Carving Out Your Space on the Web
Create your space on the web, where you control the conversation about your business and most importantly the customer experience. “Perfection” comes with time, but websites are never “done”.
Choose simple over cluttered, content over design, and done over not launched.
Choose your code:
There are plenty of open source codes to choose from. If you are hiring a professional they will use what’s best for your project. If you are a DIY’er than WordPress may be a great option.
Wix, Weebly, and Squarespace may work well for you too. Before committing just check that you can setup google web analytics or have access to traffic data for future improvements. You need to be able to see how users navigate your website. Which pages get the most traffic and where people are visiting from.
If you want to go with WordPress read on.
Where to start
Domain Names, Web hosting, and WordPress Installation.
Getting a Domain Name:
Most web host companies will include your domain with your web host purchase. If you prefer haveing everything in one place you can skip this step.
We prefer to use NameCheap .
If the domain you want is taken you have a few options:
- You may be able to purchase the domain name
- Change the name of your company
- Pick a name based on your product or services
- perfectdogcut.com (Dog Groomer)
- cakesfordogs.com (Dog Bakery)
- plantlover.com (Plant Nursery)
Web-hosting
If you are working with a professional they may have a preference of web-host. If they don’t we suggest Siteground.
If you want to go a super cheap route Hostmonster and Bluehost they have great customer service. Your site may load slower. But they all 3 make it very simple to install WordPress on your site.
WordPress Templates
Just google WordPress templates and you will find plenty to choose from.
themeforest.com is our go to.
Picking your theme:
- Is the theme responsive
- Drag & Drop set-up
- How many people have purchased
- Reliable customer support
- When was the last update
- Does it have installation instructions
WordPress isn’t “easy” to learn but the curve is less steep than others. The WordPress community is amazingly helpful and it most theme creators will help you get up and running.
Have you created your own site? What advice would give someone deciding to build it themselves? Comment below…+
