In Part 1 in this two-part series, we talked about why you should create a do-it-yourself website, especially if you're trying to promote your business. Using a free site-builder tool provided by a web-site hosting service can save you hundreds, or thousands, of dollars (compared with hiring a web developer). Even better, the results look professional, if you plan well and are thorough.
To recap, here are the steps you need to do to start your web site:
(1) Choose a hosting service (that offers a site-builder tool)
(2) Choose a domain name that's relevant to your business and available for purchase
(3) Decide on the topics and titles for each page of your site
(4) Using a word processor, write the text for each page in a "design document"
(5) Identify pictures you will use with your web page text, like online stock images and a photo (head shot) of you.
When you've done these things, you're ready to start building your site.
After you order web-site hosting services from the company you've selected, they'll send you an account ID and password. They'll also tell you how to log into their site and build your web site with their site-builder tool. If their instructions are too techno-geeky, call their tech support. Tell the person what you want to do, and have them talk you through the process. They'll be happy to tell you what to do, until you know what you're doing on your own.
Choose the Right Template
Most site-builder tools have you begin by choosing a template. Your template specifies the background pictures, colors, and text styles (for example, fonts and font colors) of your web pages. This means choosing a good template is very important: this decision strongly influences the look and feel of your site.
Many templates are meant for a certain kind of business, and include relevant artwork. You could look for a template that is specific for writers or medical or biological businesses. Or, you might want to consider a generic template that you can customize. Otherwise, you may find your website looks a lot like that of another freelancer who is using the same hosting service, site-builder tool, and template.
If you choose a generic template, you'll decide on your fonts (for instance, Arial, Times New Roman, or Verdana), font colors, font size (in points, as in 10-point Arial or 12-point Times New Roman), and many other details. When you're happy with your decisions (and you can change them later if you're not), it's time to use the site-builder tool.
Use Your Site-Builder Tool
After you've chosen your template, you'll work in a page designer interface, as shown here for
GoDaddy's site-builder tool:
In this site-builder tool, the tool's tabs and menus occupy roughly the upper one-third of the window, and the web page you're designing is in the lower two-thirds. The template dictates where the various text blocks and background elements go. Here, I'm using a generic template with a patterned light-blue rectangle along the top; the navigation menu (for moving between your site's pages) is in a brown box to the left of the main text block.
I've put my logo and company name (Mitch Gordon Medical and Regulatory Writing) in the page header block. The contents of this block overlay the blue rectangle graphic that's built into the template. I can change the font size and text style. But, the text is limited by the boundaries of the block, which are defined in the template, and can't be changed. Similarly, I've copied the home page text from the design document I previously created, and pasted it into the main block. Then, I reformatted the text in the block to make it attractive and readable, using bold headings and bulleted paragraphs.
You can put a graphic anywhere you want within a text block. The text in the block will automatically flow around the graphic. Upload each graphic to the web hosting site, using a menu option in the site builder tool, and then you can insert it into a block.
Create a web page for each title that you defined in the design phase. The site-builder tool lets you add, delete, and edit each page in your site. When you add a page, a corresponding entry is automatically added to the navigation menu. A newly added page will already have all the background elements and blocks, but the blocks will usually be empty. When you add a page, give it the title that you chose in your design document. This title will appear in a title block on the page and in the navigation menu. Copy the text for this page from the design document, paste it into the main block, fix the formatting, and add graphics as you did for the home page.
Use Hyperlinks for Interactivity
You can convert words or phrases in the web page text into hyperlinks. When you do this, you specify that the hyperlink will either point to an external web page or a file that you've uploaded to the web hosting site.
Hyperlinks (especially to uploaded files) are an important feature on your web site. For example, readers can open your resume or review your writing samples by clicking on the hyperlinks to them in your web page. Hyperlinks also boost the interesting, interactive character of your pages.
Preview Your Work
Periodically, preview your work to see what the various pages of your site will look like when published. This is also a good time to test the hyperlinks and navigation. When you're satisfied, you can publish your web site to the web-hosting site. After you do this, the world will be able to see your site on the internet. You can make more changes to your site and published them, when ready, using the same site-builder tool.
Take Time to Do It Right!
To make sure you're happy with your web site, take the time you need to do these things, and do them well:
- Choose an attractive template
- Create thoughtful content
- Use your design elements consistently
- Provide hyperlinks for information, interest, and interactivity
- Add graphics for eye candy (including your logo, your photograph, and possibly stock images)
Taken together and executed well, this approach will give your site a polished look and a message you'll be proud of.
A site-builder-created web site will save you a lot of money, and the results can look professional if you have a good eye and patience. With some thought and effort, you can design and publish a web site that looks great. And you can do it--without having a technical background in web development.
About the Author
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Mitch Gordon has been a professional writer for 16 years. He will complete his Masters degree in Regulatory Affairs in early 2010. Mitch's specialties are regulatory and clinical documentation, and he writes a wide range of other documents that support life-sciences companies.
Mitch Gordon
Medical and Regulatory Writing
Website:
http://www.mitchgordonwriter.com
