Are you ready to learn how to make a website for the first time?
I believe we
can all agree that having your own website is essential when attempting to
create your brand. Whether you manage a small business or simply want to keep a
blog for pleasure, websites make it simple for customers and followers to
contact you and learn more about what you have to offer. But knowing where to
start might be difficult. It might be scary sometimes. Please use the
timetable to go directly to a certain part.
Learning how
to design your own website is a LOT Simpler than you might expect. Not only is it easy to create a website
for free, but you may also do so with little to no technical knowledge.
It's true, and I'll show you how to create a website in only six simple
steps:
1.
Select
a Website Builder
2.
Recognize
Your Brand
3.
Content Organization
4.
Select
a Host and Choose a Domain Name
5.
Select
a Theme
6. Launch Your Website
Step 1: Select a Site Builder
Website
builders enable you to make your own website according to your needs.
Today. the market
offers a wide choice of software and services directed at creators with a wide
range of skills and expertise in the web development area.
Although they
have been around for a while, modern builders are so capable that it may be
difficult to tell the difference between a website made with a website builder
and one made with the help of an expensive expert.
PRO TIP: Create a free account with WIX to begin easily setting
up your website. As we go forward, you will be able to select a domain and add
premium features.
This is as a
result of the simplification of complex scripts and add-on functionality.
NOTE: What previously could have taken a whole day of coding work can now be completed with a single click.
It is crucial
to choose the correct website builder since you will use it to edit and add to
the content of your site on a regular basis.
If a website
builder becomes too challenging, you can put off making changes, which might
harm the functionality of your website as a whole.
Website
builders with beginner-friendly interfaces are some of the simplest methods to
design websites. Those with drag-and-drop features are among the most often
used solutions.
Making Your Own Website Using Drag-and-Drop Software
While many
people still create websites from the ground up (using just code and scripts),
there are a lot of programs that will teach you how to design a website using
simple drag-and-drop tools.
Many people
don't usually know how to create their first website from scratch, therefore a
variety of web builder websites make it simple for almost anybody to create a
stunning site in a couple of minutes.
The
"what you see is what you get" interface, which lets you physically
drag things into your web page to see how it will look online, holds the key to
this technique.
Every time
you use this surefire approach, you'll get a stunning website.
Making your
own website is frequently as simple as deciding what additional functions you
want and allowing a drag-and-drop tool to handle the majority of work using
website builders.
Choosing a
website theme is the first step in the process. This template, which contains
fonts, colors, and a general design theme, will be used by your site on all of
its pages.
Website
builders provide themes made by professionals who are experienced in how to
best optimize websites for performance. After choosing a theme, you may edit
the design of your website and start adding content.
Once your
data is up, you may pick from a variety of add-ons to give your site greater
functionality. These contain everything from contact forms to maps to services
for search engine optimization.
PRO TIP: Picking the ideal provider for you is
crucial while learning how to create your own website. Wix, Drupal, and Joomla
are a few of the most well-known services.
Your choice
of platform will rely on your level of coding and website design expertise.
Make an online store to sell your products online.
The idea of building an online store could seem difficult. After all, you have to take a lot of things into account. It's an apparently enormous task that includes everything from managing inventory to shopping cart software and everything in between. It is now much simpler, though, because of eCommerce website builders.
The process begins similarly to that of creating a personal website. You may select themes, modifications, and extensions, but you can also add eCommerce tools. Integrated online shop management solutions allow you to concentrate on your business rather than your website.
Shopify
handles all of the things that you would typically have to hire someone else to
do for free. Services such as automatic shipping and tax calculators eliminate
the need for programming experience that would otherwise be required for a site
developed from the bottom up.
NOTE: Analytics, for example,
provide information not only about existing consumers but also about future
customers.
eCommerce
website builders might be a viable option to developing an online store from
scratch, whether you are a smaller business or one which already has a loyal
client following. They clearly reflect the bright eCommerce future, since they
are trusted by some of the greatest retail companies.
Should I use WordPress to build my website?
WordPress is
a content management system-based alternative to website builders (CMS). Unlike
website builders that use a simple drag-and-drop technique, WordPress has a
more complicated user interface that requires more user expertise and
experience.
Despite the
fact that WordPress has a higher learning curve than the ordinary website
builder, many people prefer it.
