Creating a new website is an exciting venture, but it’s important to tread carefully through the digital landscape. Whether you’re launching a personal blog, a small business site, or an online store, there are certain do’s and don’ts that can make or break your online presence. In this guide, we’ll walk you through the essential tips in simple words to help you steer clear of common pitfalls and set your website up for success.
The Do’s:
Plan Your Content:
Do: Take the time to plan your website’s content. Outline the pages you need, such as Home, About Us, Services, and Contact. This helps organize your thoughts and ensures a clear structure for your visitors.
Choose a User-Friendly Design:
Do: Opt for a clean and easy-to-navigate design. Your visitors should find it effortless to move around your site. Choose a responsive design that looks good on both desktop and mobile devices.
Make sure your website looks like your business. Use things from your business, like your logo or favorite colors, to make it easy for people to know it’s yours. When you use these things, it helps people remember you.
Prioritize Page Speed:
Do: Keep your website fast. Compress images, minimize code, and choose a reliable hosting provider to ensure your pages load quickly. Slow websites can turn visitors away.
Create Engaging and Valuable Content:
Do: Craft content that is relevant, informative, and engaging. Whether it’s blog posts, product descriptions, or service details, make sure it adds value to your audience.
Include Clear Calls-to-Action (CTAs):
Do: Guide your visitors on what to do next. Whether it’s signing up for a newsletter, making a purchase, or contacting you, have clear and enticing CTAs throughout your site.
Call to Buttons that say something like ‘Contact us’ or ‘Request a brochure’ tell you what to do. They encourage you to take a specific action, and this action is usually related to what the website is about.
Optimize for Search Engines (SEO):
Do: Use relevant keywords in your content, titles, and meta descriptions. This helps search engines understand what your website is about, improving your chances of appearing in search results.
SEO means making your website better for Google and other search engines. When you do this, your website shows up higher in Google searches. This means more people will visit your site. To do this, use words on your website that people often search for and that relate to your business.
Security Through https:
When you make a website, make sure it’s safe. Safe websites show up higher in Google and keep visitors longer. If your website isn’t safe, visitors get a message.
The Don’ts:
Neglect Mobile Responsiveness:
Don’t: Forget about mobile users. Ensure your website looks good and functions well on smartphones and tablets. Many people browse the internet on mobile devices, and you don’t want to miss out on that audience.
When you make a new website, think about more than just how it looks on a computer. Lots of people use phones or tablets to look at websites. Some even say it’s good to design the website for phones first. If the website doesn’t work well on a phone, you might lose visitors. Also, Google won’t show your site high in search results if it’s hard to use on a phone.
Ignore Regular Updates:
Don’t: Neglect your website once it’s live. Regularly update your content, check for broken links, and ensure all features are working correctly. An outdated or malfunctioning site can harm your credibility.
Do not use images on the website:
Pictures on your website are really important. People like to see things, not just read words. When you make a website, use your own pictures. If you don’t have any, you can take them yourself or ask someone else, like a professional, to do it for you. Having your own pictures is a good thing for your website.
Overwhelm with Clutter:
Don’t: Stuff your website with unnecessary elements. Keep it clean and organized. Too much clutter can confuse visitors and make them leave your site.
Underestimate Security:
Don’t: Skimp on security measures. Keep your website, plugins, and themes up to date to protect against potential security threats. A secure website builds trust with your audience.
Ignore Analytics:
Don’t: Overlook the importance of analytics. Set up tools like Google Analytics to track your website’s performance. Analyzing data can help you understand your audience better and make informed decisions.
Conclusion:
By following these simple do’s and don’ts, you’ll be well on your way to creating a successful website. Remember to plan thoughtfully, prioritize user experience, and stay vigilant in maintaining and updating your site. With these guidelines, you’ll build a digital home that not only looks good but also effectively serves its purpose. Good luck on your web journey!
