{"id":10485,"date":"2023-03-14T09:20:37","date_gmt":"2023-03-14T13:20:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wordpress-715453-3009179.cloudwaysapps.com\/?p=10485"},"modified":"2023-12-21T13:40:19","modified_gmt":"2023-12-21T18:40:19","slug":"how-to-make-your-own-website","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wordpress-715453-3009179.cloudwaysapps.com\/blog\/how-to-make-your-own-website\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Make A Website in 2024: A Comprehensive 9-Step Guide"},"content":{"rendered":"
Learning how to make your own website from scratch can feel like an enormous task, especially if you have limited technical knowledge. But don\u2019t skip it! A website is your digital storefront, a central place for people to learn about your offerings, get acquainted with your brand, and contact you.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n Whether you sell services or physical products, a website is a prime place to communicate and show what you have to offer.<\/p>\n Your website doesn\u2019t have to be perfect when you launch it (hint: it won\u2019t be!). But if you spend the time making it look legitimate while answering your customer\u2019s most pressing questions, it\u2019ll set you up for success.\u00a0Remember, a website is different from a Facebook page. A website gives you full control over the content on your pages.<\/p>\n Here are nine steps to show you how to make your own website for a new business or project.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n Let\u2019s get into the easiest 9-step process to making your own website. We cover the costs involved and all the various options depending on your needs.<\/p>\n Assuming you know your business name<\/a>, it\u2019s time to buy a domain! A free domain won’t look trustworthy or professional, so it’s worth the investment!<\/p>\n Get a leg-up on search engine optimization by including the full name of your business in your website URL, ideally with the .com extension. So if your business name is Yummm Catering, look for yummmcatering.com.<\/p>\n Expect to pay approximately $20+ for a simple domain that may or may not have the .com extension. Costs go up if the name is shorter and snappier!<\/p>\n NameMesh is an excellent tool for checking your custom domain. Type in your company name and see if the .com address is available. If it is and doesn\u2019t cost a fortune, you can purchase it from GoDaddy or another web host. Web hosting prices vary, but there are many affordable hosting options<\/a> to explore.<\/p>\n If it isn\u2019t available, don\u2019t worry \u2014 you still have options. The first step is to go to the .com address and see what\u2019s there. If it\u2019s a company that would be in direct competition with your business, you probably want to rethink your name.<\/p>\n But if it\u2019s a parked address or something unrelated to what you\u2019re doing, you can:<\/p>\n If you opt to use a website builder (more on that in Step 2), you could buy your custom domain directly from them. If you buy a domain somewhere else first, you can still connect it to website builders or a WordPress site.<\/p>\n Even if you\u2019re not 100% ready to create a website, we recommend securing the domain if it\u2019s available \u2014 it\u2019s one less thing to worry about.<\/p>\n Got it? Onward.<\/p>\n Once you\u2019ve picked your business name and secured an available domain, you have three main options for building your website:<\/p>\n Using a content management system (CMS) like WordPress<\/a> is usually the cheapest DIY option, but often requires more setup<\/strong> than a website builder. You\u2019ll have to purchase a domain and hosting provider separately (these will renew monthly or annually) and then connect them with WordPress dashboard to install a template, add content, and manage your site.<\/p>\n Cost to create a website:<\/strong> From $5 Basic to $59 Commerce priced monthly, billed annually.\u00a0 WordPress also has a free website option<\/strong> but doesn’t include your own domain name or premium templates and functionality. It’s a good option to test out a WordPress website!<\/p>\n Using a platform like Squarespace<\/a>, Shopify<\/a>, Wix<\/a>, or Looka\u2019s website builder will cost a bit more than Option 1, but you get hosting, security, and more in one place for a monthly or annual fee.<\/p>\n A website builder usually provides a \u201cdrag-and-drop\u201d editor, so you don\u2019t have to write any code (phew!), and you get more customization options, including different templates and add-ons for functionality (more on that later).<\/p>\n Cost to create a website:\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n Don\u2019t feel confident creating a website on your own? You can hire a freelancer on platforms like Upwork<\/a>. This will be a more expensive option than DIY but it can save you time and hassle. If you choose this option, you should still learn the basics of the platform your website is built on so you can make updates yourself.<\/p>\n The more you know, the easier it\u2019ll be to tweak and optimize your site as your business grows.<\/p>\n Cost to create a website:<\/strong> From $5,000 to $10,000 in the first year for a simple professional website.<\/p>\n In terms of money and time cost, here\u2019s what you\u2019re looking at:<\/p>\n WordPress DIY<\/strong> – $5 to $59 for a domain, hosting service, and maintenance Decide on the next step and move forward \u2014 it\u2019ll feel good!<\/p>\n After you\u2019ve done your research, it\u2019s time to structure your website pages. Below we\u2019ll cover the design for a service-based and a product-based website. Think about the most essential information your potential customers are looking for and make sure that information is easy to find.<\/p>\n Kick off your website planning process by looking at the types of websites<\/a> in your industry to see how their information is organized. You\u2019ll see patterns in what content is included and what makes a good or not-so-good customer experience.