So, you want a website

It's a process that requires up-front thinking, co-creating, and defined-scope

location Raleigh,  NC,  US

If you're wanting or needing to create a website, but are overwhelmed with all the things that come from making it a reality, this is for you.

A website can be a very simple thing to make. Technically, all that's required is an .html file—you don't even have to host the file anywhere, it can be on your computer and you have a website! But, that requires some coding work that is likely out of scope, and most people tend to want more than that.

To ground this more in reality, a website can be broken down into a few different parts.

The minimum

A domain name

This is what people type into the browser to navigate to your website. It should align with whatever thing you're trying to build, or be near it. If you're building a personal website, loads of people use their names—myself included. If you're building personal brand, your name may not be the path you want to take. Rather, some sort of company name. Whatever you choose, try to make it: short, memorable, and to the point.

A host

This is where the code of your website lives. For most of us, that means we purchase shared disk space on a computer somewhere, because we don't need full dedicated servers. If we want full ownership of a server, there's also options of purchasing a dedicated server hosting package—meaning no one else is sharing the disk space with you. That tends to be more expensive but you get better service from the hosting provider.

If you're working with an agency, or a comrade that's helping you build your website, sometimes they can offer hosting space as part of working with them. It makes things easier if you want longer-term support—sometimes with additional hour-budgets baked in for incremental improvements throughout the year. Some humans even have at-home servers—computers dedicated for web hosting—for more control.

Whatever your situation, it comes down to how much you want to learn, budget, and desired scope of control.

The content

This is a biggie that'll be it's own section below—there's a lot of parts to this—but basically: you need to have stuff to put on the site. The content's built using layers of HTML, CSS, and Javascript—the web page's structure, style, and interaction; respectively.

This is where lots of the website-builders come in. Services like Squarespace, Wordpress, Wix, GoDaddy, and others come in. Their goal is to make it as simple as possible for anyone to make a website. You don't have to worry about the code—just the content. There are other website builders that can help generate and build the code—Webflow, Nordcraft, Framer—for more specialized folks like web designers and web developers. These are all considered "no-code" and "low-code" tools to help throughout.

Your choice of tooling can have significant impact on your site's maintenance and upkeep. But, in the end, it doesn't really matter how the content gets translated into a live website. What matters is that there's something on the website.

Recap

There are more things to consider for each of these minimum aspects of websites. Does some other website have a similar domain name, or URL, that you wouldn't want people accidentally navigating to? Is your hosting near where your site's visitors will be located (affecting the speed of download and viewing)? What even should you put on the website?! We won't review all those questions now.

Remember: there are three things, minimum, you need for a website:

  • a domain name (URL)
  • a host (a computer)
  • the content (what's on the site)

The site's purpose

Now we're going to start talking about The Content. We'll go through the basic questions first:

  • Why do you need one?
  • What do you need it to do?
  • How will you use it? How will visitors use it?
  • Where will you share it? Where will visitors find it?
  • When will you update it?
  • Who should be using it?

These are basic questions that will help support figuring out the rest of the site.

Why do you need a website?

Apart from "everybody says I need one" there's one great reason for everyone:

You own the space.

Likely, you'll have a few or slew of social accounts. These are channels to drive people to your website. You don't control—or own—other company's spaces. They'll make decisions that can affect The Algorithm that can drastically impact the efficacy of that channel. To the detriment and benefit (not mutually exclusive).

They're seeking to improve their business. Not yours. They do this through a variety of means:

  • showing posts less often because you link to another site;
  • hide your content because they decide it needs to be hidden;
  • force others to log in and create accounts to access your content (limiting the reach of potential clients discovering you organically).

By having a website, you own the space and can do with it what you want.

That's a reason for most humans that have websites.

Now, dig into the question: why do you need a website?

What do you need it to do?

Websites can do all sorts of things that feel magical. But, as with all magick: it comes from purposeful intent.

These are some categories of websites, defined with the need they fulfill:

  • E-commerce: customers can buy things from you via your website, a digital storefront.
  • Brochure: people learn about you, your business, and services—and can get in touch with you to inquire or procure.
  • Product: your business is selling a thing—ethereal, service, artifact.
  • Blog: you regularly publish articles, personal opinions, or professional perspectives.
  • Social Network: your users can connect, share content, and interact socially.
  • Portfolio: showcasing professional or creative work, to demonstrate acumen and skill.
  • So many more: there's many more types of websites, but these are some of the ones that most popular websites are or have some flavor of worked into them.

When there's many more than one of these types of purposes on or for a website, it's more accurately named a web platform.

By giving name to these needs, in such a way, it can help refine & define the path you take on building your website—both for yourself and when working with others building it for you.

How will you & visitors use it?

These are two important questions to put perspective into the path you'll take on getting the website up.

For a brochure website, you may use it for:

  • sharing references;
  • detailing service list;
  • setting prices;
  • describing process;
  • listing policies;
  • content marketing;
  • advertising campaigns;
  • and the list goes on.

Remember, it's your space where you can do whatever you want in the space. What will you use it for?

Your visitors, though, there's other sorts of questions:

  • will they need to log in to see content or communications?
  • will they contact you on your website via a form?
  • will they read advice, direction, or opinions you share (to determine if you're someone to work with)?

What questions could you list, that potential visitors may be looking for answers to?

Getting into the mindset of your potential customers helps give shape to your website's content.

Where will you share it & visitors find it?

This one is important to consider. Not a SUPER big deal, but it does help in starting to think about marketing strategy and the intention of the website.

Typically, this would be the URL you have on all your personal and professional social media profiles.

It also influences how the places.