Content creation is tricky, and before you can even get to step one, there’s step zero: building a website. Your website will house your content. So before even worrying about content, you should first think about its home, or you’ll be putting the cart before the horse. Only once you have things like a layout and branding selected should you worry about blog posts, About Me pages, or product descriptions. But don’t worry if all these sound strange—we’re breaking it all down right here.
Why you need to build a website before focusing on content creation
Before working with a content creation company, you need to have a website. Having a website will make it easier for the content creation company you hire to understand your brand and create content that aligns with your goals. It will also allow you to see first-hand how crucial strong web copy is to the overall success of your site. Finally, your website will provide the framework for getting your content seen by Google—and by the customers.
Plan before you build
First, you need to make a plan. What kind of website do you need, and what features should it have? Your website can be as simple or as complicated as you want, but at the very least, you should have a clear idea of its purpose before you start building it.
The most basic websites usually have a Homepage, a Services page, an About Us page, and a Contact page. Additional pages—store, blog, case studies, etc.—will depend on your business needs.
Now that we’ve established why you need a website and you know how to plan for it, let’s talk about how to build one.
While there are different ways to build a website, we recommend using WordPress. WordPress is a content management system (CMS) that makes it easy to create and manage your website. Plus, it’s been around for a good while, so there are tons of resources available to help you get started.
Select a domain and hosting provider
Once you’ve chosen a CMS, it’s time to select a domain name (a.k.a domain) and hosting provider. Your domain name is the address people will use to find your website, so it’s important to choose something that’s easy to remember and relevant to your business.
For example, if you’re a coffee shop, you might want to choose something like “coffeeshopname.com.”
As for hosting, this is where your website “lives” on the internet. There are many different providers out there, but we recommend using Bluehost. Bluehost is one of the largest and most popular hosting providers, and they offer a free domain name when you sign up for their services. And you know what they say about free stuff—it’s always a good thing (at least when we’re talking websites).
Get WordPress up and running (if you’re using WordPress)
Now that you have a domain name and hosting, it’s time to install WordPress. This can seem like a daunting task, but don’t worry—we’ve got you covered. Just follow the steps below on how to install WordPress, and you’ll be up and running in no time.
How to Install WordPress
Installing WordPress is a very simple process. In fact, it’s probably the simplest CMS installation out there. Here’s how to install WordPress in just a few minutes:
- Download the WordPress files from WordPress.org. Once you have the ZIP file, unzip it and upload the contents of the directory to your web server.
- Create a database for WordPress on your web server. You can do this using phpMyAdmin or a similar tool. Once the database is created, note down the name, username, and password.
- Open your web browser and go to http://yourdomain.com/wp-admin/install.php. This will take you to the WordPress installation screen.
- Enter your database name, username, and password. Once you’ve done that, click on the “Submit” button.
- You’ll be asked to create a username and password for your WordPress administrator account. Once you’ve done that, click on the “Install WordPress” button.
That’s it! You have now successfully installed WordPress on your web server.
Get creative
Now that you’ve installed WordPress, you need to set up your website. So it’s time to think about the design. This includes the aesthetics of your website (i.e. colors, fonts, and overall look) and the layout (i.e. where different pieces of content will go).
To start off, you need to choose a theme—the “look” of your website. There’s no need to worry about being unsure or not finding the look you want because there are thousands of themes to choose from.
Once you’ve selected a theme, it’s time to install some plugins. Plugins are like little apps for your website that add extra features and functionality. For example, some plugins can help you backup your website, create contact forms, or add social media buttons.If design isn’t your forte, now is the time to start looking for a web designer or marketing agency that can help bring your vision to life.
However, if you went the WordPress route, things should be easier (that’s why we recommend it to everyone).
Something else we highly recommend is Google Analytics. It’s a free tool that allows you to track the traffic to your website.
There are many reasons why Google Analytics is essential. Perhaps the most important is that it allows you to track your website’s traffic and performance. This information is critical in understanding how well your website is doing and how to improve it.
Another key reason Google Analytics is so important is that it can help you segment your audience. This means that you can target specific groups of people with targeted content or campaigns, which can cause a significant boost in conversion rates and overall success.
Finally, Google Analytics also provides valuable insights into the behavior of your website visitors. This information can help you understand what people are looking for on your site and how they interact with your content. Armed with this knowledge, you can improve the overall user experience on your website and make sure that people can find what they need.
Bring us in
With all of that done, it’s finally time to fill your website with content. This is where Verblio comes in!
We’re here to help you create high-quality blog posts, About Me pages, product descriptions, and more. But before you come to us for content, don’t forget to check that your website is ready to go.
We can help you if:
- You have a sitemap
- You have a brand guide
- You have existing designs
- You’re an SEO agency
- You’re a web dev agency
- You have local landing pages
- You have service landing pages
But we’re not a good fit if…
- You don’t have a designer
- You need messaging help
- Our web content writer needs to talk to your designer
- You need less than five pages of site content
- You need copy editing
- You want Hemingway
- You don’t know what you want
It isn’t as hard as it seems
Building a website doesn’t have to be complicated or time-consuming. Follow these simple steps, and in no time, you’ll have a beautiful website that’s ready to start attracting visitors. And once you have your website set up, we at Verblio will be more than happy to step in to do what we know how to do best.
Let us help you take your online presence to the next level with our high-quality content. Get in touch today!
