Creating a Discord Server in 2023 101 (how I did it)

Introduction to Discord

Discord is a popular communication platform designed for gamers, but it has quickly become a versatile tool for anyone looking to create a community or connect with like-minded people. With Discord, you can create your own server and tailor it to your specific needs. Whether you want to create a space for your friends to chat, build a community around your favorite game or hobby, or connect with fellow professionals, Discord has you covered.

I, for example, use Discord as an option to get in touch with my YouTube viewers, via YouTube comments that would be difficult.

Why create a Discord server?

There are many benefits to creating your own Discord server. For one, Discord is a great way to keep in touch with friends or colleagues. You can create different channels for different topics, making it easy to organize conversations and stay on top of important discussions. Additionally, Discord is a great way to build a community around a shared interest or hobby. Whether you're a gamer, a musician, or a podcaster, Discord can help you connect with like-minded people and build a dedicated following.

And since my website is open I wanted to take the opportunity with this article to explain it once. Also, Discord likes to change things, but this article is new now and will be kept up to date by me.

Step-by-step guide to creating a Discord server

Here's what you need to do:

  1. Open Discord and sign in, or create an account if you don't already have one.
  2. Click the plus icon on the left-hand side of the screen to create a new server. If you don't see the plus icon on the left, you may have to scroll down the server list.
  3. Choose a name.
  4. Click the create button to create your new server.

Ready! But now there are still some things missing.

Creating channels and setting permissions

On my server there is not one channel where everyone writes in, but I have several channels divided by category. One "General", one for texture pack questions and so on.

Once you've created your server, you'll want to create channels to organize your conversations. You can create channels for different topics or purposes, such as general chat, announcements, or specific games or hobbies. Here's how to create a new channel:

  1. Right-click on your server name in the left-hand menu and select "Create Channel".
  2. Choose a name for your new channel and select the type of channel you want (text or voice).
  3. Click the "Create Channel" button to create your new channel.

You can also set permissions for each channel, controlling who can see and access each channel. Here's how to set permissions:

  1. Right-click on the channel you want to set permissions for and select "Edit Channel".
  2. Click the "Permissions" tab.
  3. Select the roles or users you want to set permissions for and choose the permissions you want to give them. More details about permissions and roles can be found here.

Adding roles and setting up permissions for admins and moderators

You can create roles for admins, moderators, and regular users, and set up permissions for each role. Here's how to create a new role:

  1. Click the server settings icon (the gear icon) at the bottom of the left-hand menu.
  2. Click the "Roles" tab.
  3. Click the plus button to create a new role.
  4. Give your new role a name and choose the permissions you want to give it.

Once you've created your roles, you can assign them to users by right-clicking on their name and selecting "Roles". You can also set up permissions for each role by following the steps outlined in the previous section.

Customizing your Discord server - adding a banner, profile picture, and server icon

Customizing your Discord server is easy and can help give your server a unique look and feel. Here's how to customize your server:

  1. Again Click the server settings icon at the bottom of the left-hand menu.
  2. Click the pencil icon next to the server name to change the name of your server.
  3. Click the "Overview" section to upload a profile picture

Promoting your Discord server for free

Once you've created your Discord server, you'll want to promote it to attract new members. There are many ways to promote your server for free, including:

  1. Sharing your server on social media platforms like Tiktok, Instagram, YouTube. That's how I did it, as you can see there is always a link to my Discord in my video description.
  2. Joining other Discord servers and promoting your server in their self-promotion channels.
  3. Hosting events or giveaways on your server to attract new members.
  4. Providing value. Do you have anything or can you write about something that could help others and they would join your Discord for it? You could for example make a channel "#how-to-..." where you show depending on a certain thing that can be seen only exclusively on his server.

Tip: Spamming others with your Discord invite link does not work and only disturbs.

Conclusion

Creating your own Discord server is really easy. With the steps outlined in this guide, you can create your own server in just a few minutes and customize it to suit your needs. Whether you're a gamer, a musician, or a professional, Discord has something to offer everyone. So why not create your own server today and start building your own community?

This article really only explains the basics, but the important thing is: The basics are enough. I did not know more either. A lot is just playing around now, maybe testing with a friend when setting permissions and roles.

Good luck!

By the way if you haven't done it yet, you should join my discord.