Planning and Preparation

Planning: The Foundation of Website Building

To ensure a successful website creation, it's essential to have a solid plan that covers important areas such as content, platform, the need for outside help, and time commitment. We'll break it down into six key areas to help you plan effectively.

1. Choosing a domain name

Choosing a domain name is an important step when creating a website. A good domain name is memorable, brandable, and relevant to your website's content and purpose. To choose a domain name, aim for a short and simple name that is unique and reflective of your brand or business.

Choose a relevant domain name extension and use domain name generator tools to help you generate ideas based on your keywords, industry, or other criteria. Popular domain name generator tools include:

• Namelex - Namelex is a domain name generator that allows you to enter one or more keywords and generates a list of available domain names based on your input.
• NameQL - NameQL is a domain name generator that provides suggestions for related words and synonyms based on your keywords, in addition to generating a list of available domain names.
• Lean Domain Search - Lean Domain Search generates domain name ideas based on your keywords and provides you with a list of available domain names, along with additional filters and sorting options.

It is important to remember that choosing a domain name is not a decision to be rushed. Take the time to sleep on it and come back to it later if needed. You can also start planning other parts of the website and return to the domain name selection at a later date.

2. Content layout using a Sitemap

One of the most crucial aspects of your website plan is deciding on the content layout, including the pages and overall structure. This will include pages such as the home page, services, about, and contact.

A helpful tool to create a content layout plan is a sitemap, which provides a visual representation of the website's pages and structure.

You can create a sitemap with a pencil and paper, use the org chart feature in PowerPoint, or even create it as indented bullet points as shown in the example below.

3. Assessing Your Skills and Time

When planning a website, it's important to consider the skills you possess and the time you're willing to dedicate to the project. You may prefer a user-friendly platform that allows easy updating or a more advanced option that requires more web development knowledge.

While learning new skills can be appealing, it can be time-consuming, and hiring an expert may save you time and money in the long run (see the section on getting the right help).

Fortunately, there are many tools available that offer solutions without requiring any coding knowledge. Many of these tools come with ready-made features for common tasks such as selling products, booking systems, and photo galleries.

Do some research to find a platform that matches your available time and resources. Look for solutions that meet your current requirements and can easily adapt to your future needs.

While learning new skills can be appealing, it can be time-consuming, and hiring an expert may save you time and money in the long run

4. Choosing the Best Tools/Platforms to Create a Website

When it comes to creating a website, there are several tools and platforms available to choose from. Here are ten popular options:

• Wix - a drag-and-drop website builder with over 180 million users worldwide.
• Squarespace - a platform with templates and drag-and-drop editing that currently powers over two million websites.
• WordPress - a content management system used by over 455 million websites worldwide, offering a range of templates and customization options.
• Shopify - an ecommerce platform powering over 1.7 million online stores.
• Weebly - a website builder and ecommerce platform with over 50 million websites built.
• Webflow - a design and development platform for creating responsive websites that has been used to build over one million sites.
• BigCommerce - an ecommerce platform with a range of features that has been used to power over 60,000 online stores.
• Carrd - aa simple, mobile-first website builder that allows you to create one-page websites, portfolios, and landing pages with ease.
• Joomla - a content management system used by over 2.5 million websites worldwide.
• Coding your own site from scratch (either yourself or hiring a developer) is a good option if you require a high level of customization or a bespoke system.

When choosing a tool or platform to create your website, it's important to consider factors such as cost, ease of use, customization options, and scalability. Additionally, you'll want to think about your website's purpose and the features it requires, such as ecommerce functionality, blogging capabilities, or multimedia integration.

As you compare options, it can be helpful to research which tools or platforms are most commonly used by websites in your industry. For example, WordPress is a popular choice for bloggers, while Shopify is commonly used for ecommerce sites.

Ultimately, the best tool or platform for your website will depend on your specific needs and goals. Take the time to explore your options and find the solution that works best for you.

5. Presentation, Colours and Themes

The visual design of a website plays a critical role in attracting and retaining visitors. Therefore, it is important to choose a presentation style and color scheme that reflects the purpose and audience of your website.

One way to do this is to choose a theme or template that aligns with your brand and content. A theme is a pre-designed set of templates, styles, and graphics that determines the overall look and feel of your website. There are many websites that offer a wide range of themes and templates, such as Themeforest, TemplateMonster, and Elegant Themes.

When choosing a theme, consider the following:

• Purpose: What is the main purpose of your website? Is it a blog, portfolio, or ecommerce site? Make sure the theme you choose aligns with your purpose.
• Audience: Who is your target audience? Are they young or old? Male or female? What kind of style and design will appeal to them?
• Content: What type of content will you be publishing on your website? Is it text-heavy or image-heavy? Make sure the theme you choose complements your content.

In addition to the theme, the color scheme of your website is also important. Color can influence mood and emotions, and it can also help create a consistent brand identity. When choosing a color scheme, consider your brand personality, audience, and the purpose of your website. You can use online color scheme generators like Adobe Color or Coolors to create a harmonious and appealing color palette.

6. Hiring the right help

Building a website can be a daunting task, especially if you have limited technical knowledge. While it's possible to learn the skills yourself, hiring an expert can help you save considerable time and effort. A few hundred dollars invested in a professional can ensure that your website is up and running efficiently. Fortunately, there are many platforms available that offer a wide range of web creation-related services, including web developers, web designers, and copywriters. Some of the most popular platforms to hire help, include Fiverr, Upwork, and Freelancer.

When hiring help, it's important to keep the following tips in mind:

• Check their ratings and reviews: Be sure to check their ratings and reviews before hiring anyone. This will give you an idea of their past work experience and how they've been rated by previous clients.
• Be clear and concise: Many freelancers don't have English as their first language, so it's important to be clear and concise in your instructions. Confirm that they've understood your requirements before hiring them.
• Paying more doesn't always mean better quality: Just because someone charges more for their services doesn't necessarily mean that they'll do a better job. Be sure to check their portfolio and past experience to get an idea of their skills and expertise.
• Give them a small task first: For larger projects, it's a good idea to give them a small task first to see how they perform. This will help you gauge their skills and work ethic before committing to a larger project.

Hiring someone to build your website doesn't mean that you can't learn the tools and skills on your desired platform. In fact, working with a professional can give you the assurance that you're starting off on the right foot and provide you with an opportunity to learn from their expertise. Additionally, working with an expert can give you the time and space to learn the required skills at your own pace should you desire to take over the management of your website in the future.

If you require assistance with your website project, please don't hesitate to contact me for a free consultation.