Why do you need a website?
A professional website is often the first meeting point between you and potential customers. It can:
- Increase your visibility online
- Building Credibility and Professionalism
- Provide up-to-date information around the clock
- Act as a cost-effective marketing channel
Planning your website
Define the purpose
Determine what the website should achieve, such as:
- Information page
- Portfolio
- Blog
- Online Store
Hint: Make a list of 2—3 main goals that can guide your design and content decisions.
Map the target audience
Think through who will visit the website, what needs they have and how they seek information online.
Plan the content
A simple web page should typically contain:
- Front page: An overview that makes a good first impression
- About Us/About Me: Presentation of who you are and what you offer
- Services/Products: A description of your offers
- Contact: Information on how customers can reach you
- Blog (optional): To share knowledge and improve SEO
Choose the right platform
Website Builders
Use tools that require no coding and offer drag-and-drop functionality, such as:
- Wix
- Squarespace
- WordPress.com
Content Management Systems (CMS)
For increased flexibility and the possibility of further development:
- WordPress.org
- Joomla
- Drupal
Get a domain name and web hosting
Choose a domain name
Choose a short, simple and easy to remember name that usually contains a keyword and is adapted to the market (for example, a .no suffix for Norwegian projects).
Choose a web host
Choose a web host that is suitable for your project. Many providers offer combined offerings with domain names and web hosting for easier management.
Design and build your website
Choose a template or theme
Use ready-made templates with responsive design that allow you to customize colors, fonts, and layout, and support necessary features such as contact form and social media integration.
Customize the design
Personalize your website by:
- Embed logo and use corporate colors
- Selecting readable fonts and customizing image usage
- Keep the design clean and clear
Follow basic design principles
Ensure consistency in color and style, good contrast for readability, and a clear hierarchy that highlights important information.
Add content and optimize for search engines (SEO)
Write persuasive text
The text should be clear, concise and focused on the needs and benefits of the user.
SEO Basis
For optimal visibility in search engines:
- Use relevant keywords naturally in headings and body text
- Write unique meta descriptions for each page
- Apply Alt Text to Images
- Optimize page load time by compressing images and streamlining code
Use quality images
Choose high-quality images, optimize the size for fast loading, and avail free image banks if necessary.
Add functionality
Contact form
Create a short and clear contact form that includes the necessary fields and spam protection.
Social Media Integration
Add icons that link to your social media profiles and any share buttons.
Analytics
Install tools like Google Analytics to monitor traffic and other performance data.
Test and launch the website
Pre-launch testing
Make sure that:
- All links work
- The website is responsive (mobile, tablet, PC)
- The loading time is satisfactory
- Contact information is correct
- Text and images are proofread
Launch
Publish the website and share the launch via social media and newsletters to get feedback.
Maintenance and updates
Remember to update your content regularly, keep all plugins and themes up to date, and adjust your SEO strategy based on analytics.
Common Challenges and Solutions
Lack of technical skills
Use simple tools like Wix or Squarespace and look for training materials to learn the process.
Limited budget
Start with affordable solutions like WordPress with a budget-friendly web hosting.
Design uncertainty
Use ready-made templates, follow basic design principles, and seek inspiration online.
Summary
To create a simple website for small projects you should:
- Define the purpose, target audience and plan the content.
- Choose a platform that suits your needs, either via a website builder or a CMS.
- Obtain a suitable domain name and web hosting.
- Design and build your website with a template and customize it with your corporate colors and logo.
- Add compelling content and optimize for SEO.
- Implement necessary features such as contact form, social media integration and analytics.
- Test the website thoroughly before launch and ensure regular maintenance.
Start today by creating your website, experiment with design and adjust content as needed. Feel free to share your experiences or questions.
