Make A Budget Website for Business : The £20 Strategy
Watch the Full Technical Breakdown
I provide a complete screen-recording showing exactly where to click to set up your domain, hosting, and WordPress profile.
Watch the Masterclass Video →Operator’s Briefing: Pillar 5 : Stage 1
Context: A professional website is the headquarters of your business, but it should not be a financial liability. In this masterclass session of the ZulfTalks Podcast, I document the exact technical framework I used to launch ZulfTalks.com in under 30 minutes for less than $20. This guide provides the direct actions needed to bypass high monthly subscriptions and build a scalable digital infrastructure using my “House with Rooms” strategy for 15+ brands.
The Budget Myth : Practitioner vs. Commentator
You may be currently thinking about setting up a website, but you do not want to spend a lot of money or hire a developer. Many “commentators” will tell you that you need to pay $20 a month for builders like Wix or Squarespace. As an operator, I look for technical efficiency. I recently secured a domain for two years for just £17.04 (roughly $25), which averages out to £8.52 per year. This is not a theory: it is the exact process I used to move my own projects from a $70 Amazon microphone and a laptop to a professional media network. Below is the step by step action flow to achieve these results.
The 6-Step Budget Workflow
1. Branding & Research
Get a notepad and write down your ideas. You must research your name to ensure it is available across social media and as a domain. Alignment is key for a professional brand footprint.
2. Secure the Domain (UK vs. Global)
If you are in the UK, use Freeola (F-R-double-E-O-L-A). I have used them for 9 years and their support is excellent. For global domains, use Namecheap. Buy for 2 years to lock in the lower rate.
3. The “House with Rooms” Hosting Logic
Do not buy separate hosting for every site. Buy one main plan (roughly $4.95 to $6.95 per month) and use it as your “House.” Every new project you launch is just a new “Room” inside that same hosting account.
4. Deploy WordPress & SSL
Install WordPress via your hosting dashboard. Manage your own SSL certificate (the safety lock) to prove to your audience and search engines that your digital HQ is secure.
5. Content Architecture (The MyLinks Page)
Design a simple, single-page site. Add a profile icon, bio, and direct links to your YouTube, Podcast, and Shop. This keeps your audience inside your trusted ecosystem without third-party ads.
6. Scale with Domain Forwarding
For new projects like ZofPhotography.com, buy the domain name only. Set “Domain Forwarding” to a specific WordPress post on your main site. Test the traffic before investing in more technical overhead.
Market Comparison : The Data
To understand the value of this practitioner strategy, consider the common alternatives. Builders like Wix or Squarespace result in high technical debt, costing you $200 to $300 per year for a single project. Hiring a setup on Fiverr costs $80 to $120 one-time. By following this DIY workflow, you operate at roughly $0.80 per month, giving you the ultimate flexibility to test multiple business ideas without financial risk.
Operator’s Briefing: Pillar 5 : Stage 1
Context: A professional website is the headquarters of your business: but it should not be a financial liability. In this masterclass: I document the exact workflow I used to launch ZulfTalks.com in under 30 minutes for less than $20. This guide provides the direct actions needed to bypass high monthly subscriptions and build a scalable digital infrastructure using my “House with Rooms” strategy.
If you are currently thinking about setting up a website: you likely want to avoid high costs, complex coding, or hiring expensive developers. I recently built a professional: single-page site that houses all my social media links and podcast episodes for just £16 (roughly $20) for two years. Below is the direct: step by step action plan I used to achieve this.
The Step-By-Step Workflow
Action 1: Branding and Research
Get a notepad and write down your branding ideas. Research your name availability before committing. You must ensure your domain name matches your social media handles for a consistent brand identity.
Action 2: Secure Your Domain Name
Purchase your domain for at least two years to lock in your price. If you are in the UK: use Freeola (F-R-double-E-O-L-A). I have used them for nine years and their support is excellent. For US or global markets: use Namecheap. I paid £17.04 for two years on my latest domain: which averages just £8.52 ($12.43) per year.
Action 3: Implement the “House with Rooms” Hosting
Do not buy a new hosting plan for every website. Purchase one main hosting plan (roughly $4.95 per month) and use it as your “House.” You can then point as many domain names as you want to this single plan. Each project is simply a new “Room” inside your master hosting account.
Action 4: Deploy WordPress and SSL
Install WordPress via your hosting dashboard. It is intuitive and allows you to manage your own SSL certificate (the safety lock icon). This ensures your site is safe for viewers and protects your professional reputation.
Action 5: Build Your “MyLinks” Profile Page
Create a simple: single-page layout. Add a profile icon: your business name: and a short bio. Below this: add links to your social media, podcast, and YouTube channel. This replaces third-party link tools and keeps your audience inside your own ad-free ecosystem.
Action 6: Test New Projects with Domain Forwarding
If you want to launch a secondary project like ZofPhotography.com: buy the domain name only. Go into your settings and set “Domain Forwarding” to a specific post on your main site (e.g., ZulfTalks.com/photography). This allows you to test if an idea is successful before investing in more hosting costs.
Market Comparison and Verdict
To understand why this is the superior operator strategy: consider the alternatives. Mainstream builders like Wix will charge you between $18 and $25 every single month. If you hire a developer on Fiverr: you might pay $80 to $120 for a basic setup. By following my DIY workflow: you spend only $0.80 per month for your domain while leveraging hosting you already own. This gives you maximum flexibility to pivot and scale without technical debt.
The Next Objective
Now that your website is secure: the next step is automating your time. Learn how to let clients book strategy sessions in their own time zone for free.
Stage 6: Scaling →
Zulfiqar Ali
Google-Certified Data Analyst and Managing Director of Trusted Creators. Zulf uses his 18 years of experience to provide honest: technical documentation for creators moving from DIY to CEO.
