YOU NEED A WEBSITE AND HERE ARE FOUR REASONS WHY
#1. You rent space on social media, but your website is permanent.
#2. You need a home for your brand, blog, non-profit, or business in a place that you control the narrative.
#3. You need it to capture your audience’s contact information. You know to build your email list.
#4. You need it to self-audit how engaging your efforts are.
As a biz, brand, or non-profit, you cannot afford not to have one. Because you need a website to tell people who you are, promote your services, house your content, share updates, and build your contact list. Sure, you can repurpose your social media page as a home for your brand. But what if your accounts are suddenly disabled? Boom. I think you get it. So, keep reading because this blog will tell you how to:
- DIY a professional and modern website
- Some services that you can use to get started
- AND – Seven things you should prep for your site now
WHAT YOU NEED TO BUILD YOUR WEBSITE
A content management system. Use a CMS to design and manage your website with little to no experience. WordPress.org (not WordPress.com) and Squarespace are two content management systems that we use. But you can use any, including Wix, Shopify, or Unbounce. Most of these platforms allow you to design using the easy-breezy drag and drop option. However, some do allow you to code to really customize things.
Now, we know we just named several website builders, and believe me, there are a ton more. So, to help you narrow your search and make the best decision for you, here are the main differences between them all.
OPEN-SOURCE VS CLOSED-SOURCE
- Some are open-source. Some are closed-source. Open-source CMS makes codes visible and customizable. Closed source CMS mask codes and does not usually allow access to them. Instead, users visually code with design features like ‘drag and drop.’
ALL-IN-ONE VS THIRD-PARTY PROCESSORS
- Some are all-in-one services, meaning they are built and maintained by a single company. All-in-one web builders allow you to buy what you need to make your site (like your domain, hosting, SSL, and more) directly through them. Others that are not, require you to outsource the services essential to the site’s operations from third parties. Squarespace is all-in-one, and WordPress.org is not.
If you opt-out of an all-in-one service, here’s what you will need to buy apart from your CMS service.
A domain name. Your domain name is your web address. You can buy a domain name for as low as $10 annually or possibly get it for free with the hosting service (which we’ll talk about next). Now, if you aren’t ready to build your site but you want to secure your name here’s what you can do. Buy your domain name now and work on the rest later. Check out namecheap.com, it’s an easy-to-use platform that allows you to buy domains.
A website host. You need to find and set up your site’s hosting services. A host keeps your website online and available to the public. Web hosting prices can start as low as $3 a month, depending on promos and the level of hosting you buy. Wordpress recommends a few hosting services, including BlueHost.
An SSL Certificate. An SSL certificate authenticates a website, helps to secure the internet connection, and protects information sent between servers. For a detailed and straightforward explanation, read What A SSL Certificate is. SSL Certificates can be as low as $10 a year to an excess of $70. Here are some pricing options via namecheap.com. Website hosts may also sell SSL certificates or throw them into your package as a freebie, so check with your host for this add-on before you pay for it separately.
SEVEN MUST-HAVES TO PREP BEFORE YOU BUILD YOUR WEBSITE
Now that we’ve gotten the foundation for building your site out of the way, here are seven things you need on your website.
Video intro section or page
- Video introductions are great, so if you can shoot one. Use your ‘trailer’ to take a few minutes to introduce yourself to your audience. Also, be sure to let them know what they can expect to see, hear, and experience following your content.
About me section or page
- Here is where you add your super amazing bio, so don’t be shy. Use this as an opportunity to talk about yourself, and don’t be vague. Give specifics, like where you’re from, where you live, what type of work you do, your educational background, and three random things about yourself. You can also briefly highlight your achievements here.
Contact section or page
- Get straight to the point here. Add a contact form and a direct email for inquiries. In some instances, you’ll also need to add a phone number, hours of availability, and an address.
Partnership section or page
- If you know us, you know we are a fan of collabs. You may not be, but even if you can’t see yourself doing this yet, try it. Use this page to highlight the types of partnerships you’ve had in the past and the types of collaborations you’d like in the future. Also, if you list specific brands, add a link with details versus plastering this page with logos of potentially competing brands.
A blog section or page
- It’s not enough to set up a website. You also need to upload content to drive traffic to your site regularly. Drive traffic and target your audience with regular blog posts that cover topics and issues that are relevant to them.
Services section or page
- Maybe you didn’t start your brand to make money, and if you didn’t – that’s okay. But you do need to consider monetization to break even on your cost. Include a services section or page to highlight current and future offers.
Privacy section or page
- One of the core values of any brand should be to create a culture of transparency. Starting with your privacy statement. Here are some basics you should address in your privacy statement: tell your website visitors who you are, what information you collect, how you use that information, why you disclose that information, how long you retain the information, what rights they have over their data, and what happens in the event of a data breach. As a web-based business, brand, or non-profit, it’s likely you will have global visitors and will need to comply with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). Familiarize yourself with this and comply. Check out GDPR Made Easy by Medium.
WEB SECTIONS OR PAGES
Did you notice that I said section or page each of these seven must-haves? You’re so sharp – I thought you would. Let me explain why I said that. When creating your site, you can opt for a single-page or a multi-page website. If you choose a one-page website, create sections on your page. If you choose a multi-page website, create multiple pages to organize everything.
Now, you may be thinking I’m ready to launch my site, but I don’t have all of this stuff yet. Here is my advice.
Start simple and know that what I’ve told you is my opinion only, so you still should do what is best for you! Also, in the meantime, you don’t have to start with a full website. Here’s an idea for you. Build a buzz on an upcoming launch by setting up a one-page website. Use this page to answer FAQs, potential buyer objections, and to get your customer’s email address. Use this ‘pre-launch page’ to patiently build your site and then notify your email list when it’s ready to launch!
As a freebie, here is a model of a web page – we hope it helps you get started.
Featured Photo by Jakob Owens on Unsplash
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