Before we dive into the steps, make sure you have the following prerequisites in place:

1. An AWS Account: You'll need an AWS account to access and configure the necessary services. If you don't have one, you can sign up for free on the AWS website.

2. A Domain Name (Optional): If you want to use a custom domain (e.g., yourwebsite.com), you'll need to purchase one from a domain registrar like AWS Route 53, GoDaddy, or Namecheap.

Step 1: Create an S3 Bucket

1. Log in to AWS Console: Log in to your AWS account, and navigate to the AWS Management Console.

2. Open S3: In the AWS Management Console, locate and open the Amazon S3 service.

3. Create a Bucket: Click the "Create bucket" button. Give your bucket a unique and meaningful name. AWS bucket names must be globally unique.

4. Configure Options: You can choose your preferred region and configure additional settings. For static website hosting, the default settings are usually sufficient.

5. Set Permissions: In the "Set permissions" section, make sure to uncheck "Block all public access." We'll configure specific permissions later.

6. Review and Create: Review your settings and create the bucket.

Step 2: Upload Your Website Files

1. Select Your Bucket: Once your bucket is created, select it from the S3 dashboard.

2. Upload Files: Click the "Upload" button and select the files for your website. This includes your HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and any other assets. You can also drag and drop files directly into the bucket.

3. Set Permissions: After uploading your files, select them and click the "Actions" button. Choose "Make public" to allow public access to your website files.

Step 3: Enable Static Website Hosting

1. Select the Bucket: Go back to your bucket's overview page.

2. Properties: Click on the "Properties" tab.

3. Static Website Hosting: Scroll down to the "Static website hosting" section and click "Edit."

4. Enable: Select the "Use this bucket to host a website" option.

5. Index Document: Specify the name of your website's main HTML file (e.g., index.html).

6. Error Document (Optional): You can specify a custom error page, but this is optional.

7. Save Changes: Click "Save changes" to enable static website hosting.

Step 4: Configure DNS (Optional)

If you want to use a custom domain name for your website, you'll need to configure DNS settings. Here's a simplified guide:

1. Route 53: If you purchased your domain through AWS Route 53, you can follow their documentation for configuring the domain.

2. External Domain Registrar: If you're using a domain registrar like GoDaddy or Namecheap, you'll need to configure DNS settings there. Create a CNAME record pointing to your S3 bucket's website endpoint (you can find this endpoint in the S3 bucket properties).

Step 5: Access Your Website

After completing the setup, your static website should be live! You can access it using the URL provided in the S3 bucket's static website hosting settings. If you configured a custom domain, it may take some time (usually a few hours) for DNS changes to propagate across the internet.