How Do I Create a Website?

There was a lot I didn’t know when I decided to start my own business. I thought if I built a website, they would come. They did not. Most businesses don’t start with a website. Which, should make sense since I am always doing things a bit different. Having my own website had been a dream of mine for years, but I didn’t know how to make it happen. I did collect a few domain names over the years (what comes after www and ends with .com, net, or org—I even saw .party recently—I’m looking into it).

In hindsight, I ended up completely shifting offers and services and even the nature of my business, so it didn’t matter. I had heard of the term SEO. I had not heard of landing page, opt-in, or key performance indicators.

I created a course and it was hosted on my website. I did not sell anything by someone finding me on google. There were some things working against me. One, I wasn’t clear on what I wanted to do, or what my offer was. For me, owning the website was exactly what I needed to propel me to do all the other necessary things—file as an LLC, register as a business, and set up a bank account. I didn’t know how SEO worked, that keywords mattered, and I was intimidated by starting a blog. So I didn’t.

And, that is what brings me here, writing this blog post now. I want to take away YOUR overwhelm and the hefty price tag of hiring an expensive designer. Well worth it when you are making money, but not always possible when you are beginning. And, if you have a lot of custom code at the beginning, you will need to keep hiring someone when an error occurs, or when you want to update something quickly. And you will want to change things! Your prices will hopefully increase, you will add more features to your existing services, or change them altogether. My goal in designing beginner websites is to get your dream into the world quickly and then you will know what to do when you want to make a change. OR, to be stuck not starting because it is too intimidating. So, that is the behind the scenes of my “why.” And now, let’s talk about what you can do to get started.

I Want a Website for my Business. How do I create one?

Let’s talk domains and hosting. The reason I only work with Squarespace currently, is how easy it is to set up, and yet is still professional. Some of the other sites are harder to maneuver and require a lot of coding. You can search templates you like for ideas, and begin taking notes about what you like and don’t like. For beginners, there are only a few necessary pages. Home and About pages are the most important. Others at the beginning may include Services, Contact, or Blog. You can begin to collect and create content for these pages before you DIY or hire someone. For more information, download my freebie for what you need for your Home and About page.

Start collecting pictures of yourself that you like and that you feel comfortable showing on a website. Keep it professional. Start taking pictures that inspire you. Write down websites that you find easy to navigate and that match your style. You can collect pictures that are free for commercial use online, and start a folder or folders of topics or colors.

Squarespace has numerous tutorials, so you can begin there to learn the basics. There are also a lot of videos on YouTube from designers. Of course, you can always hire a branding expert, an SEO expert, a copywriter, a professional photographer and a Logo designer. All of this adds up though, and is not necessary to BEGIN. You can always improve and pay for those features in the future. You need to start somewhere. You can’t improve if you do NOTHING.

Website Design v. Website Marketing

What do you want potential clients to do when they land on your site? How are they going to find you?

These two go hand in hand. There is a strategy behind design. It needs to be what you like, but also what will attract your ideal client. There needs to be a focus for your website and a goal for what you want potential clients to do—call you, hire you, sign up for your email—navigation is key. Color consistency is key.

Online Marketing Strategies

Blogging can bring  people to your site. It is a slow process though. Start creating content ideas related to your business that  you will be able to write about weekly or monthly. Or, even better, start writing content.

Even if you hire someone to build your website, you are going to have work to do. You will need to provide your opinion, your words, your autobiography, your color choices, what images you like. .  . Save things on your phone, in a notebook, or on a Pinterest board.

If you are thinking about a business, or have one already and want to do something, but don’t know where to begin, drop an email my way. I will help you get some action steps in place to get started. Or, if there is anything you have questions about, let me know!

—Until next time,

Fancy