Websites are essential for any business these days. It’s how people find you online, it’s how an increasing number of people shop and it’s a central place for people to go to to learn more about your business. Simply put, aside from a brick-and-mortar store, a website is the most important piece for any business, including yours.
But if you’ve never done it before or if you’re not technology savvy, it can be a pretty intimidating process. How do you pick a developer that’s not going to abandon you? How do you know if that design is going to work for you? Heck, how do you even know if you need a new website? (Hint: the answer is down below)
The videos here will layout every step of the process. They will walk you through how a website is built so that you know what you’re getting yourself into. Whether you work with me, another developer or do it yourself, the goal is to give you confidence to build a website that’s going to help your business.
Introduction to Small Business Website Planning
Every small business needs a website to be found online. But it can be tricky. This video series will walk you through all of the steps for a great website.
Watch This Video about Introduction to Small Business Website Planning
Do you need a new website?
Are you thinking about building an website for your business? Before you do anything, you need to figure out if you really need a new website.
Watch This Video about Do you need a new website?
Planning for a New Website
So now that you know your business needs a new website, we still have some more questions to ask of yourself and your business. The answers to these questions will help you create a plan for this website that you can give to the developer. And in the end, that will make everything go much smoother and quicker. So let’s create that plan!
Watch This Video about Planning for a New Website
Why Websites Cost What They Do
As you’ve gone through this process of building a new website, you’ve probably started to wonder how much this is going to cost you. And the unfortunate truth is that it’s going to cost you a good chunk of change. So let’s talk about what you’re paying for in a website and why they end up costing what they do. Hopefully by the end of this you’ll feel at least a little bit better about the price aspect.
Watch This Video about Why Websites Cost What They Do
Self-Development vs. Hiring a Developer
So by now you’re probably wondering why you can’t build the website yourself. The answer to that is complicated. In some situations, yeah, that would work for you. But in most other situations, it is better to hire a developer to build it for you because it saves you time and money in the long run. So let’s figure out which direction works the best for you.
Watch This Video about Self-Development vs. Hiring a Developer
What to Look for in a Web Developer (and Where to Find One)
So you’ve decided that you need to hire a developer or web agency to build the website for you. Now you just need to find one. Here are some things to look for when searching for someone to build your new website.
Watch This Video about What to Look for in a Web Developer (and Where to Find One)
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. So today, let’s take a deeper dive into the discovery phase so you can be ready when it rolls around.
Watch This Video about What is the Discovery Phase?
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 website possible.
Watch This Video about The Design Phase
Developing the Website
We are so very close to your website becoming a reality. But we still have the biggest mountain yet to come: developing and building the website. So today let’s go over some of the things you can do during this part to put your mind at ease while the site is built.
Watch This Video about Developing the Website
Making Sure the Content is Ready
The website is almost done. It’s been planned, designed and built. But what about the content? What are visitors going to read and see when they come to your website? Where is that? The content is the most important part of any website. But it can get overlooked in the process. So let’s avoid that.
Watch This Video about Making Sure the Content is Ready
Taking the Website Live
The website is basically done. The developer just sent you a link so you can see the final website in all of its glory. So now what do you do? Well, you should review it one last time to make sure it’s what you want and need. And then it’s time to take it live.
Watch This Video about Taking the Website Live
Post Launch Support
Congratulations! You’ve finished this website and it’s live for everyone to see. So now you’re forever done with that website, right? Wrong. Websites are living and breathing things. You need to take care of them so they can continue to help your business grow. So today let’s go over the ways you can support your website so that it continues to run smoothly and help you.
Watch This Video about Post Launch Support