5 Steps to Build Your Network Marketing Website

You might be wondering, “why do I need a website for my network marketing business if my company gives me a website”!

Great question friend!

The simple answer is, differentiation. Plain and simple. When you got started with building your network marketing business you were 1 distributor among a sea of other distributors from the same company.

How do you stand out?

How do you position yourself as an expert?

How do you become the person everyone wants to work with and buy from in your company?

The answer lies in differentiating yourself and building a personal brand and it all starts with a website!

What if I told you that you could build a website in as little as 5 simple steps and with a cost of less than $40?

Today I’m going to walk you through the 5 simple steps to building your network marketing website!

Step 1 | Set up hosting

What is hosting? Web hosting is a service that companies provide where essentially they are renting you space on their servers for you to put your web files so that others anywhere in the world can view your website and start their journey in working with you.

Let’s keep it simple and avoid too much tech mumbo jumbo…ok cool???…because, let’s be honest, I am not your girl for that! HA!

To set up a website, you will need hosting. In this post, I’ll be showing you how to use the website platform I recommend most often because of its versatility and scalability, WordPress.Org

Side note: WordPress.ORG is different than WordPress.COM! You want WordPress.ORG!!!! But if you go through these steps, you won’t ever encounter that mishap…I got you boo.

Get started by signing up for BLUEHOST. Bluehost is the web hosting company I use to create self-hosted websites.

• Here are a couple of reasons why I love Bluehost
• 24/7 Customer Service (they’ve helped me through some tricky domain mapping issues that are way out of league)
• Simple to navigate
• 1 Click WordPress Install
• Affordable

To get started, you’ll have 3 plan options. It always makes more sense, in my opinion, to buy hosting for at least 12 months versus month to month but you can choose monthly options, 24 months or even 36 months. Click the green arrow on the Bluehost web page, to get started.

 

Next up, choose the plan level. When I first got started with my first blog years ago, I started with the basic plan. The plus plan will allow for unlimited websites and emails. Whichever option you choose, you can adjust it at any time so don’t worry about that.

 

Step 2 | Pick a domain name

Next up, pick a domain name!

If you went through the step above, it will prompt you to pick a domain name (you get a new one for FREE) or you can sign up with an existing domain name.

For this post, let’s assume you are picking a new domain name. Simply type it in the search box. Depending on what you choose, it may or may not be available. This is where this process can get frustrating.

 

For Network Marketers, I almost always recommend using your name as your domain name, if it is available. Often times, it won’t be available and in those cases we have to get creative. Just know this, you can never have too many domain names and you can always forward an old domain name to a new one if you decide down the line that it doesn’t fit you and your brand. So instead of letting this halt all of your operations and growth of your personal brand, take action and start moving forward. You will find that perfect domain name over time.

WARNING: Do not pick something like SuzySmoothieQueen.Com or TheJewelryLady.Com

What we are seeking to do with this website, is brand you! This will be a huge mindset shift for many Network Marketers in the industry because we won’t be leading with the Network Marketing Company and the product but we will be leading with YOU and YOUR VALUE!

So pick a domain name that can grow and adapt with you as you grow and adapt in life, business and relationships.

Once you do this and get your hosting fully set up you will receive an email confirmation from Bluehost with your login information to your cPanel (the place where you do all the things to do your website). Make sure to keep note of your login and password. I have many times had to reset cPanel logins because I lost them or couldn’t remember.

Step 3 | Instal WordPress

Hoody hoo! Moving right along! Now it’s time to install WordPress.ORG! Watch how crazy simple this is!

So at this stage in the game, you have your hosting account set-up and have chosen or moved over a domain name.

Head back over to Bluehost and login to your account with the information from your welcome email.

 

Click hosting on the left-hand side of the top menu.

 

Then scroll down halfway to the website section and click Install WordPress

 

I’d recommend doing this setup yourself. With the steps I’ll be walking you through in this post, there is no need to hire the expert that Bluehost recommends.

Select the domain name you are installing WordPress on.

 

On the next screen you’ll write your site name and admin email address and password. All of this can be changed after your site is up and WordPress is installed. Click all the check boxes and read the Terms & Conditions and then click Next!

Look at you!

You now have a website!

To get into the admin side of your WordPress site, go to yourdomain.com/wp-admin and enter in the admin email and password you did above.

Step 4 | Pick a Theme

Your website or blog theme is what gives your website the particular look and feel. The best way to think of it is, your website has structure and the foundation already but your theme is like an interior designer came into your home and created a whole new look and feel. The theme can be changed and the underlying structure won’t be affected.

You could get lost for days searching for the right theme. I’m telling you, I’ve been lost before down the theme rabbit hole. So here’s what you need to know.

WordPress Themes fall into a few main categories

• Blog
• Corporate
• Ecommerce
• Creative
• Porfolio
• Mobile
• Nonprofit
• Technology
• Wedding
• Education
• Entertainment
• Magazine

Make sure whatever theme you download is mobile responsive. This is a big thing in the eyes of Google.

Theme Options

My site is built using Divi by Elegant Themes.

Having previously come from building websites on Squarespace, I am a huge fan of Divi’s drag and drop visual builder. A friend recently described Divi as being the Taj Mahal of website themes.

Another great option is to use the Genesis Framework and a Genesis Child Theme. One of my favorite Genesis Child Theme designers is Restored 316.

You can also find themes at Creative Market!

You can find free themes or paid themes and spend anywhere from $50-$200 for a theme.

Step 5 | Add Your Content

A basic theme was installed for you when WordPress was first installed in the previous step. You’ll want to add your new theme to your site before adding all of your amazing content.

Login to your website.

If you’re using Divi, then you’ll want to install the Divi Theme as well as the Visual Builder. Here is a great video from their website to walk you through this! 

If you chose a Genesis Child Theme, you’ll need to install the Genesis Framework and the Genesis Child Theme.

Keep in mind that you do not need to unzip the files….actually you shouldn’t….don’t do it…it will self destruct…

Kidding!!!

But seriously, don’t do it! It won’t upload to WordPress if it’s unzipped.

Upload the zip file of your theme, then activate it! If you are using Genesis, you don’t need to activate the Framework, just activate the child theme.

Now you can begin adding content!  

CONGRATULATIONS! 

Congratulations! You now have created a strong home base on the internet for your personal brand and network marketing business! Now you can begin to establish your credibility in a very noisy online world. It also acts as a hub for you to send potential customers to so that they can find out who you are, what you do and what value you can add to their life.

If you have any questions, as always, don’t be afraid to reach out and send an email! I love seeing Network Marketers step out and brand themselves by creating a website for their network marketing business.