How to Create a Website (with Images)

2024 Author: Samantha Chapman | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 09:13

Creating a website allows you to share ideas and thoughts with the world. For those who are entering the great world of web design for the first time, however, it can seem daunting. At first glance, the HTML code, studded with strange words like "https://www.etc.", And di, can arouse anxiety and frustration, not to mention how and where the images and text go. But don't panic, this article will help you overcome each of these obstacles quickly.

Steps

Part 1 of 4: Design Your Website

Step 1. Look for inspiration

Refer to great sites designed with care, modern and attractive design, and try to find out what are the characteristics that make them so. Normally the secret consists in arranging information, resources and links so that they can be used by the user in a simple and intuitive way. To find the idea behind the creation of your website, draw inspiration from those already online, which refer to the same topic or which deal with the same products. You will thus be able to find out how to insert and manage the various contents.

Set goals compatible with your skills.
The most important things are simplicity and ease of access to information. If you can't make a given piece of information perfectly visible, make the path to reach it as intuitive as possible.
Generally a simple design and a reduced total number of pages guarantee a better final result.

Step 2. Choose a theme and purpose

If you already have in mind what issues your site will cover, skip this step. If not, continue reading, some tips may help you. First, understand that billions of people access the web, many of whom have their own websites. By simply wanting to locate something that doesn't exist yet, you will most likely never start.

When you think about the contents on the web, what is the first thing that comes to your mind? E-commerce? Music? News? Social network? Blog? These are all great topics to start from.
You could create a website dedicated to your favorite musical group, which also includes a chat with which users can communicate with each other to exchange opinions and ideas.
You can create a website related to your family, but in this case, be cautious about dealing with the information. The internet is also frequented by unsavory people who may be using it against you. Consider protecting your personal data with a strong password.
If you are a news enthusiast or do what you can to avoid information manipulated by the media, create a website where you can post information found through reputable sources, such as Reuters, BBC, AP, etc. Create your own news management program (in technical terms news aggregator, what was once called a "newspaper").
If you are passionate about writing, create a blog where you can express ideas or thoughts that can attract regular readers every month!

Step 3. Plan

Creating a website takes a lot of effort, in terms of time and most likely also money, so plan it in detail and stick to the steps. Your business plan should not be a complex spreadsheet full of data, nor an imaginative power point presentation. It will have to consider some main aspects: why you are creating a website and why users should visit it, as well as what content you want to insert and how you want to divide it within the individual pages.

Step 4. Get the content

There are numerous contents of different natures, many of which involve additional considerations. You need to understand what is best for your needs and for the site itself. Here are some things to look into:

One store.

If you are planning to create an e-commerce site dedicated to selling products, it is good to understand how you want to make them available to the public. If the number of items on sale is small, you can decide to create your own store by relying on a hosting service. Sites like Amazon and Ebay are two excellent examples, in fact they offer a complete service that in a few clicks allows you to sell all your products at the price you want.
Multimedia content. Do you want to insert videos or music? Do you want to publish your files directly or do you prefer to use a hosting service? Youtube and SoundCloud are two excellent examples of hosting services, in this case, however, you will need to be sure that the structure of the site created correctly supports the reproduction of such content.
Images. Are you a photographer? An artist? If you are considering publishing your photographs or works online, you will most likely need to use a tool or format that prevents users from stealing your content. Make sure that the images are published in miniature or that they are protected by the site code, so that they cannot be saved through the common means offered by the most used internet browsers.
Widget. Widgets are graphic components of an interface, in this case of a website, normally used to keep track of the users who visit your pages, what they are looking for, what content they view and which web source they come from. Various widgets are available, which allow you to annotate appointments, view the calendar, etc. Find the ones that best suit your needs and make sure you download them from a safe and reliable source.
contact info. Would you like to be contacted through the pages of your site? For your safety, you need to be very careful about the type of personal information you post online. You should never disclose information such as your home address or landline number, as this is data that can be used for identity theft. It is advisable to open a specific mailbox or email address, with which users can contact you freely.

Step 5. Draw a flowchart

For most people, a website is characterized by the main page, which is the web page that is viewed by all users who access your site for the first time. But where can you access it from? What can be done? By dedicating some time to analyzing how users can interact with your site, you will facilitate the subsequent creation and correct positioning of all navigation buttons and each link.

Step 6. Think about the scenarios users will be in and what devices they are using

In recent years, technology has made great strides, making smartphones and tablets available to anyone with which to access the internet virtually anywhere. Your website must therefore be designed to be usable also by these devices. If you really want your site to stand the test of time, and to be accessible by the largest number of portable and non-portable devices, you decide to create more than one version, to fit different devices. Alternatively, design it flexibly, i.e. so that it is able to automatically adapt pages and content to the user's needs.

