Creating a New Website for Your Business or Organization
Creating a great website for your business or organization (or yourself) is no easy task. There are a lot of things you need to do to build that website. And there’s a lot that you need to know and learn. This learning journey will walk you through all of the steps it takes to create a website so you know exactly what to do.
Why Your Business or Organization Needs to Have a Website
You need to have a website. Whether you have a business or if you’re a freelancer or even if you’re not, you need to have a website.
A website is a place that you can call your home online. You can do whatever you want. You can get found more easily in Google searches. You can have a place where all of your digital marketing efforts — your social media posts, your email and content marketing, your online advertising — point back to.
You need to have your own website in today’s online world. Let’s dive deeper into why that is.
What is a website actually?
On the surface, a website might seem like a basic thing. After all, you just need web hosting, a domain and an HTML file to have a website. But in reality, a website that helps your business is a lot more complex than that.
“Does your business need a new website?” Worksheet
So you’re in the market for a new website for your small business? Great! Have you decided whether or not your website needs a new website? No? That’s okay. This resource will walk you through the questions you should ask of yourself and your business to determine if a new website is warranted. It could…
Why Your Business Needs to Have a Website
You need to have a website. Whether you have a business or if you’re a freelancer or even if you’re not, you need to have a website. A website is place that you can call your home online. You can do whatever you want. You can get found more easily in Google searches. You can…
Determining if your small business needs a new website
It can be challenging to figure out if your small business needs a new website. And it’s no small decision. So here are some questions to help you out.
Planning Your New Website
Failing to plan is planning to fail. Your website, no matter how big or small, needs to have a plan ahead of time or it’s not going to be good. You’re not going to know what you need to do to create a website that works and achieves your goals.
The good news is that this plan doesn’t have to be fancy. Simple pen and paper (or a Google doc) will do. The most important part is that you think about what type of website you want to create (we’ll get to that in a minute) and how you’re going to create that website.
Here are some blog posts and videos that take deeper dives into how you can create this plan for your website.
Planning for your new small business website
If you don’t create a plan for your small business’ new website, you’re setting yourself up for failure. So let’s walk through how you can create a plan to set yourself and your business up for success.
What you need for a successful ecommerce website
So you want to create an online store. And that’s great! But first there are a few things you need to know about beforehand so that you can create the perfect ecommerce website.
What you need to know before creating an ecommerce website
It might seem easy to create an ecommerce store. After all, the ads you see say it is. But like an iceberg in the sea, there’s more to it than what initially meets the eye.
Creating a Plan for Your New Small Business Website
Failing to plan is planning to fail. If you’re going to create a new website for your business, you first need to plan it out so that you’re successful. Planning, however, can seem like a daunting task. There are a lot of things to think about and getting started can feel overwhelming. So in today’s…
Should You Create This Website Yourself?
Now, you’re probably wondering if you should go ahead and just create this website yourself using one of those services you’ve seen advertised all over the place. And that’s a perfectly valid question.
The answer, to put it simply, is that it just really depends.
On the one hand, building a website that succeeds in its goals is not exactly an easy thing you can create in under an hour. And if you need this website to help your business or organization grow or if you’re using this website as a portfolio to find jobs, getting professional help might result in a better website.
On the other hand, if all you really need is a simple website with a couple of pages and you need to create it quickly without going through the process of hiring a developer, then it might be the right move. The tools these days are good enough to help you create a website that looks good and gives you what you need.
So let’s take a deeper look at whether you should create this website yourself.
Why You Should Create It Yourself
Sometimes you don’t need to go out of the way to hire a web designer or developer. Instead, you can use tools like Wix, Squarespace or even WordPress (since most web hosts make it easy to set up a WordPress site in minutes) to create this website.
Ultimately this move will save you money. And if all you need is a simple website with a couple of pages and the stakes are too high, this is going to be the right move to make.
You’ll be able to find a template that you like, maybe add in some extra functionality to help with SEO, security and maybe a form or two. And then you’re on your way with a website.
If you don’t have a lot of money to invest in a website that won’t earn your investment back, this is a great option.
Why You Shouldn’t Create It Yourself
Websites can be complicated, as you might be able to tell from this page. There are a lot of moving parts, and creating a website that helps your business or organization grow is no small task.
Getting professional help to build this website, whether you need something a little bit more affordable or something completely custom, can be a great move. You’ll have someone who knows what they’re doing and can make all of the hard decisions for you.
