Create your own website from scratch (Step-by-step in 2026)

Many people want to create a website with own domain to build credibility, and by far the most popular solution for this is to create a website with WordPress. Here are the steps to building a website effectively from start to launch.

Step 1: Choose and register a domain name

To create a website, you need a URL that is easy to remember and relevant to your project or brand.

We recommend purchasing your domain via The Webhouse. They are a solid Norwegian player with excellent Norwegian-speaking customer service, competitive prices on .no domains and lightning-fast DNS updates. Having a local provider on the domain makes the ownership process safe and easy, especially for Norwegian addresses that require a self-declaration form. Choose a domain that is short and easy to understand when you say it. Avoid Norwegian special letters (æ,ø and å), as it makes the web address appear strange when you share the address.

Step 2: Find the right web hosting

Once your domain is registered, you'll need a server (a web host) to store your website files. Your choice of provider will affect both speed and ease of use. Here's a comparison of three common options:

• Hosting: The best choice for optimal performance on a budget. Hostinger provides lightning-fast servers, free SSL certificates, and an incredibly intuitive control panel (hPanel). They offer a «one-click install» for WordPress, making the process seamless for beginners.

• Domain shop: A reliable and well-established Norwegian player, Domaineshop is known for its high uptime and no-nonsense, classic interface. It's a great option for domain management and email, but the process of setting up WordPress can be a bit more technical than Hostinger.

• One.com: A popular choice because they often have very low introductory prices for the first year. It’s easy to set up a website, but you should be aware that renewal prices often spike from year two. Additionally, server speed can become a bottleneck on the cheapest packages as your traffic increases.

Step 3: Create your own website with WordPress and Divi

With WordPress installed, you need a theme to control the design. To make the process visual and free of coding, you should choose Divi from Elegant Themes. Divi is a drag-and-drop builder and is ranked among the best WordPress themes in the world. It has 4.8/5 stars on TrustPilot based on approximately 25,000 reviews.

Divi stands out because of its powerful Visual Builder. Instead of updating the content of a text field in the background and then previewing the page, you build the website directly on the screen ("front-end").

• Click and write: If you want to change a heading, just click right on the text and type.

• Drag and drop: You can easily adjust margins, add images, and build columns by dragging elements exactly where you want them.

• Ready-made templates: You don't have to start from scratch. Divi gives you access to hundreds of professional design packs that can be imported with one click and then customized to your profile.

Should you do everything yourself or use a website agency?

If you buy a website through us, you get a lifetime license to Divi, sub-themes (professional design templates) and extensions included, saving you thousands of kroner. Explore our best design templates (subtheme for Divi).

Although today's tools make it easier than ever to create your own website, it's often a matter of capacity and level of ambition. For many businesses, hiring a professional website company will provide a significantly better return on investment in the long run.

The advantages of choosing a website agency rather than building a website yourself:

• Freed up time: You will avoid a lot of frustration and detours by starting on the right track with good tools. Time is money. It won't take many hours of saved work before you have saved the investment cost. In addition, you will get a much nicer experience of creating a website with WordpPress. You can focus on content instead of worrying about technical problems.

• Security and support: If you run into problems, experience downtime, or need further development of your site, you have a dedicated partner behind you.