Innovate

What You Need to Know to Start Your DIY Website

You know that you need a website to attract new customers to your small business. You’ve read all the studies about content marketing and how to drive traffic to your website. The only problem is you don’t know where to start.

Don’t worry, you’re not the only one. According to a Clutch survey, 23 percent of DIY website builder users responded that they’re uncertain on how to choose a website builder. Furthermore, an additional 15 percent said they had difficulty with the initial setup.

To help you get through the hardest part of building your website, let’s take a closer look at a couple common challenges as well as a few solutions.

How to Choose a Host

Once you decide you want to create a website and determine its goals and purpose, you’re ready to jump over the first hurdle: choosing a web host. There are a lot of content management and website builder software options available, so it can feel a bit overwhelming.

Founder of RNO1 Michael Gaizutis tells Yahoo Finance that he recommends working backward. He explains, “Map out what solutions you need out of your web builder, and from there match that to the functionality and needs that align with what you’d like to bring to life.” So if you know that you need templates or pre-made themes to help you build your site, search for a web host that offers these features.

Another option is to check third-party lists and suggestions. For example, Best 10 Website Builders provides website builder reviews and shows some of the most sought after features. Once you work backward to figure out your most needed features, you can use these lists to find the right website builder for your needs.

How to Choose a Design

Almost a third of those surveyed by Clutch said that another big pain point was lack of technical knowledge to implement the features on their sites. While it is easy for web hosts to say their platforms are intuitive and you don’t have to be tech-savvy, everyone has different skill and comfort levels with technology.

Founder of ToolTester Network Robert Brandl tells Clutch that he suggests hiring a professional developer or designer. Even if you’re trying to save money by doing it yourself, you have to consider how much this project is costing you in time. If you’re unsure of how to design your site or implement advanced features, it may be more cost efficient to hire a professional.

Another option is to go back to choosing the right web host for your skill level. There are plenty of drag-and-drop options that require very little web development knowledge. You may have to rely on templates for awhile, but this is a good way to at least get your site up and running.

Starting is always the hardest part. With a little help from DIY articles and software solutions, you can jump over that first hurdle without too much effort. Once you understand what you need to get going, you can find the tools to create a top-notch website.

Follow Us

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

What's Next, Updates & Editorial Picks In Your Inbox

Related Articles

© 2017-2021 Advisors Magazine. All Rights Reserved.Design & Development by The Web Empire

Search