If you want to be successful in today’s digital world, then you need to keep up with the online changes that are currently underway. This means that you need to be on social media, you have to be available almost 24/7 (at least during weekdays) and most importantly, you have to have a website. Getting someone to make your website for you can be pretty costly, so why not take a crack at it yourself?
This article aims to shed light on all of the steps involved in crafting your very own website. This will not only save you money in the long run but you will feel accomplished and proud by the end of it and you’ll be able to say that you were really part of every single stage of the business.
Choose a Platform
The first thing you need to do is choose a platform that suits your business needs best. The great thing about designing your own website and the advancements in technology today is the fact that even if you’re already a medium-sized business, this project still works. You do not have to be a small business to create your own website, as platforms are so robust today that unless you’re a large enterprise, you should get away with your own design.
There are loads of different platforms to choose from. Shopify is always a great option, Wix follows closely behind, BigCommerce might be an idea or even SquareSpace. All of these offer different degrees of flexibility and come at different price points, so you need to also choose the one that suits your business’s preferences best and your pocket. The main thing you want to ensure is that it runs smoothly. Just think about all the websites you use on a daily basis or even online games – you’re only interested in the ones that work well, isn’t that right? Say you were on a casino site where time is money and the site suddenly starts to lag, losing your investment, that would be awful, which is why you always pick only the best such as the spinzinga casino because their site never lets you down. It’s exactly the same principle for your business.
Start with Layout, Copy and Images
Once you’ve chosen a platform and you’ve signed up for the package that works best for you, you now need to get into designing it. There are three steps you should follow here: the layout, copy and then images.
With the layout, you can consider using one of the templates provided to you by the eCommerce platform. Shopify and Wix both have plenty of layouts that you can choose but if you want to be more creative, a site like Squarespace that gives you more freedom to work on layouts is also a grand start. Try to assemble the site in a way that makes sense for the end user. As your own website designer, you have to wear many caps, programmer, photographer and UX designer – the latter being the one that’s crucial in this step because they consider how a user engages with the interface, this is therefore an important step in the layout process.
Next, you need to create the copy. Now that you have all the blocks ready in the right place, you need to fill those with words, which is otherwise known as copy. It is your job to create copy that is engaging but also on brand. You could consider ten words that you feel best describe your business and then just keep implementing these into the text. That way, the user reading the site will unconsciously start identifying your business with specific keywords, which is the goal. In this copy you also need to be informative, don’t beat around the bush, make your point and then stick to it.
Beyond these two steps, you also need to think about the images you’re using. If you’re on a tight budget to start, you can use the free images offered on Pexels and Splash, just to get your website out there. However, once you’ve made some turnover, you should re-invest this into the business so that you can take pictures that capture your service, product or merchandise. As the saying goes “A picture speaks a thousand words” and this is very much the case in business too.
Have a Fitting URL and Email and Be Available For Enquiries
Once you have your website set up and it looks great, you need to think about how this all comes across. It’s important that your website has a URL that suits your website and that is easy to find. Although some URLs are already taken, which might be your business name, adding things like “the” or “org” can sometimes get you by quite nicely. The same goes for emails, try to have more than just an “@gmail” account and rather invest in an email that has your business name behind the “@” sign.
Furthermore, make sure that it’s easy for people to get in touch with you via your email. Have a “contact us” page that’s easy to find and make sure that you check that inbox regularly. You’re only as good as the people around you think you are so treat your customers like gold.
