Creating a website without professional assistance

Creating a website without professional assistance

Creating a website without professional assistance can seem like an impossible job especially to a computer novice. But this need not necessarily be so. It is possible to build a website of superior quality right from scratch, post it and maintain it, all by yourself.

Irrespective of whether the site is commercial or private, there are a few steps to be kept in mind when launching into the process of creating a website. These have been discussed below and should be followed in chronological order.

Domain Name
Narrow down on a domain name before you begin building your website.
1)    Keep the relevancy of the name high.
2)    Choose a name that is easy to remember
3)    Keep it short and simple
4)    The website name and domain name must be the same
5)    Avoid hyphens and plurals
6)    Register the domain name

Web host
1)    Avoid free hosts
2)    Choose a reputable host
3)    Take the web space offered into account
4)    FTP, PHP, SSI, SSH access is essential, since you will not be able to expand your website later if you need to.
5)    Accessibility speed is crucial since a site that is usually down will loose traffic
6)    Technical support goes a long way especially after the website has been posted.
7)    Emails, POP and other similar facilities will help build customer relationships.
8)    The host must allow you to access the website via the control panel.
9)    Payments to the host site are best suited when they are made monthly.
10)    SSL and other such secure payment options must be made available by the host.

Layout of the site
1)    It is possible to design the website from scratch even when creating a website without professional assistance, but it requires high technical knowledge.
2)    Adopt established web builders like www.homestead.com or www.sitebuildit.com
3)    Get HTML
4)    Develop a home page, an about us page, contact us button.
5)    Plan the layout of the website so that it is easy to navigate through.
6)    Allow room for marketing strategies to be roped in
7)    Develop a search engine friendly website.

Test and post
1)    Test the site using internet explorer 6 or 7 or other such software. It is better to test using two different versions since it does not leave room for error.
2)    Use emulator machine to check the web site
3)    Validate the website
4)    Post the site and get the ball rolling

Payment methods
1)    Get your own merchant account or contact a third party merchant willing to do the job at a fee like paypal etc.
2)    Ensure that the credit card information is collected in a safe way
3)    Remember that payment gateways are essential for international buyers and help convert the impulsive ones.

However, do remember that when you are creating a website for your business, you would rather have a professional take care of the design and content so that the website can create an impact with your potential customers. If selecting a domain name, planning the layout and design of the site and testing it is done by professionals, the end product is likely to be much more effective and relevant.

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