There are many factors to consider and decisions to make when building (or having someone build) your website. Be sure to consider the following:
- Budget: First and foremost, determine your budget. If your budget is tight and you’re seeking something relatively simple consider building a website through Google Sites. They provide free hosting so all you need to pay for is the site build/design (if you outsource it) and a yearly domain cost and that’s it! However, building a site through their service does limit creativity and design. With that being said, if you’re seeking something more professional with more control and customization then seek out a professional designer…ehem… how bout’ this guy 🙂
- Your Role: Do you want the ability to access and make adjustments easily? Then consider building through Wix or Weebly. These site building tools have come a long way and offer some really competitive pricing (not to mention free hosting). Again, there are some limitations but it does allow your average joe to put together something quite easily and make adjustments simply.
- Domain: I prefer GoDaddy. When picking a domain consider the following:
- How does the domain sound? When saying your domain to someone will that person not only remember it but be able to spell it off the top of their head?
- Consider a domain that is keyword rich and descriptive. Some time ago having a domain that was keyword rich would have brought your site to the top of ranks in no time. This is no longer the case but it does play a role in search engines like Bing and Yahoo!
- Avoid numbers and hyphens…oh, and keep it within a reasonable length.
- Go with .com – it’s still the industry standard and many people, by default, type in .com. More tips about choosing your domain over at SEOmoz
- Hosting: If your site requires hosting (Google Sites, Wix and Weebly do not apply) I prefer HostGator, mainly for the sole reason that their plans are quite affordable.
- The Build & Design: When determining the overall layout and design of your site always remember that Content is KING! Content is one of the most, if not the most, important elements of a website. Without quality content, what good is your design? Primarily focus on the content and not the flashy and fun elements of your site (if you have to choose). Google, and other major search engines, appreciate quality content now, more than ever. Learn more from this helpful info-graphic: Brafton
Hope this helps to those of you just getting started! Check this article out for some more specific details / pricing to consider. More tips and advice to follow, check back often!
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Tim Dugan | WebServicesCT.com
About Tim Dugan
