Building your website, step by step
Twelve steps, in the order the work happens.
1. Plan
- What is the site for?
- Who is it for?
- What do you want visitors to do: call, book, buy or join?
2. Domain
- Pick a name that is easy to say and spell.
- Keep it in your own name and your own account.
- Set up the email records so your emails arrive.
3. Design
- Start from a theme that already works.
- Use your logo, two colours and one or two fonts.
- Make it easy to read on a phone first.
4. Pages
- Home, about, what you do and contact are enough to start.
- Every page answers one question.
- Every page ends with one next step.
5. Content
- Your own words, in your own voice.
- Start with a few good pieces, not many.
- For ideas, see the big list of tips.
6. Search
- Give every page a clear title and description.
- Use the words your customers use.
- Connect Google Search Console so you can see what people search for.
7. Members
- Decide what is free and what, if anything, is paid.
- Make signing up one step.
- Your list is yours. You can take it with you.
8. Email
- Send a welcome email to every new member.
- Send regularly, even if it is short.
- Check your emails land in the inbox, not spam.
9. Payments
- Connect your own Stripe account.
- Start with one simple price.
- Know the fees before you set the price. See an example.
10. Tools
- Booking forms, calculators or anything only your business needs.
- Only add what saves you or your customer time.
11. Launch
- Check every page on a phone.
- Test the sign up and a welcome email.
- Point the old site at the new one so no link breaks.
12. Care
- Updates, backups and security, every month.
- Small changes often beat a big redesign later.
Do it yourself or with us
Rather we did it? On a website plan we do every step with you.