Website Planning 101
Research and purchase a domain name
Using your favorite search engine, search “domain registrars”, you’ll have many to choose from. I prefer GoDaddy. They are cheap and reputable.
All domain registrars allow you to search for available domain names, so develop a list of possible domain names and check for availability.
Some points to keep in mind; domain names should be easy to remember, easy to type and some experts say domain names should include your most popular keyword(s). Example, if you were a plumber, your domain name might include the words plumbing, or plumber.
Domain names should cost less than $20 and need to be renewed annually. Your web designer may offer to do this for you, but I would do it yourself. Generally, whoever purchases the domain controls it. I like to have control over my domains.
Research and purchase a hosting plan
Hosting is leasing space on a server for your website and its files to reside. Your domain registrar will probably offer hosting, but it is generally cheaper to use a dedicated hosting company. I use HostGator.
Hosting is paid monthly, though you can pay for it by the year, and should be less than $10 a month. Your web designer may offer hosting also.
Research competitor websites
Why reinvent the wheel when it comes to your website. More than likely someone else has a website similar to what you want. Look at as many websites as you can and make a list of what you like and don’t like. Your competitor’s websites make a great place to start.
Create an outline for your website
Once you have a domain name, a hosting plan and have done some research, create an outline of your website. It can be as simple as the example below.
1. Home Page
2. About Us/Services Page
3. Contact Page
4. Blog
5. Frequently Asked Questions
Having an idea of how many pages your website will encompass can also help a web designer estimate cost. Many designers charge by the webpage.
The finer details, creating your website’s essential elements
Armed with a domain name, a hosting plan and a simple outline, you are ready to start creating your website’s essential elements; images, graphics and text. In my experience, if a website’s elements are created first, the project comes together faster and looks more cohesive.
1. Find a color scheme/color palette
There are many websites dedicated to color schemes or color palettes. I like colourlovers, but I’ve used others. Choosing colors first will also save a lot of aggravation and frustration for both you and your designer. You’d be surprised at how much more cohesive your site will look with a consistent color scheme.
2. Have a logo or header designed
Your site will look more professional with a header or logo used consistently throughout. Your logo or header should incorporate your chosen colors.
3. Choose images and graphics
In my opinion, photos of your business and products are more personal, but for many situations, stock photography will work fine. There are many websites dedicated to stock photography and graphics. istock.com is one I’ve used.
4. Create your website’s text
Again, your competitors can be a great place to start. Text should include keywords (words and phrases potential visitors will type to find your website) and be separated by page/category (home page text, about text, etc.).
I’m not advocating plagiarism, but if you need a starting place, your competitor sites, or websites with similar topics may inspire you. Check out my article on developing valuable web content.
Final Thoughts
One other point I usually address with potential clients is access and management. If you think you may want the ability to access your site to make changes, post articles, or whatever, let your designer know ahead of time. This feature is not built into all design platforms and may affect how your site is constructed.
Although the above steps do not have to be done before you start work on your website, or contact a web designer, the more work you put into planning your site, the smoother the process. Having even a general idea of what you want can save you hours of frustration, aggravation, and possibly money as well!