The Essential DIY Website Checklist: Get Your Site Right the First Time
Building your own website can feel like a big project, but with the right checklist, you’ll know exactly where to start. Here’s a simple guide to help you cover all the bases and launch a site that looks professional and works like a charm!
1. Define Your Goals and Audience
Purpose: Clarify what your website is meant to do—whether it’s to showcase a portfolio, generate sales, or build an audience.
Audience: Identify who you’re creating the site for. This will guide your content and design choices.
2. Choose the Right Platform
Platform Selection: Pick a website builder that suits your skills and needs. Popular options include WordPress, Squarespace, and Wix.
Hosting: Make sure your platform includes reliable hosting, or choose a reputable host if you’re using WordPress.
3. Plan Your Pages
Home: Create a clear, inviting homepage that captures attention.
About: Tell visitors who you are and what you do.
Services/Products: Explain what you offer with easy navigation to each option.
Contact: Provide a contact form or easy-to-find email, phone, and social links.
4. Design for Mobile and Desktop
Responsive Design: Ensure your site looks great on all screen sizes.
Easy Navigation: Keep menus simple and make sure every page is easy to find.
Consistent Branding: Use the same colors, fonts, and style throughout the site.
5. Add Clear Calls-to-Action (CTAs)
Next Steps: Guide visitors to take action—try to be more specific than “Learn More” or “Read More”.
Visibility: Make sure CTAs stand out and are easy to find on each page.
6. Optimize for Speed
Image Compression: Use optimized, compressed images to improve load times.
Minimize Plugins: Avoid too many plugins or widgets that slow your site.
7. Set Up SEO Basics
Keywords: Identify and include relevant keywords in your content.
Meta Descriptions: Write brief descriptions for each page to improve search visibility.
Alt Text: Use descriptive text for images to boost SEO.
8. Test Everything!
Check Links: Make sure all links work and direct visitors to the right pages.
User Testing: Try out the site on mobile and desktop, or ask a friend to give it a go.
Proofread: Double-check spelling, grammar, and any details for a polished result.
9. Launch and Track Performance
Google Analytics: Set up tracking to monitor visitors and site performance.
Adjust as Needed: Based on what you learn, make changes to improve the experience over time.
By following this checklist, you’ll be ready to launch a professional, user-friendly website that meets your goals. And remember, if you ever need a bit of help fine-tuning your DIY site, I’m just a message away at Anitrix Creative Studio!
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Here are some reliable resources to help guide the DIY website-building process:
Moz SEO Guide - A comprehensive beginner's guide to search engine optimization (SEO), which is critical for website visibility:
https://moz.com/beginners-guide-to-seo
Google Analytics Help Center - Tutorials and guides on setting up and using Google Analytics for website tracking:
https://support.google.com/analytics/
Smashing Magazine - Great articles on web design principles, usability, and mobile responsiveness:
HubSpot’s Beginner's Guide to Website Navigation - Helpful tips on structuring navigation and calls-to-action for user-friendly design:
TinyPNG - A tool to compress and optimize images for faster website loading times:
