Build Your Own Website: Our First Class Series

What We’re Building

The first series of GSM.elevate() classes is all about understanding how the web works and building your own website. By the end, you’ll have a real site that you built and launched yourself.

We’re using WordPress as our hands-on example, but the fundamentals you’ll learn apply to any website or web platform.

What You’ll Learn

Here’s what we’ll cover across the series:

• Domain registrars: how you get a website address, what you’re actually paying for, and how to pick one
• DNS: what happens between typing a URL and seeing a webpage, and why it matters
• HTML fundamentals: the building blocks behind every website, even the ones that don’t look like code
• WordPress: setting up a site, choosing a theme, adding content, and getting it live on the internet

Each week builds on the last, but you can join at any point. If you missed a topic, we’ll get you caught up.

Who This Is For

Everyone. If you’ve ever wanted your own website for a business, a portfolio, a blog, or just to learn how it works, this is a good place to start. You don’t need any technical background.

When and Where

Every Thursday from 6:30 to 7:30 PM in Athens, TN, starting April 16, 2026.

Bring a laptop if you have one. If you don’t, come anyway. There’s plenty you can follow along with and we’ll make sure you’re not left behind.

What Comes Next

This is just the first topic in a rotating series. Once we wrap up the website build, we’ll move on to something new. Topics are driven by what the community wants to learn, so if there’s something you’re curious about, bring it up.

Check out What GSM.elevate() Is All About if you want to know more about how the community works.