How to Build a Website in Godaddy Guide

Overview

how to build a website in godaddy starts with choosing the right GoDaddy product and ends with publishing and validating your site. This guide walks beginners, entrepreneurs, and developers through domain setup, choosing hosting or the Website Builder, creating pages with HTML/CSS/JavaScript or builder blocks, connecting DNS, enabling SSL, and publishing.

What you’ll learn and

why it matters:

• How to pick domain and hosting options that match your needs.
• How to create simple pages with HTML, CSS, and JavaScript or use GoDaddy Website Builder.
• How to connect a domain, configure DNS, and enable SSL so your site is secure and accessible.
• How to test and troubleshoot common issues to keep your site reliable.

Prerequisites:

1. GoDaddy account and access to My Products.
2. Basic familiarity with HTML/CSS if you plan to use custom files.
3. Optional: FTP client or SFTP details for hosting, and a code editor (VS Code, Sublime).

Time estimate: Plan for 1.5 to 4 hours total depending on complexity: simple builder site ~1.5 hours, custom site or WordPress ~3-4 hours.

Step 1:

how to build a website in godaddy - choose product and domain

Action to take:

1. Sign in to your GoDaddy account.
2. Go to My Products and choose Domain or click Website Builder or Web Hosting based on needs.
3. If you need a new domain, search and register it; if you own a domain, note it for later.

Why you are doing it:

Selecting the correct product (Website Builder, WordPress Hosting, or cPanel Hosting) determines how you build and deploy your site. Domain registration gives you the address visitors use to reach the site.

Commands, examples, or UI steps:

1. Sign in at godaddy.com.
2. From the top-right menu choose “My Products”.
3. Under Domains click “Manage” to see domain settings.
4. Under Web Hosting or Website Builder click “Set up” or “Manage”.

Expected outcome:

You will have a registered domain (or confirmed ownership) and chosen hosting type or the Website Builder ready to set up.

Common issues and fixes:

• Issue: Domain shows pending transfer or registrar lock. Fix: Unlock domain or complete transfer approval in your registrar email.
• Issue: Confused by product choices. Fix: Use Website Builder for quick drag-and-drop sites; choose cPanel if you want to upload custom HTML or use FTP.

Time estimate: ~15 minutes

Checklist:

1. Domain registered or selected.
2. Hosting product or Website Builder selected.
3. Account billing and contact details verified.

Step 2:

plan site structure and content

Action to take:

1. Create a simple sitemap: list pages like Home, About, Services, Contact, Blog.
2. Draft content and prepare images, logos, and meta descriptions.
3. Choose templates or wireframes if using Website Builder or WordPress.

Why you are doing it:

Planning reduces rework and speeds the build. Clear content and structure also improve SEO and user experience.

Examples and concrete steps:

1. Create a folder on your computer: site-files/. 2. Create a text file sitemap.txt with ordered pages:
2. index.html
3. about.html
4. services.html
5. contact.html
6. Collect images in site-files/images/ and name them consistently (logo.png, hero.jpg).

Expected outcome:

You will have a content plan and assets ready to implement. This makes the next build steps faster and cleaner.

Common issues and fixes:

• Issue: Missing high-resolution images. Fix: Use 2x images for hero areas and compress with tools like Squoosh or ImageOptim.
• Issue: Overcomplicated sitemap. Fix: Start with 4-6 core pages and expand later.

Time estimate: ~20 minutes

Step 3:

build pages with Website Builder or custom HTML

Action to take:

• Option A: Use GoDaddy Website Builder

1. Open Website Builder in GoDaddy > Edit Site.
2. Choose a theme, drag blocks, edit text, upload images, and save.

• Option B: Use custom HTML on cPanel hosting or Managed WordPress

1. Prepare index.html and assets and upload via File Manager or FTP/SFTP.

Why you are doing it:

Website Builder is fastest for non-developers; custom HTML gives full control for developers. Both approaches let you create the visible site structure.

Code example: basic index.html with minimal CSS (replace content and images)

<!doctype html>
<html>
<head>
 <meta charset="utf-8">
 <title>My GoDaddy Site</title>
 <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width,initial-scale=1">
 <style>body{font-family:Arial,sans-serif;margin:20px}header{border-bottom:1px solid #ddd;padding-bottom:10px}</style>
</head>
<body>
 <header><h1>My GoDaddy Site</h1></header>
 <main><p>Welcome to my site. Edit this text and publish.</p></main>
 <footer><p>© 2026 Your Name</p></footer>
</body>
</html>

Expected outcome:

A local HTML file ready to upload or a published page in Website Builder preview. You can iterate visually or via code.

Common issues and fixes:

• Issue: Images not loading after upload. Fix: Verify file paths and case sensitivity; use relative paths like images/hero.jpg.
• Issue: FTP upload fails. Fix: Confirm FTP host, username, and password from GoDaddy cPanel or hosting dashboard and use SFTP if supported.

Time estimate: ~30 minutes

Step 4:

connect domain and update DNS records

Action to take:

1. In GoDaddy My Products, go to Domains > Manage DNS for your domain.
2. If using Website Builder, connect domain in the builder interface; GoDaddy will configure DNS automatically.
3. If using external hosting, set an A record to your hosting IP or point nameservers to your hosting provider.

Why you are doing it:

DNS connects your human-friendly domain to the server or builder hosting the site. Proper DNS ensures visitors reach your content.

DNS example for pointing to an IP:

Type Name Value/Points to TTL
A @ 203.0.113.45 1 Hour
CNAME www @ 1 Hour

Expected outcome:

Your domain resolves to the hosting server IP and displays your site when you visit the domain.

