Welcome to the first steps in setting up your new website!!
It’s time to start thinking about what you’d like your site to look like and to sign up for the tools that we’ll need to set up your site. This page provides you with links to examples of some of the websites I’ve built as well as links to the tools we’ll need to build your site.
Design Considerations
One of the first things we’ll want to look at, is the general look for your website.
To give you some ideas, here’s a link to some of the websites I’ve built for clients to give you an idea of different looks for Thesis.
We’re going to want to start working on your header image, and here’s a link to my calendar so we can schedule time to do that.
Tools we’ll need to set up your website
In this section you’ll find my affiliate links to the tools I’ll need to set up your website. Yes, I do earn commissions if you sign up using these links and the cost is the same as if you were to go directly to the website for each service. Though I would love you to sign up using my affiliate links, I’m completely happy with you choosing not to do so.
HostGator
Use this coupon to get a 25% discount on your annual hosting plan: MARYNA25OFF
Using the image link below, sign up for a HostGator Baby plan – this gives us all the flexibility we need.
![](https://tracking.hostgator.com/img/Shared/468x60.gif)
While signing up, HostGator will invite you to sign up for these additional services:
![HostGator Services](https://www.marynasmuts.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/HostGator-Services.png)
Depending on your budget, you can decide whether or not you’d like any of these services. I personally don’t have them for my own HostGator account, but do believe they’re worth having if your budget allows. For Backups, I use a WordPress Plugin. And I’m considering adding the SEO product to my account at some stage – it’s a relatively new service that HostGator offers and wasn’t available when I originally signed up for my account.
Once you’ve signed up for your HostGator account, please forward the email from HostGator to maryna@marynasmuts.com. I’ll need the link and signup information there to configure your site and install WordPress and Thesis.
AWeber
We can wait to sign up for your AWeber account until the rest of your site is almost ready. That way the $1 free monthly membership will only start then and we’ll delay your monthly $19 billing cycle.
When you’re ready to sign up, you can use the link below. After you have the account, I’ll need the login details to set up and configure your email list and the signup form that we’ll set up in your sidebar.