How to start a golf website (or blog) to run a home-based golf business
This is a guide to creating a golf website or blog. By the end of the guide the aim is you’ll have created something you’re proud of and golf lovers enjoy using.
On this page:
Who’s this guide for?
It’s for you if you want to create a profitable content-based website in the golf industry. Our website is focused on affiliate marketing so that’s the business model we’re focussed on. However if you landed here wanting a promotional website for a crazy golf business, driving range or even a golf course – this guide should still be useful.
It doesn’t matter whether you want your golf business to be a little side-hustle for extra cash, or are planning to eventually run it full-time.
Although the business model we’re focused on is using affiliate marketing to generate revenue, remember with content websites they can also insert display ads, bolt on an eCommerce website, and sell services such as golf lessons over Zoom etc. Website building these days is very flexible!
What you’ll need to create your golf website
You’ll need:
- To know the type of golf website you want to create and have a brand name in mind. Read our article about how to make money from the golf industry if you need help with this.
- Some money, not much because it can be created very cheaply. As business start-up costs go, a website is significantly lower than many others.
- A laptop or PC (smartphones won’t allow you to easily set up the design).
- Patience and perseverance!
Now let’s get stuck in. If you want to create a spreadsheet and go through your website creation methodically, there are 7 steps that you’ll need to complete. Here they are.
Steps to create a golf website
- Find a domain name
- Buy low-cost web hosting
- Setup the design
- Add your content
- Monetize your website
- Fix snagging issues
- Make it live!
Alternatively, you can pay a digital media agency to do everything for you if you have the budget available. However, that way of doing things will be significantly more expensive.
Find a domain name
Step 1 is to pick a domain name (web address) suitable for a golf brand.
Before we do anything, you need to decide what to call your new website. And make sure the domain name is available. Popular domain registration services are GoDaddy and Namecheap but there are others out there too.
You don’t need to necessarily register the domain name immediately. Depending on which company you use to get web hosting you can always buy the domain name and web hosting at the same time, this simplifies the process. But if you’re keen to tee-off quickly you can go ahead and register the domain name immediately.
Buy low-cost web hosting
Step 2 is to buy your web hosting or sign-up to a website builder service.
To make things simple you can use a service such as Wix or Squarespace. The benefits are it’s easier to do and can be easier to maintain over the long term. The downside is it will cost more and you have less flexibility with what you can do with your website.
Or if you want to buy web hosting a popular choice is to use a provider such as HostGator or NameCheap and install a content management system such as WordPress. Plenty of other web hosts are also out there.
Expect your website to have a low volume of visitors to start with, so go for the cheapest web hosting package no matter which provider you choose.
Setup the design and logo
Step 3 is to design a logo (or pay for one) and setup your design. If you don’t already have a logo you can use plenty of online services such as Fiverr to get one professionally designed for you.
Web designers rarely focus on creating themes and templates that are niche specific. Instead, you’re best to buy or find a free template that is simple and easy to customize. You can then customize it to make it ideal for golf. Your logo and brand name should make it clear it’s a golf website anyway. And the photos in your content will be golfing pictures too. Those two elements are a key part of how a design feels in a mobile-driven world.
Create a list of snagging issues while you’re getting your design how you want it. Snagging issues are things you can’t work out how to fix yourself. It could be getting an element to be a certain color, or the formatting of images or size of the logo, or other similar problems. Don’t stress over them for hours, write them all down and tackle them later all at once.
When your design is finished, add in an affiliate disclosure to declare to visitors you may receive income if they click on some of your links to other golf companies. This will help you stay on the right side of the law.
Add your content
Step 4 is to add high-quality content that’s what your visitors will want to view.
If it’s a blog you’ve created then get blogging! Chatting about topical golf subjects in your own unique voice is what people want from a blog.
For photographs to include in content you can use online royalty-free stock image websites to find some useful photos. However, the choice is limited so as your business grows it can be better to pay for photos from websites such as Dreamstime, they can be very cheap, as little as $1. Bad photos can ruin a website so don’t even go there! And don’t be afraid next time you’re playing a round of golf to get your smartphone out and take photos you can use in your content.
Once you’ve done your design and now added some content, start to benchmark yourself against other websites you’re going to compete with. For example, if it’s a golf news service you’ve created, how do you compare to GolfDigest?
You don’t want to promote an empty website. Therefore whatever type of site you’re creating make sure it has plenty of excellent content on it before you begin promoting it.
Monetize your website
Step 5 is to monetize your website. It’s not a business without revenue! If you’re using the affiliate marketing business model then our list of affiliate marketing golf programs should help.
If you plan on using third-party ads for revenue, such as Adsense, it’s best to wait a while until you’ve done some marketing and are receiving steady traffic. Otherwise, they might not approve your application.
Plugins are useful if you allow inquiries on your website or downloads of digital products.
Fix snagging issues
Step 6 is to fix any snagging issues.
Inevitably by now you’ll have elements of your website that you’re not happy with. Maybe they’re an actual problem that needs fixing or just something to improve. One by one go through your list of snagging issues and then get blasting search engine searches to try and find solutions. Online forums can be useful. Look out for a website called Stackoverflow that often has good answers.
If you have a small budget and cannot work out how to fix some problems, hire a professional freelancer.
Make it live!
Step 7 is to make everything live. Double check every page you want is published and that the full website is live. Now breathe a sigh of relief, smile, and feel proud!
Check the website on different devices to see how it looks. The design should adapt to different screen sizes. And also ask friends and family members to visit the website to give you some honest feedback.
And that’s it. Now your job is to make it a success. No website can be a success without visitors, so your next adventure is to get on with formulating and executing a marketing plan.
Buy a golf website
If you don’t want to set up a new website from scratch you could try and buy one that’s already established. You will need the appropriate business finances in place to do this.
There are online marketplaces you can use to try and find a golf website for sale. The most popular marketplace is Flippa.
Believe it or not, eBay also lists internet businesses and websites for sale. See them here. But watch out because there are also a lot of low-quality listings and very few listings are golf industry related.
If none of the marketplaces have any for sale, you can also try contacting companies and website owners privately to see if their golf business is for sale or if they’re willing to consider a sale. You never know!
Always carry out your due diligence and be clear on the risks you’re taking by buying any golf website that’s for sale.
Good luck with your venture.
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