with a domain extension. Like, you can find a domain name with extensions, like .ai, .in, .uk, .com, and .co.in, and much more. 

However, you can only purchase it from the domain registrar if it is available. If your desired name is not available, then you can use AI-based tools to find a domain name that matches your brand. 

Step 2. Purchase a Web Hosting Plan. 

Once your domain name is purchased, you need to choose a web hosting plan. Web hosting is renting servers that store your website files and make them accessible to your target audience on the Internet. Without hosting, you won’t have anything to display on your domain name. 

So, either you can choose a plan provided by the domain registrar or choose another web hosting provider that provides a suitable web hosting plan. 

Step 3. Connect a Domain Name to the Right Nameservers 

In case your domain name registrar and web hosting service provider are different, then you will have to point the domain name to the web hosting provider’s nameservers. Here’s how you can do it: 

1. Find the name servers provided by the service provider from the hosting dashboard or welcome email. 
2. Log in to your domain registrar, and find the DNS or nameserver settings. 
3. Update them by selecting custom nameservers, removing the existing ones, and adding the name servers provided by the web hosting service provider. Confirm the settings by saving them. 

The DNS changes take up to 24-48 hours to reflect the changes. 

Step 4. Set up your Website 

Now, using an AI website builder or website developer, you can set up your website. If you are a small business owner, professional, or freelancer, then AI-powered no-code/low-code platforms are best for you, like Neo. 

You can build your website to promote your products and services, build brand awareness, and boost your visibility. To sell your products, you will need an eCommerce platform as they support additional functionalities, like a shopping cart, a payment gateway, and inventory management. You will have to click on Publish to deploy and make your website live. 

Step 5. Submit your Website to Search Engines 

Once you have designed your website, now, you will have to submit your website to the search engine. You will require a sitemap to help the search engines understand your website structure and the connection between the webpages. 

Website builders automatically generate a sitemap for the designed website. You can use the XML sitemap generator to create a sitemap URL for your website automatically. Here’s how you can submit your website to search engines: 

1. Create your account on Google Search Console 
2. Under Index, choose Sitemaps. 
3. Now, copy your sitemap URL and paste it in the Sitemap URL field, and click on Submit.

This is an optional step for your peace of mind that Google crawlers can find your website and index it. However, search engines are good at finding newly deployed websites as long as they are linked somewhere on the web. 

Why does a Custom URL Matter?

A URL (Uniform Resource Locator) is the web address you type into your browser address bar to access a special website page. It acts as a digital address that directs you to a specific webpage, image, video, or online resource. 

Web browsers and search engines value URLs because they make it easier to find and obtain these resources from the broad internet. A URL is usually made up of a protocol, a domain name, and a route, but can also contain additional items such as parameters or an anchor to be even more precise.

Here’s why you should go for a custom URL: 

• Enhanced Credibility: Having a dedicated web address gives your business a feel of legitimacy and professionalism in the online world, letting potential customers know that you're a serious and established business.
• Boosted Discoverability: This unique URL works like a digital address, creating easy ways for search engines and even potential customers to locate you online, giving you more visibility.
• Seamless Sharing: A simple and succinct web link makes sharing your online presence on different platforms easy, be it social media, email communications, or reaching more people.
• Support for Marketing Efforts: As a central hub for your marketing activities, your website URL is the direct way for campaigns and promotions to connect with your target audience.
• Brand Building and Recognition: In the long term, creating a perfect URL will improve brand recall and loyalty by strengthening your brand identity and making it easily recognized.
• Centralized Information Hub: Your website, located on a URL, is a database of information about your business, its products and services, and is a single point of contact for those interested.
• Improved Customer Communication: As with any communication channels like contact forms and email links, a website can make interaction and feedback from your clientele much easier.
• Analytics and Insights: You can determine the direction of your website traffic by enhancing your online visibility and the information your website gathers about visitor behavior.

Key Elements that Every Business Website Should Have

Websites play an important part in building the digital presence; that’s why you need to have all the important elements in your website, whether in the form of individual pages (for a multi-page website) or dedicated sections (for a one-page website). 

Here are the components that your website should have: 

• Homepage: This is your website’s front door. Since it’s the first thing your visitors see, you must have it clearly state what your business is all about and catch them immediately.
• About Section: This is where you share your story. People want to know who’s behind the business, what you stand for, and what makes you different. It builds trust and connection.
• Services/Products: In this section, you should list what you sell or the services that you provide so that your customers can get to know them.
• Testimonials: These are like online word-of-mouth. New visitors who other people trust and are satisfied with what you have to offer also read real quotes from happy customers.
• Contact Info: How do people get in touch with you? In this section of the site, you will need your phone number, your email, and perhaps a physical address, thus allowing potential customers to get hold of you effortlessly.
• Call to Action: There should be a clear button or instruction telling visitors to 'buy now', 'contact us', or 'learn more' to direct them towards what to do.

The Bottom Line 

Having a website with a dedicated URL is no longer a complex, costly endeavor. Whether you're launching your first business or scaling a growing venture, your website is your most valuable digital asset.

From quick AI-powered builders like Neo to hand-coded websites, there are tailored options for every level of technical expertise and business need. However, Neo makes the process incredibly simple for MSMEs and solo entrepreneurs. With built-in AI content creation, free domain registration, and modern design templates, the Neo AI website builder eliminates the barriers to launching a professional online presence.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is the easiest way to create a website with a URL?

Using an AI website builder like Neo is the easiest and fastest method. It requires no technical skills and offers a free domain for the first year.

2. Can I use my existing domain name with these platforms?

Yes, most website builders, including Neo, allow you to connect an existing domain name.

3. What is the time frame required to create a website?

In general, one to six months, depending on the kind of website you build and the method you use. You may establish your schedule and work quite quickly if you do it yourself using a website builder. It usually takes longer if you decide to work with a web designer and/or developer.

4. Do I need technical skills to create a business website?

Not necessarily. AI-powered and no-code platforms like Neo are designed for users without coding experience.

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