Part 2 of 4: Create Your Website

Step 1. Choose which method or tool to use for site creation

After identifying the idea on which to develop the site, and having planned its creation, you will have to move on to its actual realization. The options available seem endless. There are a myriad of "fantastic" programs and applications and "must-have" tools for sale online. However, the reality is quite different, in fact there are only a few tools that are really useful for your purpose and only one of these will best adapt to your needs and requirements.

Step 2. Create it yourself

This is it first option at your disposal. If you have a website builder application, such as Adobe Dreamweaver, you can build a website from scratch without much difficulty. Sure you'll have to create some code, but there's no need to panic. At first glance, HTML may seem complicated, but just like everything else, anything that seems difficult at first with practice quickly becomes easy.

Pros: website creation software greatly simplifies the creation process, allowing you to drag and drop content (images, text, videos, etc.), controls (buttons, links, etc.) and any other useful element directly into the correct position within the web page, often without having to use the HTML code. Many web applications for designing sites also allow you to create specific web pages for viewing on a smartphone or tablet. If your need is to create a simple personal site, this is definitely one of the best options to start from.
Cons: [Learning_curve the learning curve], ie the time needed to understand how to best use the design platform. While not forcing yourself to learn HTML, the process won't be entirely straightforward. If you don't have a lot of time, this solution may therefore not be optimal. The most negative aspect of this hypothesis lies in the aesthetics, if you are not a professional graphic designer you could in fact risk creating a web page that is not very pleasing to the eye. In order not to do much harm, within applications or on the web, you can find ready-to-use website templates. If you are taking your first steps in designing a website, remember that it is always good not to try to overdo it and take the time to learn all the new concepts.

Step 3. Use a Content Management System (CMS)

This is the second option at your disposal. WordPress is an excellent example of a CMS, which can be used for creating websites. It is a program that facilitates and simplifies the creation of blogs and web pages. It supports the user in configuring menus and managing comments, as well as offering hundreds of free templates, themes and add-ons with which to customize your project. Drupal and Joomla are two other great CMSs. The plus of using these tools is the following: once installed on the web server they can be managed from anywhere in the world, provided you have an active internet connection.

Pros: the ease of use, the speed with which this tool is ready to use (installation is completely automatic, just a click away) and the amount of options available to facilitate use for less experienced users (in addition to make available a sufficient number of advanced options that satisfy even the most experienced users).
Cons: the number of some models is limited and not all are available for free.

Step 4. Create a website from scratch

This is the third option. If you choose to build your website from scratch, you will need to use HTML code and CSS style sheets. There are many ways to expand your knowledge of HTML and be able to add more functionality and depth to your website. If you want to create a professional website, the tools listed below will help you get that edge necessary for the success of any business.

Regarding the appearance and style of the site, CSS, an acronym for "cascading style sheets", offers greater flexibility of use than HTML. The management of the layout of the text, of the headings and the management of the color schemes are centralized in one place, allowing easier and faster changes that automatically propagate to all the pages of the site.
XHTML is a web language created according to W3C standards. Almost identical to HTML code, it follows stricter rules for marking information, derived from the XML language. Consequently, the variations in the way in which the code will be written will be minor.
HTML5. This is the fifth revision of the standard HTML code that includes the previous version of the language (HTML4) integrated with XHTML.
Learn a client-side scripting language, such as JavaScript. Using this tool will increase your chances of adding interactive elements to your web pages, such as graphs, maps, etc.
Learn a language for server-side scripting. Languages such as PHP, ASP combined with the use of JavaScript or VB Script and Python can be used to modify the appearance of your web pages, in order to adapt them to the needs of users. It will also be possible to create and manage forums. These scripts will support you in storing information relating to the people who visit your pages, including for example their username, configuration settings or the contents of their "shopping cart", if yours is an e- commerce.
AJAX (Asynchronous JavaScript and XML). It is a programming technique that uses client-side and server-side scripting languages to obtain new information without having to refresh the page. It often reduces the user's waiting time, making browsing the web more enjoyable. On the other hand, this technique increases the bandwidth usage of the internet connection. In the case of websites dedicated to e-commerce or that generate large amounts of traffic, the use of this technology is an ideal solution.

Step 5. Hire a professional

This is the fourth and last option at your disposal. If you are unable to create a website on your own or do not want to learn a new programming language (especially for building complex websites), hiring a professional could be the ideal solution. Before choosing a person to entrust him with the development of your site, ask him to be able to view his previous work and carefully check the various sources.

Part 3 of 4: Testing and Publishing the Site

Step 1. Register your domain name.

If your project budget allows, you can buy a cheap domain name. Find a domain that's easy to remember and easy to write. By choosing a ".com" domain you will be able to generate more traffic, but as most of these domains are already registered you will have to be a little creative.