Common issues and fixes:

• Issue: DNS changes not taking effect. Fix: Wait up to 48 hours for propagation; use dig or nslookup to check resolution.
• Issue: Wrong A record IP. Fix: Verify hosting IP in GoDaddy hosting dashboard or cPanel and update DNS records accordingly.

Time estimate: ~20 minutes

Step 5:

enable SSL and set up email (optional)

Action to take:

1. For Website Builder or GoDaddy hosting, enable the free SSL in the product dashboard or go to My Products > SSL Certificates to install.
2. For business email, set MX records in DNS or purchase Microsoft 365 from GoDaddy and follow setup steps.

Why you are doing it:

SSL (HTTPS) secures data in transit, improves SEO, and builds user trust. Email ensures professional communication under your domain.

Concrete steps:

1. In Website Builder > Settings > SSL and click Enable or Toggle On. 2. For MX records, add records like:

• Type: MX, Host: @, Points to: mx1.examplemail.com, Priority: 0

Expected outcome:

com and email is routed to your chosen provider.

Common issues and fixes:

• Issue: SSL shows as not secure after enabling. Fix: Clear cache, ensure all resources (images, scripts) load via https; update absolute URLs to https.
• Issue: MX record conflicts. Fix: Remove old MX entries and ensure only the correct provider entries exist.

Time estimate: ~15 minutes

Step 6:

publish, monitor, and iterate

Action to take:

1. Publish your site from Website Builder or upload files and verify index.html exists on server root.
2. Set up Google Search Console, add sitemap.xml, and configure Google Analytics or other analytics.
3. Schedule backups and enable automatic updates for WordPress sites.

Why you are doing it:

Publishing makes the site live. Analytics and search indexing help you measure traffic and improve content. Backups protect against data loss.

Concrete steps:

1. Website Builder: click Publish.
2. cPanel: File Manager > public_html > upload index.html or use FTP to place files in public_html.
3. Submit sitemap to Google Search Console: add property and submit URL /sitemap.xml.

Expected outcome:

Your live site is accessible, tracked by analytics, and indexed by search engines over time.

Common issues and fixes:

• Issue: 404 on homepage. Fix: Ensure index.html or index.php is present in the server root and that correct document root is used.
• Issue: Analytics not reporting. Fix: Confirm analytics script is present on all pages and uses the correct property ID.

Time estimate: ~20 minutes

Testing and Validation

How to verify it works with checklist:

1. Visit your domain in a private browser window and confirm the site loads over HTTPS.
2. Use curl or a browser to confirm HTTP status 200: curl -I yourdomain.com
3. Test mobile responsiveness by resizing the browser or using Chrome DevTools device mode.
4. Run a basic Lighthouse audit for performance, accessibility, best practices, and SEO.
5. Check DNS propagation with dig or online tools (whatsmydns.net) to confirm A and CNAME records.

Quick validation commands:

• curl -I yourdomain.com
• dig +short yourdomain.com A

If any checks fail, revisit DNS settings, hosting file locations, and SSL configuration to fix issues.

Common Mistakes

1. Publishing to the wrong folder: Ensure your files are in the web root (public_html or www). Test the index file directly to confirm.
2. Forgetting to add www and root records: Create both A record for @ and CNAME or A for www so both versions resolve.
3. Mixed content errors after enabling SSL: Replace http URLs to https for images, scripts, and stylesheets or use protocol-relative URLs.
4. Not setting up backups or update schedules: For WordPress, enable automatic updates and install a backup plugin or use GoDaddy backup options.

Avoid these by following the DNS checklist, validating SSL, and scheduling maintenance.

FAQ

Do I Need to Use Godaddy Website Builder to Host a Site on Godaddy?

No. You can use GoDaddy Website Builder, Managed WordPress, or cPanel hosting. Website Builder is easiest for no-code sites; cPanel or WordPress gives more control for developers.

How Long Does DNS Propagation Take?

DNS propagation typically completes within a few hours but can take up to 48 hours. Use dig or online DNS checkers to track propagation status.

Is SSL Free on Godaddy Hosting?

Many GoDaddy hosting plans include free automatic SSL provisioning. If not, you can purchase an SSL certificate in My Products and install it. Always enable HTTPS for production sites.

Can I Upload Custom HTML, CSS, and JavaScript to Godaddy?

Yes. On cPanel hosting you can upload files via File Manager or FTP/SFTP into public_html. For Managed WordPress, use child themes or plugins to add custom code.

How Do I Point a Godaddy Domain to a Different Host?

Update the domain’s nameservers to those provided by the other hosting provider or set A records to the host IP in GoDaddy DNS settings. Confirm changes in the other host dashboard.

What If My Site Shows a Security Warning After Enabling SSL?

Check for mixed content (resources loading over HTTP), renew or reissue the SSL if necessary, and clear CDN or browser caches. Correct insecure resource URLs to https.

Next Steps

After publishing, monitor site performance and search visibility. Set up Google Search Console and Analytics, submit a sitemap, and create essential pages like Privacy Policy and Terms. Plan a content schedule to add blog posts or updates monthly.

If traffic increases, optimize images, enable caching or CDN, and consider upgrading hosting for better performance.

Further Reading

• How to Build a Website Godaddy Step-By-Step
• Create a Website Godaddy Step by Step
• How to Make a Website .Com Step-By-Step
• Make a Website Https Step by Step

Sources & Citations

• https://www.godaddy.com. - https://www.godaddy.com.
• https://yourdomain.com - https://yourdomain.com