Launching a website can be exciting. It can also be overwhelming. Since 2004, Modern Sugar & My Quick Boutique have been helping clients build presence on the web with our pre-made and custom designs and e-commerce services. Even if you have never managed a site before, our process is fast, easy and painless. Start with five easy steps:

One: Decide What Type of Site You Need

There are two types of websites: informational and eCommerce. An informational site presents instructive, informative or entertaining content to readers. Examples of these are local community websites, family histories, or a how-to page about living a “green” lifestyle.   

eCommerce websites sell products, such as baby clothing, custom-made stationary, vintage fabrics and others. The best of these combine an online retail boutique and useful and engaging content, including how-to articles, blogs and forums.

Step Two: Choose and Register Your Site Domain Name

Now that you’ve decided what type of website you need, it’s time to pick your domain name. A domain name is your address on the web. Ours is www.myquickboutique.com.

Domain names must be registered. It’s a bit like leasing. For as long as you keep up with the yearly “lease” of about $10, the domain name is yours to use.

We recommend www.GoDaddy.com to register your domain. It’s simple and inexpensive.

Step Three: Choose Your Host Company

A hosting company stores your website files so they can be accessed on the Internet. The expression “you get what you pay for” really applies when it comes to selecting a host company. Choosing the least expensive option may not be the best idea, especially if you are opening an online boutique. You want a host that offers excellent customer service, 99 percent uptime and regular backups. A good knowledgebase and user forum are also helfpul features.  The hosts we work with provide a content management system (CMS) and shopping cart in their packages. Having a CMS means that you will be able to update and edit your store from an online admin.  View our compatible host list here. If your current hosting company is not on our list of providers, contact us.

Step Four: Decide on a Boutique Website Template or Custom Design

We offer boutique website templates at My Quick Boutique and custom designs at our sister site Modern Sugar.

Modern Sugar specializes in boutique web design. We work closely with you to create clients looking for a personalized, distinctive presence on the web.  You can view our custom design information HERE.

On a budget? Need to get your site up fast? Our boutique website templates are professionally designed, ready-made ecommerce sites that can be installed in as little as 7 days. Packages include the template, installation to one of our hosting providers and unlimited email support. You add all the content, including all text, photos and product descriptions. Or, for an extra charge, we’ll add those for you.

Step Five: Set Up Your Cart

If you’ve ever purchased anything online, you’ve used a shopping cart. Carts either come with your hosting package or are installed separately. Our boutique website templates are set up to work with any of the providers on our compatible host list. We can sometimes work with other cart systems, but contact us first if you don’t see your current host on the list.  We recommend these hosts whether you plan on having an informational or eCommerce site.  If you decide on an informational site you will not use the cart feature with the hosting, but you will still have an easy to edit site, because it is setup with a CMS.   

Now you know the first five steps to launching your own website. Where you go now is up to you.

The options for improving your site once it’s up on the web can be overwhelming, from adding articles to slideshows to video and more. Remember, a successful website—the kind people like to visit and share with their friends—takes time. All websites, even if they look fabulous now, started out new and continue to be works-in-progress.

You’ll get there. My Quick Boutique can help every step of the way.