Building Your Own Website: Tips for DIY Website Designers

In my 15 years of building websites for small business owners, I have found that I like to ask them, what is your first step if I weren't here? It's kind of a trick question but with purpose. 9/10 times I get a response that requires jumping on the computer. While this might feel like the natural way to begin your website-building journey, I always start by putting pen to paper.

Tip #1 - The 5 Lists of Lists

Make yourself a List of Lists! Your website is built from a compilation of images and written content. To begin building on that "library" of content, I start every website with my list of lists...

List #1: Your Top 3 Reasons for Building the Website

List #2: Your Top 3 Desired End Results

List #3: A List of Pages You Must Have on Your Website

List #4: The Top 5 Keywords You Want to Show Up in a Google Search For

List #5: Not really a list but rather a digital folder of Required Image Files / Logos / etc. (Highly recommend google drive for image storage, organization, sharing, etc..)

Tip #2 - Be What You Are, Genuinely.

When I first started my own website design business I created this killer, agency brand that looked like it could have been a Fortune 500 company (not to toot my own horn, lol.) It backfired completely. I got the exact opposite type of client inquiries that I was hoping for. The bigwigs who expected me to work on call for chump change doing their administrative work. After about a year of this, I came to the realization that most people don't want to deal with a big website company and get tossed around by an account manager, content writer, developer, designer., etc. I also realized that the kind of client I wanted to work with was someone on my wavelength. Someone who was also a small business owner, a busy parent, an actual human just doing their best to provide for their family... The point is that if I had simply built my brand around who I am in the first place, I probably would have been a lot more successful in my first year.

"Authenticity requires vulnerability, transparency and integrity."

Tip #3 - Competitor Pro's and Cons

Feel free to include personal details and examples. The more relatable you or your website is, the more you connect with your readers.

Tip #4 - Mix it up

Try different blog formats each time. One month, post a day in the life, then try a How-To or a Q&A. There are many templates to help you get started. I do offer consulting on this if you're interested in starting your own blog.

Tip #5 - Finish strong

Your final tip will lead into your post’s conclusion. For example, “Lastly, knowing just a little bit about SEO can go a long way in helping your blog succeed. You can learn more about SEO in our guide.” Then be sure to add a link to your guide here.

Don’t Forget to Add a Closing Statement

Keep it short. Restate your main point and tell your readers what you want them to do next. Don’t be shy. Just tell them: Buy Now, Click Here, Read This, and link to it. You can also invite them to leave a comment below your post.