This article is part of my Learn How to Use Divi 5 series — a free step-by-step course designed to take you from “I want a website” to “I built one with Divi 5.” This is Lesson 1 of 60, where we’ll cover what you need to build a website.
When I built my very first website, I remember feeling overwhelmed. There were so many moving parts — domain names, hosting, WordPress, themes, plugins — and most of the guides I found assumed I already knew what those things were. If you’re here, you probably just want a clear, beginner-friendly roadmap.
So in this guide, I’ll walk you through exactly what you need to build a website in 2025, step by step. By the end, you’ll know the essential tools to get started, why I recommend certain providers, and how to avoid common beginner mistakes.
And don’t worry — you don’t need to be “techy” for this. If you can use email or shop online, you can build a website with Divi 5.
1 A Domain Name
Think of your domain name as your online street address. It’s what people type into their browser to find you (like dividuck.com).
Quick tips when choosing a domain name:
- Keep it short and easy to spell
- Avoid numbers and hyphens if possible
- If your first choice is taken, try adding a small twist (like “shop,” “online,” or your location)
👉 I personally register my domains with Namecheap because it keeps domain and hosting separate (much easier to manage in the long run). They’re reliable, affordable, and beginner-friendly.
If you want to know more on how to choose a domain name, I have covered it quite extensively before as well as the top 5 domain registrars that I prefer to use.
2 Web Hosting
If your domain is your address, hosting is your house. It’s where all your website files are stored so people can actually visit it.
Now, hosting can make or break your website experience. Cheap hosting often leads to slow load times and security issues. For beginners, I recommend starting with Cloudways or Kinsta.
Why these two?
- Cloudways: Affordable, flexible, and great performance for the price.
- Kinsta: Premium managed hosting with amazing support (perfect if you don’t want to handle the techy stuff).
Both are optimized for WordPress, which means your Divi site will run smoothly.
3 WordPress
Once you have a domain and hosting, you’ll install WordPress. Think of WordPress as the operating system for your website.
The best part? WordPress powers over 40% of all websites worldwide — so you’re in good company. It’s flexible, beginner-friendly, and integrates seamlessly with Divi 5.
Don’t worry — I’ll walk you step by step through installing WordPress in the next lesson.
4 A Website Builder
WordPress is powerful, but out of the box it looks pretty plain. That’s where a website builder comes in.
In this course, I’ll be teaching you Divi 5, the brand-new version of Divi from Elegant Themes. Divi gives you a drag-and-drop visual builder so you can design your website without touching code.
Why Divi?
- It’s beginner-friendly but powerful enough to grow with you
- It comes with hundreds of pre-made layouts
- It has a global design system (so your site looks consistent)
- You can build any type of site — blog, business, online store, portfolio, and more
👉 You’ll see me using Divi throughout this course. If you’re ready to follow along, you can get Divi here
5 A Few Essential Plugins
Plugins are like apps for your WordPress site. You don’t need hundreds of them — just a few essentials to get started:
- SEO plugin (so Google can find your site)
- Backup plugin (so you never lose your hard work)
- Security plugin (to keep hackers out)
I’ll cover which plugins I use (and how to install them) later in the course.
Wrapping Up
So here’s the checklist of what you need to build your website in 2025:
- A domain name
- Hosting
- WordPress
- Divi 5
- A few essential plugins
With these pieces in place, you’ll have everything you need to launch a beautiful, professional website.
👉 Next up: I’ll show you exactly how to choose the right domain name for your site (and avoid beginner mistakes).
And if you’re ready to dive in, here’s my recommendation:
- Register your domain with Namecheap
- Choose Cloudways or Kinsta for hosting
- Grab Divi 5 here
You’ll be fully equipped to follow along with the rest of the course.