According to Open Source CMS, almost 50% of all new sites created this year were created with WordPress.
Because
WordPress is an open-source platform, this preference exists. This means that
anybody may develop themes, plugins, and other components to enhance the
functionality and interest of your website. On the other hand, website builders
are typically more exclusive and closed. The best part is that WordPress is
open source and available on any hosting.
Step 2: Recognize
Your Brand
An experience
based on a particular message is provided by a high-quality website. Before
designing a single page, writing any material, or choosing a name, you must
consider this message. You must be aware of your website's goals and utilize
them to direct all future actions.
Your website
should emphasize the fact that you are keen on selling products. You will
require a website built to enable eCommerce in order to achieve that objective.
In contrast, a website that is focused on information exchange doesn't require
features such as a shopping cart.
Instead, you
must be able to present and arrange your knowledge in a visually appealing way.
You can also require various techniques for organizing the material.
Step 3: Content Organization
Your
website's content determines how successful it is. Whether it's images and
descriptions of products, blog posts, news stories, or videos of cats, you need
to be aware of what you have and how various pieces of material may be
combined.
Then, using that
knowledge, you can picture how you want the pages to appear and how the
material will be presented. If you are a true newbie, you might wish to
research the websites that will be your rivals to learn not just what they do
well, but also—and perhaps more importantly—what they get wrong.
By fixing
the flaws of another website, you could attract more visitors to your own. The
constant competition to provide the finest content is one of the wonderful
things about the internet. The end customer gains while competitors fight to
have the greatest websites.
Great
artists steal; good artists copy. Picasso
You are not
required to understand any of this on a technical level. The following
stage cannot be completed without finishing this step, which is just a design
and inspiration stage.
Domain Name
Finding a
company to host your website is the next step. The majority of the
drag-and-drop website builders we discussed above include hosting services as
part of their products. Among them are WordPress and Wix. However, even if you
use one of these services, you are not forced to continue using their web host
(though if you choose to move elsewhere, You may request help in transferring
your website to a new host.).
There are
several services available that enable you to host your website, like GoDaddy
and Bluehost.
Of course, if
you have the necessary servers and advanced technologies, you may host your
website yourself, but if you have limited resources, we don't advise it. Having a third party, such as GoDaddy, host your website
Several
hosting providers are affordable, frequently costing less than one coffee each
month. Understanding how to design websites is one thing, but understanding how
to host a site requires far more expertise. The trick is choosing your own
domain name. Of course, this is the name of your website and how users can
locate you online.
Usually, your
domain name is about the same as the name of your company (or even your own
name if you are making a website all about yourself).
The most
common domain extensions are .com, .org, and .net, but there are more. If
you're using a domain extension, make it one that you can clearly remember.
Getting your
own domain, as opposed to using a service, not only appears more professional but also allows customers to locate and communicate with you more readily.
You should be
able to get your own email with your site's URL, which will look far nicer than
having an address like "example"@gmail.com.
To do this,
ensure that your hosting service provides email. Not all web hosting services
are made alike, so doing additional research to locate a host that offers email
and all else you need to operate your business or brand as smoothly is always
worthwhile.
Not Sure What to Name Your Website? Here are Some Tips
Some people
considered getting a nice domain name or even naming their website. However,
when it comes time to pick, you may discover that you aren't as impressed with
the name, or that another business already holds the domain you desired.
While this
may appear to be a serious blow, it does not have to be. Here is a technique
for getting a new name hammered down to assist you to pick a name.
First and foremost,
you must name your brand. This phase may already be completed if you are
already producing goods and services. However, if you are starting a business
from scratch, this may still be on your to-do list. You should come up with
something unique and interesting, It may take some research, but it is
well worth it.
Next, while
researching domain names, choose something that is as near to your brand name
as possible. In a perfect world, it must also be brief. You need it to be
recognizable and easy for users to put in to go to your website. This should always
take priority over adding keywords to a domain. While keywords are beneficial,
they are not sufficient.
When
selecting an extension, check to see whether the .com version is available. Though
some may consider this to be a mistake due to its widespread use, it is
frequently the first thing a potential consumer would consider.
Step 5: Select a Theme
As explained
previously, you will be asked to choose a theme while creating your website. A
theme may tell your customers a lot about your website, so make sure you select
wisely.
