So, you need to build a website? If this is the first time that you will create your own website from scratch before, you are in the right place. The following steps will help you create a website. 1. What should I call my website and how do I get the name? Before you create a website, you will need to brainstorm a list of possible addresses (URLs) where you can register your website.

There are sites, such as godaddy.com that allow you to check and see if the website address (URL) that you would like to build a website is available. There are several options, and if the .com website that you want is taken, would you consider .org? Once you decide on a name, and find out that it’s available you will probably want to purchase that domain name and set up a web hosting account. Sites like godaddy.com provide information about web hosting packages. For a simple site, I recommend starting with the most basic hosting package available.

2. Who am I trying to reach with my website? It is important to know who your audience is before creating a website, where you should be advertising your website. For example, a site about rap music stars of 2005 would most likely not be marketed to baby boomers. However, in response a website about travel packages with AARP discounts would not be marketed to teens.

Define your target audience, and research what they want to see! This is by far the best way to reach your users.

3. What “Look and Feel” would work best when building my website? If your company/organization already has an ‘identity,’ then this step will be easier for you because you just need to create a website that will blend in with the rest of your promotional materials. However, if this is a new company you might be creating a website to help define your identity.

If you have the resources to hire an advertising agency or website designer to help you find the perfect “Look and Feel” for your site, then it’s worth the extra money spend in the beginning. If not, you might want to begin by looking at the website of others in your industry. This will help you to establish current practice, and to decide what you can to do improve your image while building a website.

4. I’ve found the perfect look! Now, what do I put on my site? Again, if you have existing brochures, letters or other marketing pieces such as a catalog, then this process will be easier for you. However, it is important to realize that writing content for a website is significantly different than writing content for a paper publication.

For example, website users prefer that content be delivered to them in short, concise paragraphs or bulleted lists with key points. You should reduce your written content by nearly fifty percent in order to be most effective. It is important to figure out what key ideas you want to convey to your users, and to highlight this information on your page. You are best to break your content up into short, concise pages, each marked with an easily identifiable title that stands out to the user.

Many websites look great at first glance, but are lacking in the area of content and organization. Spend time writing your content, reviewing that content to ensure that it’s written with as few words as possible and ensuring that each page is unique – not just repeating the same content with different works. You can review this site for additional information on writing web content.

5. What technologies should I use? Should I use a Flash interface, or would I be better to use just HTML? Before making this decision, you should think about what you need your site to do. If you want a searchable catalog, etc. you will need to decide what type of database you will use. Your site will need to reference that database, in any number of ways. As for the interface, generally the simpler your site is, the more effective. If you don’t NEED to use a fancy interface, you are probably best just giving your users what they need.

6. I know what content I need to include, how do I make a website? There are many different techniques for actually “making” a website. There are software packages that allow you to build your site with little or no prior experience. Each package has benefits and drawbacks. You would be wise to investigate all of your options prior to deciding what package to use to create your own website.

This is another time when hiring an outside professional might benefit your company/organization. Hiring a web designer will allow you to quickly implement your site, although again it is important to review your options before making a decision.

7. My website is finished, now what do I need to do? The internet is ever-evolving. One of the benefits of using a website is that your content is dynamic. You are not “stuck” with what you publish, and changes are usually simple. Therefore you should continuously review your content. Remove old information; replace it with new where appropriate. Keep your contact information up to date! Go back and revisit the other steps listed in this article, but just keep reviewing.

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