And, most importantly, you’re going to end up with a website that actually works and will help you achieve your goals. And that will save you money (and maybe even earn more money) in the long run.
Diving into the Difference Between Web Hosting and Domain Names
One of the most common misconceptions when it comes to websites revolves around a domain and web hosting.
It’s very easy to think that they are the same thing. In fact, a number of web hosts (looking at you GoDaddy and Bluehost) offer domains and web hosting in the same package. And don’t worry, I made the same mistake when I was starting out as well.
But they are, in fact, two separate things.
Domains are essentially an address to where your website is located. To us humans, this is a string of characters that make sense, like google.com or youtube.com or jacobmartella.com. To computers, those characters are traded for an IP address for where the website is hosted. When you get a domain name, you can point it to whatever IP address you want, particularly your website. And you can also point multiple domains to the same website.
On the other hand, web hosting is the server where your files and database for your website are located. It’s essentially where your website lives. I would argue that this is the most important part of the two things we’re talking about here. The web host will be the thing that keeps your website running.
So they are two separate things that you will have to purchase if you’re creating a new website.
How to Select the Perfect Domain Name
One of the first actionable items you need to do when creating a website is to purchase a domain name. But why does the domain matter so much? Is the domain similar to web hosting? How do you select the perfect name that will help your business? And should you buy a .com name, a…
The difference between domain names and web hosting
One of the most common misconceptions when it comes to websites revolves around a domain and web hosting. Many people think they’re the same thing. But the reality is much different. So let’s break down the difference between the two.
The guide to buying the perfect domain name
Domain names are one of the most important parts of creating a website. Here’s how to pick the perfect name for your new website.
Finding an Agency or Developer For Your New Website
If you’ve decided to hire a developer or agency to build your new website for you, you now need to find the person to build the site for you. And that’s no easy task. There are a lot of options to choose from and finding the right one for your new website can be a challenge.
So let’s take a look at both where you can find an agency or developer to build your website and the criteria you can use to evaluate which one is the right one for you.
Developer Hiring Criteria
It can be pretty tricky to pick the right developer to build your website. There are a lot of things that you need to consider. So this resource can help you navigate those waters. Here you’ll find a place to take notes on different criteria for a developer and even add a score if you…
What to look for in a web agency or developer for your small business website
So you’ve decided to hire a web agency or developer to create your new website. Great! But which one you pick could make or break this website. So here are somethings to look for to make the right decision.
Examining Your Options for Creating a Website
The good news is that in today’s world you have a lot of great options for creating your new website. From simple services to tools that give you full control over how your website looks without needing code to hiring a developer or agency to create the website for you.
On the simple side of things, you have tools like Wix and Squarespace that can help you get started quickly. You are completely locked into their ecosystem and migrating can be a challenge. And you’re limited to the templates you can use. But if you need something quick and simple, it’s a great option.
If you’re wanting to sell products online, the next level up you can go is Shopify. It’s very similar to WIx and Squarespace, but it’s designed for ecommerce and online stores. Plus, you have more freedom and flexibility with what you can build and the features you can use with Shopify.
The next step up is to use a free, open source content management system, like WordPress, Drupal or Joomla. These CMSs give you complete control over how your website looks and you’re able to own your own content. On the other hand, you will have to purchase your own domain and web hosting. But if you need this website to last a long time or make you money, they are the best option.
Finally there is the custom, agency or developer built website. You’ll get everything you want and need for this website, but it’s going to cost you a lot of money. Like, a lot, a lot of money. But if you need this website to be absolutely perfect and do a lot of complex things, it’s your best bet.
But whatever your budget, you’ll be able to find a solution that works perfectly for you!
Your Best Options for Creating a New Website
When it comes to creating a new website for your business, there are a lot of great options to build it. You have super simple things like Facebook Marketplace and Etsy. There’s always Wix and Squarespace, which the commercials tell you make it easy to create a website in minutes. There’s Shopify, which allows you…
The different website options to build your new site
The good news is that there are a lot of website options for you to choose from to build your new site. But which one is the best for your business and situation?
Why Websites Cost So Much (and how to lower that cost)
One reason you might be hesitant to create a new website for your business is the cost of a website. Yes, creating a custom website is expensive. The going rate these days seems to be around $5,000. But that price is for a custom website. There are good reasons for that price, and there are…
Building a Website with an Agency or Developer
On the one hand, having an agency or developer create a website for you is great. They get to do a lot of the heavy lifting. They’ll handle designing the website, writing the code for the website, getting all of the content into the website and launching the website.
