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The semi-process of starting a website

If someone told you that starting a website was easy... They must have major experience with it 'cause let me tell you... It's definitely a process! 

I used to think it was as simple as dragging and dropping things and *BOOM!*, it's all done. (I mean, it can be... But you have to put in the work to get to that level!) Anyhow, it's a process. There are steps that need to be taken to get to whatever level of "build-ment" (is that even a word?!) you want. I am most definitely not where I want to be, as far as aesthetics and presentations go, yet... But I can see progress. Progress is always good. Here are three steps (not sure if I should call them "steps", though? But sure... "steps"...) on how to build your own website:

1. Choose a website builder

There are dozens of website builders out there. Many offer free web hosting (having the ability to create and publish your web site), but will come with a semi-custom link.

For example: www.sdotraw.whateverthenameofthewebsitebuilderis.com

If one wants to have a completely customized link/domain name (wooooooah! fancy term alert!), there are some dues to be paid. Every website builder offers different pricings and packagings. It just depends on what one is looking for.

My recommendation is that you look through all of the free ones and see what they have to offer. If one does not mind the long link, then you are pretty much set and will not have to spend any (or at least not too much) money.

2. Pick a preloaded design, or create your own

Every website builder comes with a variety of preloaded/pre-created templates and looks. Some are simple. Some are busy. Browse through them. They are free!

If you do not see something you fancy, you can always take a pre-created one and customize it to your liking. OR, one can re-live their MySpace days and go ham on the HTML. (Did I just age myself? Whoops...) Again, it is all depending on what you are looking for and what the purpose of your website will be!

3. Publish it

What was the point of making a super cool, awesomely artistic, engaging and interactive website... if it does not get published?!

Story Time! The first time I created my website, I was beyond excited and happy about what I had created. I blasted my link on Facebook ('cause why not, right?!) and on other social media platforms... Only to find out that people were getting errors and messages on their screen letting 'em know that the website did not exist. WHAT?! A few hours later, after going over tutorials and watching videos on building websites... I realized that I had never clicked Publish. *sigh*

Every website builder has their own method of publishing your amazing work. Most usually have a big, fat button that reads "Publish" somewhere at the top of the screen. (How did I even miss that button? I have NO idea!)

Publish it.

Test it.

Love it.

Share it.

Update it.

As I mentioned before, it is a process. And it is a process I am still surfing through... And that is okay!

Remember to keep revisiting your website, and continue to make any necessary tweaks. Make sure to keep it updated.

As you run through the process, you will continue to discover new things that can be done with your website:

I recently discovered how to make photos into "buttons", where you click on the photo and it takes you to another part of your website or to a whole different website. (WHAT?! I KNOW!! I was excited when I figured this out!).

If you want to see what that looks like, navigate over to my "The Works" tab on my website and click on any of the images. 

I hope this post was helpful and insightful!

Questions for you:

Are you thinking of building a website? If so, what kind?

Or do you already have one? Share your link! I would love to learn more!