Are you facing a challenge? You lack the expertise to design a website. You are unfamiliar with coding and HTML, and the thought of building a new site seems daunting. However, it doesn’t have to be as complicated as it seems.In this article, we’ll outline the steps to design a website:Subscribe to Revenue Weekly — our email newsletter — for more tips from the agency with over 1,100 client testimonials!Discover the seven essential steps to create a successful website!When embarking on website design, it’s crucial to establish clear goals. Understanding your objectives is the first step in creating an effective site.To define your goals, consider answering the following questions:
What is the primary function of the website?
Which audience are you targeting with the site?
What is the desired outcome for your business through the site?
With simple answers to these questions, you’ll gain a clearer understanding of how to structure your website to meet your goals. Whether it’s an informative site, an e-commerce platform, or a combination of both, knowing your goals is essential.Once you’ve identified your goals, it’s time to choose the right tools for the job. Many beginners opt for a content management system (CMS) to build their websites.Some of the most popular CMS platforms are:
WordPress
Wix
Weebly
WooCommerce
And more!
Using any of these platforms allows you to create a website visually, without the need for coding. This approach is user-friendly and efficient.However, if you have a strong background in HTML, you can build a website from scratch. While this method is more challenging, it offers greater creative control.If you lack the necessary skills, consider hiring a professional web design agency to build your site for you!The third step in setting up your website is planning. Specifically, you need to organize your site structure.Ask yourself questions like:
What sections will my site have?
Which pages will be included in each section?
How will these sections be organized?
This step is crucial as it not only improves your workflow but also determines the navigation of your site. A well-organized site enhances user experience and reduces the likelihood of visitors leaving frustrated.After planning your site’s layout, create wireframes for each page to determine the layout of page elements.Use this time to plan your branding as well. How do you want your site to convey your unique brand? Choose your color scheme, font, and language style to maintain a consistent, branded look across your website.Before designing your actual pages, set up your domain name and web hosting. Your domain name is your site’s address, while web hosting refers to the physical servers where your site is stored.Use platforms like GoDaddy.com to find available domain names. Choose a domain name that is short, memorable, and clearly associated with your brand. For example, if your company is Karl’s Electronics, the ideal domain would be karlselectronics.com.
Once you’ve found and purchased a domain, set up your web hosting, often through the same platform where you bought your domain name. GoDaddy, Bluehost, and others offer excellent web hosting options.With your planning complete, it’s time to start building your website. Use your plan to set up your pages, ensuring they are organized as in your initial layout and include a navigation bar for easy navigation.
Use this time to create all your content, including videos, images, and textual content like blog posts and service pages. Ensure that your content is informative and helpful to users.Use the Coleman-Liau index, a free tool, to assess the readability of your website for your target audience.After setting up the basic website, start optimizing it for search engine optimization (SEO). SEO is a marketing strategy that involves improving your site’s ranking in relevant search results to attract more traffic. Some SEO optimization tactics include:
Page speed optimization: Improve your page speeds by caching web pages, compressing images, and minifying code.
Responsive design:Ensure your site is mobile-friendly with responsive design, which automatically adjusts your pages to fit any screen size.
HTTPS:Use HTTPS to secure your site, providing users with a safe browsing experience and improving your Google rankings.
By implementing these strategies, your site will attract more traffic upon launch.With your website setup complete, the final step is to publish it. While the site is live, the initial weeks after the launch are crucial.Monitor user behavior on your site to identify which pages drive traffic and which don’t. Use this information to reoptimize your site for better performance.Even after the initial weeks, continue seeking ways to improve your website’s quality, boost search rankings, and increase traffic to drive more conversions.
Now that you know how to design a website, you’re ready to get started. If you’re unsure about the details or want to ensure your site is expertly crafted, consider partnering with a professional web design agency like WebFX.WebFX is a tech-enabled full-service digital marketing agency with multiple local hubs, from our Baltimore web design agency to our Fort Myers hub.With over 28 years of experience, we are the experts in building websites that deliver results. When you choose our web design services, we’ll help optimize each step and create a site that will increase your traffic.To get started with us, just call 888-601-5359 or contact us online today!
