5 Things I learned from building my own website
So as you may know, my background is not in website design. However, that did not deter me from trying to build and design my own website. I was fortunate enough to hear about Wix and while there are several other services like it available, it seemed like the right fit for me.
I am still no expert but I thought I would take a moment to share a few tips about what I have learned thus far and what I hope would help you if you are thinking about starting your own.
1. The Goal
Before you get started you will probably want to consider:
WHY are you starting a website?
What is it you are hoping to achieve?
Is it to build your audience and start an email list?
Is it to conduct online sales for your product or service?
Are you going to use it to create original content? A blog? A vlog? Tutorials?
Whatever the reason, be clear about your goal. It will set the foundation for the website's strategy and developing content.
2. The DEsign
Before I started I did a lot of research. I looked for inspiration everywhere. Bloggers I follow. Popular brands. I made note of what I liked and did not like.
Like social media, I had to think about the image I wanted to portray. What if people did not see my social media first and this website was their first touchpoint?
What first impression did I want to leave them with?
Is it consistent with my image on other platforms I am using? I wanted to allow myself to be creative but also strategic. Remember, unlike art, good design is understood not interpreted. It has a specific message it is trying to send to its audience.
I actually did not do this myself but in retrospect, I would suggest using an app like Pinterest to make a mood board. Collect images, colours, snips of other websites that inspire the look and feel you are aiming for. This will help keep you grounded when you start building your website and avoid you straying too far from your brand image and your theme.
3. User Experience
Unlike social media, there was also the added aspect of navigation I had to consider while designing my website.
Social media usually provides a template. Facebook, Instagram, Tik Tok, or whatever platform you are using typically teaches your audience how to navigate their way through your content on their apps. They are usually pretty limited in their scope in the number of buttons you can press and options for interaction.
When you are designing a website, part of that design should be geared towards guiding your audience to navigate your website in a way that makes sense.
Where do you want your audience to go next?
Think about the customer journey. After they look at your portfolio for past experience maybe you want to lead them to contact you. After they read your blog, maybe then you want to guide them to sign up for your email list so they can get updates on more content like it. Should you have a clear button or a call to action with a hyperlink at the end of the page that will help them find that information?
From the very beginning, I wanted my website to be extremely easy to navigate. Nothing frustrates me more as a user than visiting a website and it does not feel intuitive. I click to find one thing, only to find it takes me to something else.
Just as you would with a physical storefront or office, you want to make the user experience pleasant and memorable so that they want to visit again.
DO NOT FORGET MOBILE! Do you have a significant percentage of your audience on mobile devices? You may have a beautiful design thought through for the desktop version and then when you go to view it on mobile it just does not translate as you had hoped. There are so many times I have opened websites on my phone and I can immediately tell they did not think about their mobile design. Text looks lopsided. Pictures aligned or cropped unusually.
Wix admittedly, made it really easy for me to switch back and forth between editing my desktop and mobile versions of my website. Whichever platform you use, please do not forget to check how your website looks on mobile and make the necessary adjustments, especially if you anticipate mobile users.
4. The Content
Once again you want to think about the goal you have set for your website.
How is your content going to support that objective?
Less is more. Just because you have seen have a myriad of different features on other websites does not mean those features will work for you. Be prepared to create content adapted for your website just as you would with other platforms.
My objective was to build an audience and an email list so I decided to start a blog. It was a way for me to offer value to my audience and an incentive for them to sign up to be on my email list to hear more.
If you are using your website to sell products, you will likely need to think about investing in proper product photography and descriptions.
Think about what would be the right fit for you. Research options for scheduling the release of content so that it makes it easier for you to manage if you decide to do a blog or vlog.
Remember to focus on quality over quantity. Some people choose to release content every week but if that is too much for your schedule that is ok. Do not sacrifice your brand image for some ridiculous number someone made up somewhere. Create a content plan that works for you and your brand.
5. Patience
A common misconception about websites is that you can just set it up and leave it. Myself included. I was naive to believe I could just create a basic landing page that would just send everyone to my social media where all the action was taking place and call it a day.
After more careful consideration (and research), a website is a great investment into a space you can call your own. It is a great opportunity to build an audience outside of social media. How many of you have heard horror stories of Facebook or Instagram pages suddenly getting shut down and people had to start from scratch because they failed to build their email list?
A website needs just as much strategy and thought as you would put into your other marketing platforms.
A year later, I can assure you I am still learning. I still make adjustments to my website and I still do my research on more ways to add value in the near and distant future.
Be patient with your website and with yourself. Whether you are working with someone or trying to do it yourself, an amazing website is not going to be built overnight. It is going to take some time but done right, it is going to be a fantastic investment, not only financially, but of your time as well.
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