If you live in the United States, use portals such as "Network Solutions", "GoDaddy" or "Register.com" to search and register your website domain name, while if you live in the United Kingdom, "uk2.net "represents a valid solution. The Wordpress CMS integrates a feature through which you can use a second level domain name associated with that of Wordpress. For example my_site_web.wordpress.com. If the chosen domain is available with the ".com" extension, you will be notified directly when registering on the CMS.
You can also proceed with the purchase of domains already registered, but not yet used (in technical terms we refer to "parked domains"), or take advantage of the countless websites that sell domain names. In this case, before purchasing a very expensive domain, it is highly advisable to seek legal and financial advice.

Step 2. Examine your website

Before posting it online, run a thorough and thorough test. Most website design software integrates a tool that allows local publishing, so that you can test all the features. Look for broken links, missing tags, errors in layout design and display, or in optimization for search engine detection. Any of these factors could negatively affect the traffic generated to the site, damaging your financial income. In order to be better tracked by sites like Google, you can also generate a working map of your site and send it to the relevant search engines. This is a free activity that can be completed in a few minutes.

Step 3. Test your website

After completing the implementation, run a usability test. To do this, ask some of your friends or family members to try browsing your site. Assign them specific tasks, such as creating and editing a profile, completing the entire process of purchasing one of the available products, or purchasing a product advertised in a specific area of the site. Watch them as they navigate the pages of your site, but without interfering. You will be able to find out which sections need to be revised to improve their accessibility or use or to evaluate which functions the instructions for use need to be clarified. Alternatively, turn to sites like Zurb.com, they are able to perform more complete and in-depth tests based on statistically relevant user samples, simulating all the types of people who could actually access your project. Nowadays, when testing the functioning of a site, it is very important to consider the platform that will be used for navigation, therefore make sure that your web pages are accessible from smartphones, tablets and computers.

Make a list of all those aspects that are unintuitive or difficult to use

Step 4. Publish it online

Choose a hosting service and load all the pages that make up your site. The service you choose should allow you to use a native FTP platform. Alternatively you can use an FTP client, such as FileZilla or CyberDuck. In case you have hired a professional web designer, he will most likely carry out this activity (since you are paying him for the work he does, ask him as many questions as you want so that you fully understand how the process of publishing a website works.).

Note that you can publish, host and manage your website for free using different methods

Part 4 of 4: Considerations

Step 1. Focus the ideas

If you are creating a website to generate a profit, ask yourself what are the best ideas to have an economic feedback? Which ones require the most effort? Which ones seem fun to practice? Managing the site will take up a lot of your time, so pick an idea you're passionate about. Only in this way will the work not weigh on you and consequently allow you to obtain greater feedback.

Step 2. Define your goals and work towards achieving them

You may have created your site for fun, to make a profit, or both. Knowing your expectations will simplify the realization of your project and will help you to track and interpret the results.

Step 3. Prepare to compete

Content sites require less investment, but on the other hand, they expose you to much wider competition. Anyone can in fact create a similar site with a few simple clicks. To be able to have an economic return from these sites, it is necessary to create interesting content and be able to profit from the traffic generated by exploiting advertisements through special tools, such as Google AdSense. In order to optimize the functioning of AdSense, you will need to adapt your content accordingly and make it interesting, so that users are attracted to your site. Enter those specific keywords used by users when searching for certain content online. You will have to strive to find the right balance, without exaggerating this aspect, to avoid your content suffering from it and making it uninteresting for users.

Step 4. Be prepared to assume your responsibilities

E-commerce sites related to selling products require more attention and maintenance. In fact, you will have to worry about the sale and shipment of products, the issues related to invoices and taxes, the security of economic transactions (SSL), warehouse and inventory management and all those activities that any street trader has to deal with. in their work. To sell products online, it is essential to have a solid and robust system, able to answer users' questions and handle their complaints. Many companies also offer telephone support. If you intend to do the same, you can rely on an external service that can perform this function.

If your only goal is to generate economic income, you can sell products marketed by others by taking advantage of their affiliate programs. You will thus be able to earn money without having to invest in goods and without having to worry about managing shipments and warehouses

Step 5. Know in depth the target users you want to reach

What kind of people is your website aimed at? Conduct market research to find out more about your audience. Here are the aspects that are relevant to you. What are they doing? How old are they? What are their interests? Any of this information will help you make your site more useful. Also avoid assuming that your project is only suitable for a select group of people. Always keep an eye on the trend of the market you are targeting, to be ready to identify new user groups potentially interested in your content. In this way you will be able to meet their needs and make the most of new opportunities.

Step 6. Research your keywords

This is an indispensable process for determining what topics people are looking for and determining their relevance to your site. This information can help you better understand your potential customers. Incorporate the most used keywords into your website in order to get better visibility and ranking in search engines. Google, Overture and third-party software developers offer some special tools to simplify the identification of keywords (for example google.com/trends/ And google.com/insights/search/#).

