Website design isn’t just for the tech-savvy, as you may have presumed. If you have a growing business or brand, then a website is a must-have. On the other hand, if you’re wanting to start a blog or dabble in web design just for sheer pleasure, then you shouldn’t let the learning curve scare you away either. Here will be discussed the quickest and most affordable way for beginners to build a website.
Foreshadowing
Table of Contents
Without a roadmap of where you’re headed, you might find yourself lost or having missed a crucial step. Here’s an example to consider: You want to create a blog—an endeavor that appears simple enough to just dive right in. But what if the content you create is actually up to snuff and you decide to start selling some kind of merch related to it. This would require you to have a website that has payment functions, and integrating such features into your page might be a challenge depending on what website builder you chose.
So try to think of every possible direction your website might fork off into. It will save you more hassle in the long run. Speaking of hassling—keep the legal threats at a minimum by protecting yourself and users with a privacy policy. Check out a sample privacy policy template to get an idea of how to write one up. A privacy policy will ensure that your website is in compliance with the law and help you avoid legal problems.
Visualization
Most creative minds pull inspiration from artists they admire. Designing a website is no exception. Take a look at some of the websites you enjoy or ones that have a large following. It’s not a necessary step in the process, however, it might be the impetus that drives you toward the image or idea you want to send to the world—both of which are essential in captivating an audience.
This leads to the next point about knowing your audience. Who will be seeking out your services? What Google search will it be that lands, someone, on your page? These are things to consider when optimizing your website for traffic. You wouldn’t speak to a group of kindergartners the same way you would an audience full of senior citizens. So think about what kind of audience you want to attract and how you can keep them coming back.
Domain Name
The chosen domain name will be repeated and printed hundreds to thousands of times. It goes without saying that selecting a domain name that both reflects your company, brand, or blog and will resonate and be remembered by users is vital. There are more factors to consider than just these obvious ones. So be sure to educate yourself on the strategy behind this decision.
Social Media
Embrace all forms of social media that you can, and your page will surely bear fruit in some capacity. Social media is one of the best ways to spread the word about your website, and it’s totally free. Either add a link to your social media platforms at the header or footer or pin them to the margin of your page that will stay there as users scroll.
You’ll need to stay active on your social media site and your website in order for your pages to get traffic. It will keep your website relevant on search engines and allow your site to get bumped up in the sea of competition.
Search Engine Optimization
Next to social media, optimizing your website for SEO is of the utmost importance. SEO is the gateway that will lead to more traffic on your page. The great thing about SEO is that the traffic it brings are people who are genuinely interested in what your website offers.
The difference can be summed up simply: Are you interested in every billboard you pass? Probably not. Will you visit the page advertised on it? Maybe, just out of curiosity. But with SEO, visitors will actually have the intention of buying or bookmarking your page. So that makes a world of a difference and far surpasses outdated marketing strategies like billboards or radio ads.
If you own a business, then SEO something you pay a fee for, but continues to make you money in the future. Save a penny by not seeking out SEO support, and lose out on hundreds, maybe even thousands in the future.
Kickstarting your first website is an exciting and rewarding experience. Be sure not to skip any steps so that there’s no backtracking that has to be done in regards to the type of website you use or the audience you target. Visualize, and send a message to the world you can be proud of.
