How to Build a Course Website for Online Makeup Artists

Updated 2026-06-25 · Hosting Reviews

If you’re a makeup artist looking to sell courses from your own website, a makeup artist course website can be a game changer. You’ll need a reliable host, a domain, a learning management system (LMS), and a payment gateway. This guide cuts through the noise and gives you a clear, budget‑friendly path—especially if you choose Hostinger for hosting and domain registration.

1. Pick the Right Hosting Plan

For an online course site you want speed, uptime, and enough resources for video streaming and database queries. Hostinger offers shared, cloud, and VPS plans that cover these needs.

• Shared hosting ($3–$10/month) is fine for a new course site with modest traffic. It’s the cheapest route and includes one‑click WordPress installs.
• Cloud hosting ($10–$25/month) gives more bandwidth, better scaling, and automatic backups—ideal if you expect rapid growth.
• VPS ($20–$50/month) offers full root access and the most control, useful if you plan to host heavy media files or custom software.

All Hostinger plans come with free SSL, a 30‑day money‑back guarantee, and 24/7 support, so you can start confidently.

2. Secure a Domain and Set It Up

Domain prices at Hostinger range from $0.99 to $15/year, depending on the TLD and promotions. Once you purchase, the domain auto‑points to your hosting account. If you’re buying both at Hostinger, you’ll get a free domain for the first year with many plans.

After registration, use the Hostinger control panel to set up email forwarding and DNS records. Keep the name servers pointing to Hostinger to avoid extra DNS costs.

3. Choose the Platform: WordPress + LMS vs Website Builder

WordPress with an LMS plugin is the most flexible, cost‑effective combo. You’ll pay for hosting, a domain, and the plugin—nothing more.

• WordPress + LearnDash ($59/year) or LearnPress (free core, paid add‑ons) lets you drip‑feed lessons, set quizzes, and manage users.
• Wix, Squarespace, or Kajabi are all‑in‑one builders but can cost $20–$50/month and lock you into their ecosystems.

If you prefer a drag‑and‑drop builder, consider Teachable or Thinkific, but note their transaction fees and limited design flexibility.

4. Build the Course Site Step‑by‑Step

1. Install WordPress via Hostinger’s one‑click installer.
2. Choose a lightweight theme (e.g., Astra or OceanWP) to keep load times low.
3. Install an LMS plugin (LearnDash or LearnPress) and configure course settings.
4. Upload video lessons to a CDN or YouTube (unlisted) and embed them in lessons.
5. Set up drip content so new students receive lessons on a schedule.
6. Add a payment gateway—Stripe or PayPal—via the LMS plugin or a dedicated WooCommerce extension.
7. Configure email notifications for enrollment, completion, and reminders.
8. Test the checkout flow with a sandbox account to ensure payments go through.
9. Enable caching (LiteSpeed Cache, WP Rocket) and a CDN to speed up video delivery.
10. Launch the site and announce it to your email list.

5. Keep Speed, Security, and Costs in Check

• Speed: Use a lightweight theme, compress images, and enable lazy loading. Hostinger’s SSD storage and 24/7 uptime give a solid foundation.
• Security: Enable the free SSL, use a strong password, and install a security plugin like Wordfence or Sucuri.
• Cost control: Stick to the shared plan until traffic hits 20,000 visits/month, then upgrade. Use the Hostinger promotional pricing for the first year, but budget for renewal rates.

6. Scale as Your Audience Grows

When you hit 50,000 monthly visits or need to host larger video libraries, move to a cloud or VPS plan. Hostinger’s cloud instances let you add RAM and CPU with a single click. You can also offload video hosting to a dedicated platform like Vimeo Pro or Wistia and embed the player.

FAQ

What is the cheapest way to start an online makeup course site?

Start with Hostinger’s shared hosting ($3–$10/month), a free domain for the first year, and the free LearnPress core plugin. Add premium add‑ons only when you need extra features.

Can I host my videos on Hostinger or should I use a separate service?

Hostinger can host small video files, but for smooth playback and lower bandwidth usage, use a dedicated video host like Vimeo or YouTube (unlisted) and embed the links. This saves storage and bandwidth on your hosting plan.

Will I lose 100% of my revenue if I use WordPress and LearnDash?

Yes. With WordPress + LearnDash (or LearnPress) you control the entire sales funnel, so you keep 100% of the course fees. Only payment processors (Stripe, PayPal) take a small transaction fee.