How publishing a website works: hosting, domains and DNS explained, then publishing, testing on mobile, checking forms and indexing, and fixing common DNS and visibility problems. Includes a launch checklist.
<p class="lead text-xl text-[#3a3a3a] mb-8"> Publishing a website means putting its files on a server that is always online (hosting) and pointing an address at it (a domain) so anyone can open it. With a website builder, hosting is included and publishing is a button. With a custom domain you add one more step: telling your domain's DNS where the site lives. This guide walks through each step and the checks to run after launch. </p>
<h2>1. Prepare your pages and confirm what you own</h2> <ul> <li>Every page has real content, no placeholder text, working links and your correct phone, email and address.</li> <li>Each page has a title and description (see <a href="/guides/website-title-examples">website title examples</a>).</li> <li>You know who controls the domain: which registrar it is with and which account. If an old web designer registered it, get access before launch day.</li> <li>You have permission to use every image and piece of text.</li> </ul>
<h2>2. Hosting, domain and DNS in plain English</h2> <table> <thead><tr><th>Piece</th><th>What it is</th><th>Who usually provides it</th></tr></thead> <tbody> <tr><td>Hosting</td><td>The computer that serves your site to visitors.</td><td>Included with website builders; bought separately for self-built sites.</td></tr> <tr><td>Domain</td><td>Your address, like yourbusiness.com. Rented yearly.</td><td>A domain registrar.</td></tr> <tr><td>DNS</td><td>The directory that says which server a domain points to.</td><td>Usually managed at the registrar.</td></tr> <tr><td>SSL (HTTPS)</td><td>The certificate that gives you the padlock.</td><td>Usually issued automatically by the host.</td></tr> </tbody> </table> <p>Connecting a custom domain usually means adding one or two DNS records (often an A record, a CNAME, or both) at your registrar, using the values your host gives you. Do not delete email-related records (MX, SPF, DKIM) while you do it, or your email can stop working.</p> <figure> <img src="/images/app/domain-1200.webp" alt="The custom domain screen in the We.Inc builder" loading="lazy" width="1200" height="750" /> <figcaption>Connecting a custom domain in We.Inc (custom domains are on paid plans).</figcaption> </figure>
<h2>3. Publish and test on mobile</h2> <p>In a website builder, publishing is usually one button. In We.Inc, a Free plan site publishes to a we.inc address; a custom domain needs Starter ($20/month) or above.</p> <figure> <img src="/images/app/publish-1200.webp" alt="The publish screen in the We.Inc builder" loading="lazy" width="1200" height="750" /> <figcaption>The publish step in the We.Inc builder.</figcaption> </figure> <p>Then open the live address on your own phone, on mobile data rather than office Wi-Fi, and check:</p> <ul> <li>The page loads without zooming or sideways scrolling.</li> <li>The menu opens and every link goes somewhere.</li> <li>The phone number is tappable.</li> <li>Images load and are not stretched.</li> </ul>
<h2>4. Check forms, indexing and link sharing</h2> <ul> <li><strong>Forms:</strong> send a test enquiry with a name you will recognise, and confirm it arrived in the inbox you chose (check spam too). A form that silently fails is worse than no form.</li> <li><strong>Indexing:</strong> add the site to Google Search Console, submit the sitemap if your host provides one, and use URL Inspection to request indexing of the homepage. New sites can take days to weeks to appear.</li> <li><strong>Link sharing:</strong> paste the address into a message app or the <a href="/tools/open-graph-preview">Open Graph preview tool</a> to see the title, description and image people will see when you share it.</li> <li>Run the <a href="/tools/website-grader">website grader</a> for missing titles, headings and image text.</li> </ul>
<h2>5. Troubleshooting</h2> <h3>My domain still shows the old site or an error</h3> <p>DNS changes can take anywhere from minutes to around 48 hours to spread, depending on the old record's cache time. Check the records you entered exactly match what the host asked for, with no extra spaces or duplicate A records. A <a href="/tools/dns-lookup">DNS lookup tool</a> shows what the internet currently sees.</p> <h3>The site works without "www" but not with it (or the reverse)</h3> <p>Both versions need a record. Most hosts ask for one on the root domain and a CNAME on www, and redirect one to the other.</p> <h3>The site is live but not in Google</h3> <p>Check the page is not set to "noindex" or still private or password protected, then request indexing in Search Console. Publishing makes a site public; it does not make it rank.</p> <h3>No padlock / "Not secure" warning</h3> <p>Certificates are often issued a few minutes after DNS resolves. If it persists, recheck DNS, then contact your host.</p>
<h2>Launch worksheet</h2> <pre><code>Domain registrar + login owner: DNS records the host asked for: Email records left untouched? yes/no Published at (address): Mobile test on data: pass/fail Test enquiry received at: Search Console added + sitemap submitted: yes/no Share preview looks right: yes/no Grader issues to fix:</code></pre>
<h2>Build and publish with We.Inc</h2> <p>Hosting is included with the <a href="/website-builder">We.Inc website builder</a>. Start from the <a href="/website-templates/business">business templates</a>. Free plan: up to 3 template sites on a we.inc address, no custom domain. Starter at $20/month adds AI building and custom domains (<a href="/pricing">pricing</a>). Comparing costs? Use the <a href="/tools/website-cost-calculator">website cost calculator</a>.</p> <p><a href="https://my.we.inc/signup">Start building your business website</a></p>
It means putting the site on a server that is always online and giving it a public address, so anyone with the link can open it.
Not with a website builder; hosting is usually included. If you build your own site from code, you need a host.
Often minutes, but DNS changes can take up to about 48 hours to reach everyone depending on caching.
Yes. The Free plan lets you publish up to 3 template sites on a we.inc address. Custom domains and AI building start on Starter at $20/month.
We.Inc is an AI-powered website builder you can resell under your own brand. Launch a branded client dashboard, bill on Stripe Connect, and deliver AI-generated websites in minutes. White-label plans start at $99 a month for 25 client sites, with a 7-day free trial and no per-site fees.