How to Create Your Website Into a Tool

How to Create Your Website Into a Tool

Intro

Your website can be one of the best tools you can give to your viewers and customers, but it also has the potential to be one of the worst tools you can give them if you don’t treat it like one. With that in mind, here are some suggestions on how to create your website into a tool that works more effectively and helps you build yourself up as an expert in your niche. These tips will get you started on creating something that makes you look great while providing value to your visitors and buyers.

Determine What Type of a Project You Are

The first thing you need to determine is what type of website you’re working on: informational, transactional, promotional, or all three. If your site has any sort of selling component (like an e-commerce store), then it’s likely that your site will be transactional and/or promotional in nature. If not, then it will probably be more informational in nature. If you don’t know where to start with your project, then think about how users will interact with your site and go from there. For example, if users are going to read content on your site but not purchase anything directly through it (like in an information-only setting), then it may be considered more informational than other types of sites.

Choose The Right Domain Name

Choose a domain name that focuses on your service or product, but is easy for customers to remember. The best domain names are short and simple; in fact, .com domains have been shown to rank higher than .net or .org counterparts. While it may be tempting to try something new, avoid doing so simply for its novelty value.

Check The Availability Of Keywords In Your Domain Name Section: Choose A Theme That Matches The Purpose Of Your Site

It's always helpful to look at templates as tools. A hammer can be used for driving nails, but if you start hitting nails with a screwdriver or screwing screws with a hammer, things aren't going to go well for you (or your project). Use your template solely for its intended purpose—for example, Google has SEO guidelines for website design. If your site doesn't follow those rules (regarding site structure or keywords) you're making it harder for search engines to rank it and users to find it.

Work with the template on its own

Most site builders and content management systems will give you a preset design that works as-is, with or without modification. Some templates are better than others at encouraging user engagement and conversion, so try them out before deciding which to use. If you find yourself wanting something more sophisticated—or if you’re not happy with what your site looks like right now—consider working with an expert who can build customized templates based on your ideas and needs. They may cost more upfront, but they could be worth it in the long run.

Consult with developers if necessary

Be prepared. A professional website is something you should at least consult with developers about if you’re not comfortable doing it yourself. If you’re not tech-savvy, don’t feel bad – most aren’t. But keep in mind that your website doesn’t have to be extremely complicated or take up an overwhelming amount of time on your end either. A few quick changes will do just fine and can be completed in as little as an hour or two, depending on your expertise. The following are some questions for which you may want a developer’s opinion: Is my site secure? What areas do I need help with? How can I better use social media channels? And so on and so forth.