I started to build my own website about one week ago, it takes a lot of searching and comparing effort.
I am sharing the best practice in my mind in developing you own website. Please find the detailed step-by-step process in the following.
In my opinion, it is a one day project :) Feel free to leave comments at the bottom.

Use GitHub as the host of the website

  1. Register one account at GitHub.com
    • If you are first time to GitHub, please check this nice tutorial video
  2. Fork one of the existing Jekyll themes from GitHub repository. I used Dean Attali’s Beautiful Jekyll theme
    • Click the link above at go to the repository for Beautiful Jekyll theme
    • The Fork button is located at the top right corner (right below your username)
  3. Rename the folder forked as <username>.github.io, where the <username> is the github user name you registered at step 1
    • Now your website should be running
    • Open a new tab in the web browser; input https:<username>.github.io and your own website is there!!
  4. Customize the website settings
    • The major custom files are located at \_config.yml, aboutme.md and files in folder _posts
    • The basic markdown tutorial can be found here
    • \_config.yml has detailed explanation; please go through them line-by-line.

    Following is a gif cartoon showing the detailed process, made by Dean Attali Installation steps

Personalize your website with your own domain name

  1. Register your own domain
    • GoDaddy, NameCheap and Google domain are all available to register your personal domain, *.com is highly recommended
    • Pick up your preferred domain name and register it. Please do not forget to Google whether there is any coupon available
    • Now you owned your own domain name
  2. Connect the GitHub website with your custom domain name.
    • Use GoDaddy as an example in this tutorial
    • Configuration on the GitHub side
      • Log into GitHub account → Go to <username>.github.io repository → Settings Github Domain 1
      • Scroll down to GitHub Pages section → Add your domain name to box under Custom domain → Save! Github Domain 2
    • Configuration on GoDaddy side.
      • Log into your GoDaddy account → Go to My Domains → Click the Manage Go Daddy Domain 1
      • Click Manage DNS under Domain Settings → Add the following in the Records Go Daddy Domain 3
  3. Wait a few minutes, type your own domain name into the web browser. :)