<\/p>\n Start with the basics \u2014 when you create a website, these are the three most essential web pages to have:<\/p>\n Write a concise description of what you do and how you help people (think mission statement!) at the top of your homepage. Include at least one call to action (CTA) button or link. Examples:<\/p>\n Beyond the messaging and CTA on the homepage header, decide what other information you want to include on your homepage. You could include benefits of your products or services, how it works, or testimonials from customers.<\/p>\n Source: paperandcoin.ca<\/p><\/div>\n Tell your story! This page expands on your mission, explains why you started your business and outlines your expertise and credentials. You can also include contact information on this page or create a separate contact page (see below).<\/p>\n Source: paperandcoin.ca<\/p><\/div>\n You can include contact information on your About page or build out a separate page if it\u2019s more important (for example, if you run a cleaning service who wants to generate leads through your website.) Most contact pages include a form that connects to your email address. You can also show a phone number, physical address, and hours of operation if relevant to your business.<\/p>\n Source: paperandcoin.ca<\/p><\/div>\n Outline all the services you offer and the benefits of each \u2014 \u00a0remember, it\u2019s all about how you help the customer. If you provide packages or plans, such as a personal training or coaching package, include the pricing on this page.<\/p>\n If you charge custom or hourly pricing, you can ask visitors to contact you for pricing or book a consultation or put a \u201cstarting at\u201d price. Remember: most people are looking for pricing information online and will be frustrated if they can\u2019t find it!<\/strong><\/p>\n Source: wealthsimple.com<\/p><\/div>\n If you\u2019re running an ecommerce business, product pages are the meat of your website. You need to include:<\/p>\n If you\u2019re selling many different products, create category pages to organize them. For example, if you own a jewelry business, you can have category pages for necklaces, earrings, rings, etc., with individual product pages under each category.<\/p>\n Source: lauravidni.com<\/p><\/div>\n After you\u2019ve planned out your pages, you\u2019re ready to choose a theme and start writing!<\/p>\n If you\u2019re using a CMS or website builder, you have the fun task of picking a theme or template for your site. If you\u2019re working with a designer, give them an idea of the designs you like by showing them examples.<\/p>\n Website themes are pre-made web page designs that you can add your content to; they\u2019re made up of fonts, color schemes<\/a>, patterns, and other aesthetic and functional components. All you have to do is populate it with your own content!<\/p>\n Many free website themes are available on website builders. Depending on the web hosts, you can also buy a \u201cpremium\u201d theme from a third-party vendor.<\/p>\n You can customize themes to an extent, but it can be tricky if you\u2019re a non-technical person. So, pick a design that fits with your website\u2019s content and appeals to your target audience.\u00a0Here are some questions to answer when choosing a theme<\/strong>:<\/p>\n It all comes down to the industry you\u2019re in, the audience you\u2019re targeting, and the primary purpose your website is going to serve<\/strong>. For example:<\/p>\n <\/div>\n Look at types of websites<\/a> with businesses similar to yours for inspiration and take note of the website designs you like. You\u2019ll get a better idea of what you\u2019re looking for in a website theme.<\/p>\n Your homepage is the centerpiece of your website \u2014 it has to make an impact by communicating what your business does.<\/strong> Keep in mind page speed is critical here because visitors will leave if the page isn\u2019t loading.<\/p>\n Static imagery is the simplest choice and will work for most businesses. However, if you\u2019re offering multiple services or product categories, try columns of images or an image carousel.<\/p>\n Add a call to action or mission statement in the header\u00a0 \u2014 It\u2019s important to indicate how you can help!<\/p>\n Source: kindsnacks.com<\/p><\/div>\n Depending on how many pages your website has (see Step 3!), decide if you want your navigation menu to be horizontal across the top of the page (as seen above), vertical on the side, or hidden in a drop-down menu.<\/p>\n While the top left is the most popular (and safe) place to put your logo, you may prefer it in the center of your website header if you want to focus on brand awareness. Make sure the logo is big enough to read clearly!<\/p>\n With mobile traffic on the rise, you\u2019ll want to make sure the theme you choose is responsive and adapts to different screen sizes.<\/p>\n Once you\u2019ve answered these questions, it\u2019s time to create a moodboard<\/a> of themes that meet your requirements.\u00a0Then, you can then move on to the next steps: planning your site structure and populating your site with content!<\/p>\n\n
\n9 steps to making your own website<\/h2>\n
<\/p>\n
Step 1: Choose a business name and buy a domain<\/h2>\n
How much does a domain cost?<\/h3>\n
<\/p>\n
\n
\nStep 2: Decide how you\u2019re going to create a website<\/h2>\n
DIY WordPress<\/h3>\n
Use a website builder<\/h3>\n
\n
Hire someone<\/h3>\n
How much does it cost to create a website?<\/h2>\n
\nWebsite Builder<\/strong> – $5 to $299 for a Domain, monthly\/annual fees, and plugins
\nWeb Designer<\/strong> – $5,000 to $10,000 in the first year for a simple and professional website<\/p>\n
\nStep 3: Plan your site structure<\/h2>\n
<\/p>\n
Homepage<\/h3>\n
\n
About page<\/h3>\n
Contact page<\/h3>\n
If you own a service-based business…<\/h2>\n
Services\/Pricing\/Plans page<\/h3>\n
If you own an ecommerce business or online store<\/h2>\n
Product and category pages<\/h3>\n
\n
Other webpages to include<\/h2>\n
\n
\nStep 4: Choose a theme or template<\/h2>\n
What are website themes?<\/h3>\n
<\/p>\n
What type of website are you creating?<\/h3>\n
\n
How do you want your homepage to look?<\/h3>\n
How do you want your navigation to look?<\/h3>\n
How do you want your logo to appear?<\/h3>\n
Is the theme responsive\/mobile-friendly?<\/h3>\n
Create a logo you love, then start building your dream website! <\/h2>\n