I get a lot of request on how to build an outdoor Website.  Everyone that loves the outdoors has a story to share.  Below are some tips and information that will help you make your own Website dedicated to your outdoor passion.  From kayaking to hiking to biking there’s someone out there that wants to hear your stories.  Of course, if you don’t want to build an entire Website but still have a trip report to share email it to me and I’ll be glad to share it here.

The first thing you’ll need is a domain name.  You can get a domain name at a site like Godaddy.  The domain name for this site is hikingtripreports.com.  I prefer domain names with .com or .org and with no spaces.  hikingtripreports.com is better than hiking-trip-reports.net.   It’s easier for folks to remember and looks better.

After you have a domain name you’ll need Web hosting.  The host is a server (a computer much like your home PC) that will store your page files, your images, and other parts of your site.  When someone request (via a browser like Internet Explorer) to see your site the files are pulled from the server/host.  You don’t need to pay a lot and can find cheap Web hosting options here.  Don’t pay a lot for your first site.  If your site grows and you find you need a bigger plan later you can expand, but to start a basic plan will probably be more than enough.

For the site itself you’ll need to build Web pages and include content and images.  You should supply the content and images and may need a Web designer to build your site.  Ask around for people that can build you a site.  If it’s only a few pages you won’t need much.   If you want a site that’s easy to manage and you can add to often consider Wordpress.  Wordpress is a blogging tool that has a free blog option or you can download the Wordpress software and upload it to your server.  You or someone else can set it up and then all you have to do is log in to your site and post updates.  I use Wordpress for this Website. 

There are a lot more things to know about building a good site, optimizing it for the search engines (SEO), and writing content for the Web.  You should learn these things but those are best learned in other places as there’s more to say than should be added to this outdoor Website.  Good luck and email me if you need tips or help getting your outdoor Website started.  I worked as an SEO manager for many years and know as much about social media as anyone in the industry.