Web Site Building

It is important not to jump into website building. You first need to be very clear about the purpose of your website. What are you promoting? Websites work best if they are based on a single theme. If you have multiple niches, consider a website for each one of them. The old saying "stick to your knitting" is just as relevant for online operations as it is for traditional businesses. It simply means to stay with what you are good at and make sure that all aspects of your business fit with your core purpose. For example, if your website is focused on selling dog accessories it would be unwise to try to sell wedding dresses on the same site.

Before you start creating your site you will need to choose a domain name if you have not already done so. Make sure it is relevant to your business and easy to recall. You will have to check that no one has the name already. If it is unavailable, you may have to think up a few alternatives until one is accepted. Only once you own your domain name should you start website building. The reason for this is that the name will suggest a style that might not suit a different name. It will also provide a heading for your home page.

Once you have your domain name and have narrowed down your theme, it is time to decide on the color, style and layout of your site. If you haven't already chosen your website building software, research different programs to make sure you choose one that can deliver on your ideas. Many site builders will have promotional versions that prospective customers can play with, while some others provide an online tour that shows examples of what can be achieved with the software.

Once you have purchased your software, give yourself some play time so you can find your feet with it without the stress of deadlines. When you feel confident you can get into your website building seriously.

Make sure your website is easy to use and do not make a page look too busy. It is important to avoid the temptation of trying to do everything at once. You will need to have a home page, a sales or lead capture page, and pages dedicated to information that supports your business focus. Do not set a website building goal of hundreds of pages before your site can be uploaded or you will never have an online website.

If you have been looking into website building on the internet, chances are you have come across a host of articles on how to optimize your website pages for search engine success. Some site builders will include programs that help you do this and that can be a help. However, if you provide well written, unique and informative web pages they will be fairly search engine friendly anyway. Wait until you have a basic website operational before worrying about learning search engine optimization (SEO) strategies. It's an area of never ending learning anyway. Importantly, enjoy your achievement! Spend some time admiring your new website and give yourself a pat on the back. You might be a newbie, but you've done a darn good job.