Not every brilliant idea starts with a big budget. In fact, some of the most impactful ventures are built on sheer determination as opposed to deep pockets. That’s something Keith Grinsted knows better than most.
As a 72 year-old serial entrepreneur, Keith is a resilient force of nature with countless successful projects under his belt. From supporting loneliness to building communities, Keith’s digital journey is proof that launching a website doesn’t need to break the bank.
Find out how Keith has built and maintained multiple websites for less than the cost of a Friday night chippy tea – and how you can too.
Choose a domain provider with a native website builder
Keith is never short of ideas. His first step? Buying a domain name the moment inspiration hits. It’s a smart move – owning the right name makes all the difference when you’re ready to build.
But Keith’s early experiences weren’t all smooth sailing. Often, he ended up blindly choosing registrars that didn’t offer a native website builder, which necessitated hiring expensive agencies to create the sites. Some of those websites never got finished, eating up valuable time and budget.
Keith takeaway: If you’re just starting out, choose a domain provider that offers a built-in website builder. That way, you can hit the ground running and stay in control from day one.
Get online for as little as £1
Things started looking up for Keith when he discovered Fasthosts. With domain names available for just £1 and website builder plans starting from as little as £10 a month, getting online suddenly didn’t feel so daunting – or expensive.
For Keith, simplicity was key. He didn’t need a flashy site with all the bells and whistles. He just needed something easy to use, reliable, and kind to his wallet – something that would hopefully grow with him as his ideas evolved over time.
Keith takeaway: Start simple. You can always upgrade later, but getting a basic, functional website live is the most important step.
Keep it simple
Over the years, Keith’s launched a number of projects under his Pathway Collective brand. These include Goodbye Lonely, an initiative aimed at supporting people who are experiencing loneliness, isolation, and associated mental health issues. Pathway Collective itself is an online career coaching and mentoring platform designed to help people pursue their passions with ease and a strong sense of direction.
Initially, each of these projects had its own site. But managing five different websites quickly became overwhelming. Keith’s solution? Consolidate. Today, each project is housed under the Pathway Collective roof.
Keith takeaway: Don’t overcomplicate things. If you’ve got several ideas, consider pointing them to a single site.
Know when to upgrade
Keith started out with a website plan that gave him 10 pages in total. For a while, that was enough. But as his projects evolved, he needed more space to showcase what he was working on.
Fortunately, he was able to upgrade quickly and easily with our support – switching to a plan with 350 pages for just £3 more a month. This gave him more flexibility at a minimal rate.
Keith takeaway: Remember to look ahead to the future. Starting small is fine, but make sure your platform has the potential to grow with you, without breaking the bank.
Don’t be afraid to experiment
Perhaps the most empowering part of Keith’s story is that he does it all himself – no tech team, no web developers. Just Keith, a laptop, and the right tools (*cough* Fasthosts *cough*).
With Fasthosts Website Builder, Keith can create contact forms, tweak website content, and test out new layouts – all without publishing changes live straightaway. It gives him the freedom to experiment without worrying about breaking the site.
Keith takeaway: Look for a platform that lets you edit and preview changes before they go live. It’s great for testing new ideas and making updates at your own pace.
The ultimate takeaway? Age, budget, and tech know-how don’t matter
All it takes is one look at what Keith’s achieved over the years to know that launching a website doesn’t require an extensive tech background, a big team, or even a huge budget. All you need is an idea, the right tools, and the drive to get started.
Be more like Keith – don’t wait for perfection. Pick a budget-friendly platform, take that first step, and let your ideas evolve naturally. If you’re thinking of launching something new, or upgrading your existing setup, start simple and get in touch with Fasthosts.
