There are over a billion websites live right now and that figure is set to grow as more people and brands turn to the internet to make themselves heard. There are still lots of misconceptions, however, about how the amount of work it takes to not only design and build a reliable and fast website, but also see it live on a chosen domain.
Here, we will explore how to easily build a website in a week or less:
Define a purpose
Before you jump into building a website, you need to consider its purpose. Will it be something simple like a blog, or a little more complex? The purpose of your website will have a huge impact on the design, coding, and costs associated with the build, so make sure you understand what you need the site to do for you.
Got it? Great. Once you know what you’re looking for, you can start thinking about the framework, look, and execution needed to make the website a reality.
Consider your audience
Even though the internet is pretty much an open platform, you still need to think about the user you want to attract. The user sitting on the other end is arguably the biggest influence on your website. If you’re trying to market a new toy to children, a visual, animated site may be best. Writing articles on the next big thing in venture capital? A simple, content-rich experience might be the best approach.
By combining your audience and purpose, you will get to a point where you can start laying out the foundations of your build.
Choose a template
When the internet revolution first started, the coding and programing process, even for basic websites, could take weeks. Backend developers were in short supply and nobody really had the technology and tools needed to churn out a beautiful, well-functioning and fast site.
Thankfully, that has all changed. As modern operating systems and hardware have developed, so has the art of coding. If you’re looking to get a website live quickly, then choosing a pre-built website template is the best place to start.
There are thousands of website templates out there, each with different visual and functional structures. Spend some time looking for templates that match your website’s purpose – and don’t forget to keep your target market in mind.
Populate the template
For most people, website content is where the fun starts. From video and audio recordings to simple imagery and copy, creating great content is essential.
Depending on what you’re trying to achieve, content creation might be the slowest part of the process – especially if you want things to be just right. To save time, start writing and collecting content before you start building.
In most cases, populating the template is as simple as dragging and dropping it into the chosen content modules. With a decent internet connection, this won’t take long at all.
Invest in hosting
While your content is being produced and uploaded, you need to think about affordable website hosting. Despite the fact that they’re all selling the same product, you have lots of hosting options. Select an offering that will get you the domain name, visibility, and reach that you’re looking for.
Make sure you consider the lifespan of your website when searching for a hosting partner. In some cases, like with events, you may only want the site live for a few months.
Also, be prepared for compromise. In many cases, your first choice URL will not be available so save yourself a lot of time by coming up with options instead of engaging in a domain name bidding war.
Test thoroughly
Once you’ve confirmed your domain, you need to dedicate as much time to user testing as possible.
Apart from the fact that great UX (User Experience) design can drive volumes of traffic to your site, thorough testing eliminates the time you spend fixing glitches and redesigning site elements. Plus, it delivers a more impressive experience to that all-important end user.
Final word
By planning in advance, generating content early, selecting a template, and using a competitive hosting company, you can get your website live and operational in less than a week.
And once you’re live, you have the freedom to make updates and optimize as you need.
What website building strategies do you suggest?