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Here's How to Create a Website in 1 Hour for $9.88
by Matt Myers
 
No matter what stage of filmmaking you are in, you need a quality website to market your film (polite nudge here to start this as early as possible). You need a weapon to get people to pay attention, to talk about your work, and to see your world the way you see it. It can seem harder work than the making of your film. You spent all this time and energy making your vision and your unique piece, so why stuff it into such staid and homogenous formats and look like every other independent film’s site?
 
To save time, that's why. And while they keep making more time each day, it seems like there's less and less of it for you, so turnkey options, like Squarespace and Wix, can make a lot of sense. For a catering business. Or a dentist. Or a church.
 
You will have a really expensive piece of art to bring into the world. You don't want it to look like everything else. Like James Franklin said, "you can spot a Squarespace site from across the room." And so many film sites look like every other site, I guess because filmmakers feel pressed for time and the cost looks right at $15-$20/month. But don't be fooled. This doesn't save you time and sure as I'm writing this sentence it won't save you money.
 
I don't know where you are in the filmmaking process, but I'd like to make you aware of how easy it is to install WordPress yourself in one-click, set up your own hosting site, and create your own unique site in about an hour for $9.88. You can decide for yourself if this is right for you, but you will at least have the option of making your marketing look like your film's aesthetic and rep your vision in your unique way.
 
First, you need a domain name, such as yourfilmname.com. If you don’t have one already, just go to Godaddy. You need to buy a domain name no matter if you use WordPress or Wix or Squarespace or hire a developer to build a custom site, so this is requisite for entry and not included in that sweet $9.88 you are looking to pay and no more.
 
Second, we need to get some tedium out of the way. Has to be done.
 
Here are a few definitions and horrible metaphors to help you. Pay attention, as there will be a test later.
 
Registrar: This is the company where you bought your domain and is holding your domain, such as Godaddy. There are lots of them. Think of this like your house. You own it.
 
Host or hosting account: This is a company that will connect your domain/website to the internet. Think of it like cable. You are renting this package.
 
Nameservers: This is the bridge between the registrar and the host. Basically, this is the cable box you install in your house to communicate between your house and the cable company so you can Netflix and chill. There are two nameservers for each hosting account, they will be something like:
 
dns1.namecheaphosting.com
dns2.namecheaphosting.com
 
Okay. Get Ready.
 
This next stuff is a step-by-step guide for you to buy/rent a cheap hosting account, update your nameservers, install Wordpress, and push your site live. It is tedious. You are going to hate it, but it will be over soon, and I promise it is not harder than making a film.

© 2018 Peter Broderick