Need to get a website online, but a bit confused about where to begin? Creating a website can be a complex and long process. Same goes for improving or updating your existing website. Designing prototypes, programming, dealing with clients, and coding; there is a lot that needs to be done and to keep track of.
The good news is, with the right tools and the right help, designing an engaging website can be a walk in the park. Ideally, a good checklist can make your process stress free. With a list of points covering different areas from usability to standards and accessibility, you are a lot less likely to disregard critical parts of a website.
This checklist will help you connect all the dots and get online quickly. It also pulls together best practice in the discipline of usability, accessibility, and information, to make your next website launch an astronomical success.
Choose a Domain Name
Simply put, a domain is your website’s web address on the internet. For instance: “http://www. yourwebsitename.com”. If you have already thought of a website name, you could use it as your domain name. Moreover, choose something memorable, simple, and short. If creative wordplay is not your forte, just pick something direct and obvious. Think of a unique name for your website.
Even better, use words in the URL relating to the content, so that visitors to your website can easily remember the URL. A website name is very important since it reflects what your website is all about. You can get your domain name registered with services like GoDaddy & NameCheap, but always use Google for recent discounts and promo codes.
Define Your Purpose and Goals
Determining the purpose of your site is very crucial as it is the very foundation of the website you are trying to create. Is it a blog that you intend to update regularly with posts? Is it an e-commerce website specially designed to sell items online? This will be your starting point. Also, write a statement, it may be as complex as “manage employee passwords through a password protected area” or as elementary as “to sell five products.” Whatever your website’s purpose is, jot it down to stay focused.
What are your goals? These may seem so obvious that you don’t need to list them down, but if you look around the web, you will come across an awful bunch of websites that simply don’t make a lot of sense, for instance, an e-commerce website without a call to action. Shocking huh? Once you set your goals, it becomes clear how you need to focus your site.
Define Your Budget
While it is possible to get a free website nowadays, a professionally designed website and a free website completely differ. Admittedly, a website is fundamental to the success of most businesses today. So, it would be a wise decision to engage a professional website development company. Before initiating contact with them, have in mind a budget range for your project.
Passwords, Login Links, and Usernames
You will require them for your social media accounts, current hosting service, and domain registration. Ideally, create an Evernote or text file with all your login data and keep it in a secure place.
Get a Web Host
What is a web host? In layman terms, it is simply a server that hosts your website on the internet. Think of it as a shop in a big mall located in your state. Choosing the right web host is very important. Opt for a website host that provides personal and reliable service with minimal downtime. You can choose web hosts such as Godaddy, BlueHost, HostaGator & eHost, but can also choose from a free web host for your first website.
Define Your Keywords / Niche
Without a keyword, your website is vulnerable to an identity crisis. Know the targeted keywords for your site and remember them as you write your content and create your website. Most importantly, use your keywords frequently but naturally. Admittedly, keywords are needed from the beginning as they affect the content and very aspect of the website. So, it is mandatory that each web page incorporates targeted keyword phrases. Check out this PC Magazine comparison table for website hosting services.
Choose a Responsive, Attractive Website Template to Build an Eye-Catching Website
A website template is a pre-designed website design that enables your site to have that professional look without the need of hiring a website designer. Additionally, it gives you an economical, quick and easy way to create your website design. Instead of wasting a lot of money on custom website designs that probably won’t pay off, choose a responsive website template to help you build an eye-catching website.
Demographics: What is Your Target Audience?
It is vital to choose your target market before you start building your website. You must know the degree of sophistication, technical knowledge, age group and educational level of your target audience. By defining your audience, you can easily optimize your keywords, determine the graphic feel and look of your website, how the content is written and presented, etc.
Logo Design
Using a logo is an excellent way to help create a brand for your website and business. You can hire a professional graphic designer or use a logo generator to create an impressive logo for your website.
Maintenance and Updates
Always have your website checked regularly to identify errors, and bugs that may occur. Even better, develop useful content to your visitors mostly based on what is working and consistently optimize your website. In a nutshell, ensure your website is well attended to have it running smoothly.
Conclusion
Undoubtedly, there are a lot of small businesses and companies out there with websites that are reasonably non-functional. These websites fail to attract customers, let alone visitors or bring about sales. To prevent a great marketing opportunity from going to waste, it is essential to do some preliminary research before building your website.
Remember these fundamental steps and you’ll be well on your way to creating a well-optimized website. I hope you found this checklist useful.