But at the same time, it’s not exactly a walk in the park for you. You’ll have to go through the discovery process so that they know what kind of website they should build for you. And you’ll probably have to supply the content for the site. Plus you’ll need to review the website and sign off before it’s launched.
So let’s take a look at what you can expect the process to look like if you’re hiring an agency or developer to build the website for you.
What is the Discovery Phase?
In the simplest of terms, the discovery phase is where the developer learns more about you and your business and what you want and need for this website. By the end of the process, the developer will be able to create a plan to design and build the website that’s going to help your business.…
What you can do to make the website build process run smoothly
You might be building your website now with a developer, and you might be wondering how you can keep things running smoothly. That’s great! Here are somethings you can do to help the project run on time.
The Design Phase
Once the discovery phase has ended, it’s time for the designer to, you know, design the website. This is typically a fairly hands off part of the process for you. So today, let’s talk about a few things you need to ask the designs and the designer so that you end up with the best…
The dilemma of content for a new website
A website is nothing if it doesn’t have any content. So make sure you keep that the focus throughout the project to keep it running on time.
What to check for when looking over the website
So your website is just about ready to go live. You like the design, it’s been developed and the content is in. So what’s next? Check the design again.
Building a Website By Yourself
On the other side, building the website by yourself can present a number of challenges. You’ll need to choose what platform you’re going to use to create your website. Then there’s finding a design that works the best for your new website and implementing it. And then you’ll need to create and add all of the content yourself.
But it can be freeing. You control everything, from the content you create to the design you pick to how your website looks right down to every last detail. And it can be cheaper than hiring someone to build it for you.
So let’s take a look at what the process might look like if you’re building the website yourself.
The ultimate guide for creating an affordable website for your business
Your business needs to build a website. But it can seem like creating a new website is an expensive venture. The good news is that there is a way for you to create an affordable website for your business.
Launching the Website
Once your website is ready to go (no matter if you’ve built it yourself or hired someone to build it for you), it’s time to launch the website. This is the most exciting step as all of the hard work that’s gone into the website will now be available for everyone to see.
But there are some crucial steps you need to take to launch your website correctly. If you’ve hired someone to build your website for you, the good news is that they will likely take care of these steps for you. But let’s take a look at what you can expect launching your website to look like.
Congrats!
Managing and Growing Your Website After Launch
Websites aren’t just done when you complete the site and launch it. You don’t just set and forget a website.
Instead, you have to manage and maintain the website so that it continues to work.
What does that entail? Well, if you’re using something like WordPress, you have to run updates on all extensions and other tools so that the site continues to work and protects your site from security threats. And all websites need to make sure that they are updated with the latest information.
Then there’s integrating analytics so that you can see how people are using your website. You can use that data to see where things can be improved on your website and make those improvements.
As mentioned before, there are also security concerns that you need to be aware of. And then there’s making sure your website is performing as best as possible and loading quickly for your users. And that’s just the tip of the iceberg.
So don’t just think you’re done with a website when you’ve launched it. You’re in it for the long run.
How to Speed Up Your Website
How fast does your website load? Most likely it’s not loading as quickly as you would like it to. But the good news is that there are relatively easy ways for you speed up your website to give your visitors a much better experience. So today let’s take a look at some of the things…
Keeping your website speed quick without paying too much
Time is money. And if your website is taking a long time to load for viewers, that’s money you could be losing out on. So here are some ways to keep your site fast without paying tons of money.
Improvements you can make to your website
A website is never complete. Instead, you’re always looking for ways that you can improve it so that it gets better at helping you achieve your goals. So here are some improvements you’ll probably want to make for your website.
What is Google PageSpeed Insights and why does it matter?
Your page loading time is extremely important in today’s web. And Google PageSpeed Insights helps you figure out the ways you can speed up your website right now.
Getting started with Google Analytics
You’ve probably heard about Google Analytics. But maybe you haven’t had the time to look into it. Well, now’s as good as time as any. We take a look at what it is, how it can help your business and website and how to get it up on your website.
Five things to do on your Google Analytics account
Google Analytics provides a treasure trove of information about your website’s usage stats. But it can be overwhelming when you look at it for the first time. So here are five things you can do to get started.
Take that Next Step
Ready to help your business grow with an awesome new website? Or ready to get help managing your current website while you focus on running your business? Now is the time to get started! Click one of the links to the right to get started right now and get the help you need to help your business in this digital age.