Launch a site
How to choose a domain and hosting by clear criteria, set up HTTPS and get the site ready for its first visitors.
a reference for small website owners
Websiteprofit — a reference for small website owners
A small website is more than text and images. It is also a domain that has to be renewed on time, hosting, a certificate, backups, updates, contact forms, and questions about how people find the site and whether it can cover its own costs. Websiteprofit is an independent reference that explains all of this in plain language. We promise no earnings or search rankings and sell no links or promotion: just explanations, how-tos and security advice.
A site with a fresh backup and an up-to-date CMS will survive almost any mishap.
Where to start
Make it fast and secure
Updates, strong passwords, two-factor authentication, backups and page speed checks.
Understand search and analytics
What indexing, robots.txt and sitemaps are, which web analytics metrics to watch and what not to expect from them.
Honest monetisation
Ads, affiliate links, paid content and donations: pros, cons and legal requirements in general terms.
Reference sections
- Guides
Step-by-step guides: domain and hosting, HTTPS, backups, updates, privacy policy. The article catalogue lives here too.
- Tools
Types of tools for site owners: hosting control panel, CMS, analytics, speed testing, monitoring, password manager — no brands.
- Comparisons
Comparing hosting types and monetisation methods: what suits when, pros, cons and requirements.
- Fixes
Site won't load, site hacked, comment spam, site gone from search, slow loading, certificate error — what to do.
- Security
Threats to a small website: outdated plugins, weak passwords, spam sign-ups, malicious injections, phishing, domain loss.
- Glossary
Glossary of terms: site and hosting, search and analytics, security and law.
- FAQ
Answers about this reference, launching and maintaining a site, money and the law.
A five-step site check
HTTPS
Open the site and check that the secure connection works on every page and that the browser shows no certificate warnings. Free TLS certificates are issued, for example, by the non-profit certificate authority Let's Encrypt.
Backup
Make sure copies of the files and the database are made regularly and are not stored only on the same server. Try restoring a backup on a test environment: an untested backup may let you down when you need it.
Updates
Check the versions of your CMS, themes and plugins. Remove extensions you don't use: every unnecessary add-on is one more potential vulnerability.
Speed
Test the home page and a couple of typical pages with a speed testing tool. Use the Core Web Vitals as a guide: loading speed of the main content, visual stability and responsiveness.
Forms and personal data
If the site has contact forms or a newsletter sign-up, check that there is a consent notice next to them and a link to your privacy policy.
Common questions in brief
Will you teach me to make money from a website?
We promise no earnings and teach no "schemes". This reference describes honest ways to monetise a site, their pros and cons and the legal requirements; the outcome depends on your audience, your topic and many other factors.
Do you sell links or promotion?
No. We sell no links, placements, promotion or other services. This reference explains how websites and search work so that you can make your own decisions.
Where is the old forum?
The former site's forum has not survived and is not being restored. Some old addresses now open reference pages that explain what used to be there.
Do you name hosting providers and services?
No. We deliberately name no hosting providers, CMSs, plugins or services and publish no rankings. Instead, we describe selection criteria so you can compare offers yourself.
About the project
Websiteprofit is an independent reference for owners of small websites. This domain used to host articles about making money from websites and a forum, and later spam. The current reference is not affiliated with them and does not restore their content.
We write about launching and maintaining a site, speed, accessibility and security, the basics of search and analytics, and honest monetisation. We promise no earnings or rankings, name no hosting providers or services, publish no prices or rankings and quote no unverifiable figures.
Related sections
- Guides
Step-by-step guides: domain and hosting, HTTPS, backups, updates, privacy policy. The article catalogue lives here too.
- Security
Threats to a small website: outdated plugins, weak passwords, spam sign-ups, malicious injections, phishing, domain loss.
- Comparisons
Comparing hosting types and monetisation methods: what suits when, pros, cons and requirements.
Sources
- Let's Encrypt
- web.dev — Core Web Vitals
- W3C — WCAG
- Federal Law No. 152-FZ on Personal Data
Information on standards and laws is based on official sources as of the preparation date. Technologies, search engine rules and laws change, so check the current documentation and the laws in force.