Can I make my own website?

The DIY Website business is fast becoming very popular. You can go into computer shops and buy website creation software, or you can use one of the many tools that are available online. Making the right choice for you and your business is a very important decision that needs to be answered early in the process

How complex does my website need to be?

If your website will be logo, text, pictures and diagrams with a nice colour scheme then this is ideal for an online website creation tool. If you need your website to perform any specific function then the chances are that you will need a professional to do this for you, although that does not mean that you can't do the groundwork and have a "put special function here" box into your design.

What skills are required to make my own website?

You should at least be fairly confident at using your computer and be prepared to take the time to learn some new skills. You will need to some knowledge of HTML (HyperText Markup Language) and CSS (Cascading Style Sheets). Programming skills may be required depending of the function that your website will be required to perform. Javascript and CSS can be used to enhance the interactivity of the website although this must not be relied on as not all browser support all functions. A database will need to be used if the user is allowed add or manipulate the information. Database programming is also often used for user registration and authentication. Security measures must also be taken into account when storing any sensitive or personal information.

Website Menus and Navigation

A user should find the website to be intuitive and be able to navigate effortlessly from page to page. Menus, sitmaps and breadcrumbs are all useful tools for navigation and these must be used effectively. Hover effects or animation can be used to give feedback for hotspots and clickable links. Internal links should normally open in the same browser window and external links will normally require a new tab or new window.

Photos, Images and Graphics

Artistic ability is important for obvious reasons as your website must have good colour use and be generally in good taste. You can spend alot of time fiddling with pictures to get them just right. It is very important that the pictures on your site look clean and attractive and are displayed at their native resolution (not scaled up or down) to get the best image quality vs page load time. File types will also have an effect on the file size and load times as well as the quality.

Website Marketing

Different marketing strategies will need to be implemented depending on the type of website that you are intending to develop (information, ecommerce, application, social interation, news or media, etc.). This needs to be taken into consideration right from the beginning design stage. This is a broad area and depending on your expertise and requirements, this may require a professional. You should consider the type of person you are trying to attract as a customer. Some options for marketing are as follows;

• Pay per click (PPC)
• Banner ads
• Link Building
• Social media sites
• Email distribution
• RSS Feeds
• Blogs
• SEO - Search Engine Optimsation

Can I do all of this on my own?

If you don't have all of the skills needed to build your own website then you can hire a professional to do all or part of it for you. Freelance web designers are easy to find on the internet and it would be best to find one that is local. It is even better if you can meet them in person to discuss your best options on which bits you need help with. This may be one person or a team of professionals, just make sure that they are confident that your requirements can be met within your budget and timescale.

Make sure that you have open communication with your web designer and that your design is clear before any any work is done. A good web designer understands how to build your internet marketing strategy into the site design and ensures that it is optimised for the search engines.

Will you build your own website?

The final desicion is your own and you will need to take into consideration the cost, time and expertise that you have or are willing to take the time to learn.

Good Luck (Please call us if you need a reliable web hosting service)