How to Publish a Website on the Internet (External) Step by Step

Publishing a website on the internet involves several steps, from purchasing a domain to configuring a web server. Below is a detailed guide with cost estimates.

1. Choose and Purchase a Domain

The first step is to register a domain (such as “mysite.com”).

• Where to buy: GoDaddy, Namecheap, Google Domains, HostGator, among others.
• Estimated cost: Between $10 to $30 per year, depending on the extension (.com, .net, .org, etc.). Specific domains may cost more.

2. Choose a Hosting Service

Hosting is the service that keeps your site accessible on the internet. There are three main options:

• Shared Hosting: Good for small websites and beginners.
  • Cost: $2 to $8/month
  • Examples: HostGator, Locaweb, Hostinger
• VPS (Virtual Private Server): More resources and better performance.
  • Cost: $6 to $40/month
  • Examples: DigitalOcean, Linode, Vultr
• Dedicated Server or Cloud: For large websites with high demand.
  • Cost: $50 to $300/month
  • Examples: AWS, Google Cloud, Azure

3. Configure Domain DNS

After acquiring the domain and hosting, you need to point the domain to the server. In the domain registrar’s panel, add the Nameservers (DNS) provided by the hosting provider.

4. Create or Upload Website Files

If you already have a ready-made website, you can upload the files (HTML, CSS, JS, etc.) via:

• File Manager from the Control Panel (cPanel, Plesk)
• FTP (FileZilla)
• Command Line (SCP, rsync) for VPS/Dedicated servers

If you do not have a website yet, you can create one using:

• Platforms like WordPress, Joomla, Drupal
• Website builders like Wix, Squarespace
• Custom development in HTML, PHP, JavaScript, React, etc.

5. Configure SSL Certificate (HTTPS)

To ensure security and avoid browser warnings, an SSL certificate must be installed.

• Options:
  • Let’s Encrypt (Free)
  • Paid certificates ($10 to $100/year)
• How to install:
  • In cPanel (SSL option)
  • Via command line for VPS/Dedicated servers

6. Configure Database (If Needed)

If your website needs to store dynamic data, configure a database.

• Common options:
  • MySQL/MariaDB (Free)
  • PostgreSQL (Free)
  • Firebase, MongoDB (Cloud, may have costs)

7. Publish and Test

Once everything is set up, access your domain to test.

• Check for broken links and page loading.
• Test on different devices and browsers.
• Use tools like Google PageSpeed Insights for optimization.

8. Maintenance and Updates

Your website will require continuous maintenance:

• Security updates
• Regular backups (weekly or monthly)
• Uptime and performance monitoring

Summary of Estimated Costs