How to Create Your First Website

Getting a website online for the first time involves four things: an account, a domain, some files, and a certificate. This guide walks through all four in the order you will actually meet them.

Before you start

After you order a plan, we send a welcome email containing your cPanel URL, username, and temporary password, plus your server IP and nameservers. Keep it — almost every step below refers to something in it. If it has not arrived within a few minutes, check your spam folder before contacting support, since hosting welcome mail is a common false positive.

Step 1 — Log in to cPanel

Open the cPanel URL from your welcome email and sign in. Change the temporary password immediately under Preferences > Password & Security. Use something long and unique; this account can read and write every file on your site.

Step 2 — Connect your domain

If you registered your domain with us, this is already done and you can skip ahead. If your domain is registered elsewhere, log in to that registrar and set custom nameservers to:

• ns1.nexzahost.com
• ns2.nexzahost.com

DNS changes propagate over the following hours — usually well under two, occasionally up to 24. You can keep working in the meantime.

Step 3 — Put something on the server

You have two realistic options.

Install WordPress

Most people want a CMS. In cPanel open Software > Softaculous Apps Installer, choose WordPress, pick your domain, set an admin username and a strong password, and click Install. It takes under a minute. Do not leave the admin username as admin — it is the first thing automated attacks try.

Upload your own files

If you have a static site or a build output, open Files > File Manager, go to public_html, and upload there. public_html is your web root: a file at public_html/about.html is served at yourdomain.com/about.html. Your homepage must be named index.html or index.php.

Step 4 — Turn on HTTPS

Once DNS resolves to us, go to Security > SSL/TLS Status, select your domain and any subdomains, and click Run AutoSSL. A free Let's Encrypt certificate is issued and renews itself from then on. Then set your site to force HTTPS — in WordPress, set both the WordPress Address and Site Address under Settings > General to the https:// version.

Step 5 — Check it actually works

Visit your domain in a private browsing window, which avoids any cached DNS or old redirects. Confirm the padlock appears, the homepage loads, and internal links work. Test on a phone as well as a desktop — most visitors will arrive on mobile.

Common first-day problems

• Site shows a default or parked page. DNS has not propagated yet, or the nameservers were saved incorrectly at the registrar. Re-check the spelling.
• Padlock missing or a certificate warning. AutoSSL cannot issue until the domain resolves to our server. Wait for DNS, then run it again.
• Mixed content warnings. Something on the page loads over http://. In WordPress, update the two URLs under Settings > General and re-save your permalinks.

If you are stuck on any step, message us on WhatsApp with your domain name and a screenshot. Support is staffed 24/7 and there is no charge for setup help.