Building Your Own Website: Tips for DIY Website Designers

Jun 8, 2023

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.

Here's What You Need to Do if You're Building Your Own Website...

Tip #1 - The 3 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/Desired End Results

List #2: A List of Pages You Must Have on Your Website

List #3: The Top 5 Keywords You Want to Show Up in a Google Search For

Plus: 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 your website is, the more you connect with your readers. Check out your competitors. Highlight your strengths. Set yourself apart. What are they doing better than you? Can you learn from their digital strategy?

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 out there to help you get started. I do offer consulting on this if you're interested in starting your own blog. It's one of my favorite things to help clients with because the payoff is always worth the time invested.

Tip #5 - Finish strong

Your final tip will lead into your post’s conclusion. For example, if I we're wrapping it up... “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 my guide here.” Then I'd be sure to add a link to the guide providing additional value to your audience.

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.

Have questions? Reach out today. As always, I'm here if you need me!