Themes come
in a variety of forms and sizes. They might be basic and minimalistic, or
vibrant and bright.
However there
is no right or wrong answer, it is best to stick to a theme that matches the
overall vibe of your website. If you're advertising a business, you undoubtedly
want to make a positive first impression on potential customers.
Here are some things that we look for in a great theme:
Responsive Design
With a responsive design, your website will appear fantastic on any device. Whether your guests are using a laptop, tablet, or smartphone to browse your website, your website will instantly adjust to suit the screen without getting distorted.
Retina Ready
We used to
believe that DVDs provided the best possible visual quality. Then BluRay
arrived and showed us to properly enjoy a high-definition image. When compared
to 4k and 8k footage, even BluRay now appears grainy.
Websites
operate in a similar manner, and selecting a template that is "retina
ready" is critical if you want all of your users to see the best
possible high-quality version of your site.
Media-Heavy Design
Text is necessary for a website, but let's be honest: sometimes it's simply great to marvel at the pretty pictures. A media-focused template is great for making your content stand out. When selecting a theme, make sure that the design supports your text.
BONUS: To Blog, Or Not To Blog?
The internet
serves as a public platform for you to publish your thoughts and ideas with the
rest of the world. The blog is a popular internet media. Blogs allow authors,
photographers, and aspiring filmmakers to publish their work online on a simple
and easy-to-manage platform. If you've ever considered starting a blog, you're
aware of its potential. If you haven't already, we're here to persuade you that
a blog is a worthwhile addition to any website.
1.
It's useful for marketing. One of the main
advantages of blogging is that search engines like content. If you write
outstanding content, you can discover that your site ranks for terms that will
bring in views and possibly customers.
2.
Adding a blog is simple.The majority of website builders enable you to add a
blog with the click of a button. They also contain the tools you need to easily
add additional blogs..
3.
It can be profitable. Many bloggers make
money from their blogs, either directly via sponsorships or indirectly through
advertisements. While you should not expect to make money from an eCommerce
blog, there is nothing wrong with having advertisements on your personal
website.
4.
It makes you knowledgeable. Writing
about something has the extra benefit of increasing your understanding of the
subject. Many bloggers quickly become authority figures and experts in their
own industries.
5.
It informs others. Aside
from expanding your knowledge, blogs have the potential to expand the knowledge
of others. This may be a very strong position to hold.
We strongly
advise that you include a blog on every new website you establish. There are
several good reasons to do so, and hardly none not to.
SUPER BONUS: Tap into the Power of Analytics
Analytics is
an essential component of website development. They can tell you not just how
many people are visiting your sites, but also precise information about those
viewers that you can use to attract more or fewer people like them.
When you
initially start out, you may believe you have a decent broad concept of who
your target audience is and how they will find your website. Analytics may
broaden this concept and perhaps give insights into undiscovered markets relevant
to you.
Keyword data shows you all of the searches that lead
users to your website. If you wish to broaden your coverage, this data can also
tell you how effective you are at bringing in a new audience.
If you manage
an online store, you need to understand your customers. Analytics reveals a lot
about the individuals that visit your store, including how long they stay
as well as what they engage with. This information is highly useful
when thinking about how to develop your website and may even be used to test the
efficiency of various features.
These ideas
are equally applicable to personal websites. If your portfolio site is aimed at
a certain audience, for example, you may monitor your analytics to determine if
that audience is finding and using your site as you intended.
The bounce
rate is a very
useful metric for analyzing how visitors interact with your website. The
proportion of visitors that leave your site after reading only one page is
referred to as the bounce rate. A high bounce rate might indicate a badly
designed website or one that consumers do not find interesting enough to stay
on.
It is simple
to join up for services like Google Analytics, and most website builders allow
you to link your site to their tool with a single click. If your website
builder does not provide the service directly, you may add a simple bit of code
to your site header.
Step 6: Launch Your Site
You can publish your website online for everybody to see once you've finished building and designing it. You may eventually feel ready to make changes or even start again. A website is a live, breathing organism that requires a great deal of time and works to modify and optimize.
You will undoubtedly become a pro with time, but in the meanwhile, keep learning, read our frequently updated website, and never be afraid to take chances!
Learning how
to create a website is much simpler than you would believe at first. Get out
there and begin building! And leave us a comment if you have any questions <3