Insert the keywords identified within the text on your web pages, remembering to keep the right balance to avoid compromising the quality of your content.
Creating pages optimized for proper indexing of search engines ensures that your website is clearly visible, an aspect of greater importance than the pure graphic aspect. What do you do with a beautiful site that no one can see?

Step 7. Advertise it.

Now that everything is ready, you want users to be able to reach your site, so you just have to let them know!

Enter your site on search engines. Some engines do this automatically, in other cases you can do it yourself.
Tell friends. Constantly advertise your site via Twitter! Use your Facebook page, post images on Flickr and add it to your LinkedIn profile. The key to success is to include references to your site everywhere. The more users who visit your pages, the better your business will be.
Associate an email address with the chosen domain. Visit the complementary websites to yours (not your competitors) and offer to insert a link or a related post on your pages, asking them to do the same in return. Engage constructively in discussions on forums and blogs by entering the URL of the site in your signature.
Make use of Article Marketing]. Making articles optimized to the standardsand posting them on other sites is a great way to create external links to your site. Often this technique is useful in increasing the visibility of your web pages on search engines. It also requires that you are always up to date with the changes made to the functioning of search engines, as they can negatively impact the SEO strategy adopted, making it less effective or even useless.

Step 8. Provide quality content and services

What matters most is the feedback received from your readers or customers. Listen to their experiences of using your site to learn how and where to improve it.

Take constructive criticism seriously. New ideas related to better access and more effective navigation can come from anyone, so listen to friends, relatives and fans, without making distinctions.
Focus on the needs of your customers or your audience: listen to their needs, frustrations and situations. Commit to simplifying and improving their lives as much as possible.

Advice

Nowadays, people are always in a hurry. It has been calculated that, online, it takes about 3 to 7 seconds on average to grab a user's attention, so choose wisely what to present to your visitors initially. To minimize loading times, don't overdo the look and feel. Compress images and videos wherever possible. Use Flash technology, JavaScript, and streaming video and audio content only if they are extremely necessary to present you and your site.
If you sell products that users can normally find via a search engine, make sure they are the first thing they will see when they land on your web pages. The more clicks a user has to make to get to the information they're looking for, the more likely they are to leave your site to look elsewhere.
If you decide to seek the advice of a professional to create the code of a complex website, remember that programmers are not always also graphic designers. Most of the sites that effectively grab the attention of visitors were created by or with the help of professional graphics experts. The best advice, especially in the case of a professional site, is to entrust the work to the right people. Expert professionals to design the graphical interface of the site and choose where and how to insert the contents. Specialized programmers to create robust, efficient and perfectly working code. An SEO to better advertise the site and make it visible. Finally writers to create the content.
Identify a well-known and visited website and use it as a template, even if it deals with content and products other than yours. What are its strengths? Focus on the parts of the layout, content and management of the site that interest you most. Incorporate into your site each of the aspects and elements that impressed you by adapting them to your needs.
Start simple, practice and then find ways to improve. Even if your first creations aren't works of art, don't stop and move on. Don't make the mistake of wanting to speed up the learning process.
If you intend to create a website for the sale of products online, you must create a secure procedure that allows payment by credit card. To do this you can rely on specific sites, creating a commercial account. Note that fees will apply for the service provided to each transaction. Alternatively, you can use free payment services, such as PayPal. Always read the small print of the contractual clauses carefully. Remember that many lines of credit require that shipments of products sold are insured against loss or accidental damage (in this case, also read the insurance policy carefully).

Warnings

Don't get obsessed with the latest web marketing tips. While some tips and rules may seem helpful, many aren't. Remember that marketing is not an exact science, but an ongoing process of experimenting with what works and what doesn't. The only judge who can determine if a marketing strategy is effective is you. Questioning users directly and learning from their experiences is often the most valuable approach.
If you use content owned by other websites, such as images, JavaScript, videos, etc., remember to ask for the necessary permissions first. Otherwise the rightful owner could sue you for plagiarism.
Never betray the trust of your users. Always respect their privacy. Flooding them with emails, pop-ups, and advertisements could damage your credibility. A clear statement about your users' privacy management will help you build lasting credibility. On each of the pages of your site, insert a clearly visible link that leads back to the one in which you explain how you manage the privacy of your users. Also insert the same link on all pages where you request that the user provide personal information. Specify clearly and transparently the details to contact you. If you intend to place advertisements on the site, explain why to your visitors and show your willingness to offer them a satisfying experience.
Remember to never delete your login credentials and details (username, password, etc.) relating to your account. If you lose this information, you will no longer be able to manage and modify your website. Most importantly, never give this information to other people (except of course your website URL).