Tips for Designing a Website like a Pro

Does your business or organization want to start an online presence, but has no idea where to begin? Stop asking web designers to design websites for your business when you, yourself can make your own. Just like the reputable webmasters, you too can be skillful in designing websites.

Because of technology and the internet, creating a website has now become a relatively easy task for anyone who has a deep interest in learning how to. Many user-friendly, free, and open-source content-management systems are available to assist with web design, making it even more possible for you to build a basic small business website without a professional web designer.

By following these three simple steps, you can now create a mobile-friendly and user-focused website:

Register a Domain Name

A domain name is the address of your website that people type in the browser URL bar to visit your website. In registering for a domain name, follow the steps indicated below:

a. Choose a reliable domain registrar

There are many domain name registrars you can choose from in registering your website domain. A few of the domain registrars are indicated below for your personal checking. You can choose from the following:

  • Domain.com
  • Bluehost
  • Hostgator
  • GoDaddy
  • Namecheap

b. Find a domain availability checker tool

  • Run a domain name search
  • Pick the best available option
  • Finalize your order and complete the domain registration
  • Verify the ownership of your new domain

Choose a Website Builder

Back in the day, building a website requires writing code or personally hiring someone who knows how to. But today, the game has changed as there are a lot of website builders on the internet that can help you establish your web presence. They are a perfect solution for individuals who are in dire need of building a website, without hiring a developer.

Before choosing a site builder,make sure to think about the kind of website you’d like for your business. You just have to check its feedback. Here are the top 5 of the most trusted website builders. The links are included for your personal checking.

  • Wix
  • Squarespace
  • Network solution
  • WordPress.com
  • Web.com

Design Your Web Page

Once you are done choosing your website platform, you can now proceed with the following steps:

Layout a draft

A home page is the first page that visitors will see when they access your website. It is believed by the website designers in Long Island that it is wise to draw a layout draft of the page design before creating a website. In many cases, the home page is the entire website, but you have the option of including other pages that can be linked to the home page.

To create a home page using Word, you will probably want to use either a Web Page Template or the Web Page Wizard. Both items are available when you select the Web Page option from the General Templates area.

Header

A header is usually located at the top of the website (or right below a top navigation menu). It often contains a logo or the website name. You may design your own logo and include it in the header of your website.

Adding Images and content

Seldom is a web page entirely text. Most include images and even animation to make the page more appealing and eye-catching. You will most likely want to include one or more images on your page, as well. Web page images can be pictures from your digital camera, clip art that you collect from Word or other sources, such as the Internet, or scanned pictures. If you are using a Word Web page template that includes an image, you will need to remove the image and replace it with one of your own or leave the space empty.

To include an image on a Web page, do the following:

  • Click the image to be removed or replaced, and press Delete.
  • If the image to be placed on the Web page is a picture, it should be saved as a JPEG file. The JPEG file format is best for displaying photographs, whereas the GIF format is more often used for line drawings, large blocks of color, and animation. If you have an image editor, you can open the image in that software and save it as a JPEG file. Your image editor might give you the option of saving a file as a Web-ready picture. When you choose the Web-ready option, the picture is automatically saved as a JPEG file in an appropriate size for display on a Web page. If you don’t have an image editor, you can open the picture in Paint (Click Start, All Programs, Accessories, Paint), and change the file type to JPEG, if necessary, before saving it. To change the file type, click File, Save As, and then select JPEG from the drop-down list beside the file type area.
  • To place the image on the Web page that you are developing, click where you want the picture to go, and click Insert, Picture, From File (or Insert, Picture, Clip Art if you are selecting from Word’s clip art inventory). Navigate to the disk and folder containing the picture to be inserted, and double-click the image file.
  • Resize the image by clicking to select it and then clicking and dragging a corner handle.
  • If you are using a Word Web page template, you will probably be able to type text beside and beneath the inserted image. If for some reason, you are not able to type beside the image, you must format the image to allow that to occur. Right-click the image, and select Format Picture from the context menu. Click the Layout tab. Click Square. Click OK. At that point, you can type text beside and beneath the picture.

Congrats, you’ve just figured out how to create a website all on your own! Keep improving your website. By following the 3 steps mentioned earlier, you can now put your dream website into reality, because when you dream it, you can build it!