When starting out, we all bootstrap our side businesses, and for sure, a website is a pretty penny. Stretch your dollars by learning how to DIY your website here.
How to DIY your Website for your Side Business
There are various advantages to creating a do-it-yourself (DIY) website for your side business. You have total control over your site, customize it to your preferences, and save money. However, without any expertise, producing DIY websites that seem professional and can compete with developer-built sites can be difficult. Fortunately, by learning a few web design best practices, you can make your own site look professional. Even if you’ve never built a website before, many of these pointers are straightforward to implement, especially on a platform like WordPress. 85 % of business owners are DIY their website to make their business successful.
Tips to make DIY websites for your side business look professional
To avoid overwhelming visitors, choose a limited color palette.
It can be tempting to try to create appealing pages by utilizing numerous bright and eye-catching colors when you have complete control over your design. This, on the other hand, can make simply glancing at your website a stressful experience. Professional designers understand how to use a limited color palette to get maximum impact.
To avoid cluttered sites and articles, leave enough “white space.”
The blank sections on your site’s pages are referred to as white space. These free spaces don’t have to be white (‘negative space’ is another term you can use), but they do help keep your site from being cluttered and confusing to users.
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To ensure readability, select a legible typeface.
Adding fancy scripts or graphic letters may appear to be a professional touch. On the other hand, professionalism should not be confused with complexity or cost. It’s not high-end just because you have to pay for a custom font and add it to your site. Prioritize legibility instead.
To add authenticity, use high-resolution personal images.
Images are a great way to enrich the content on your website. On the other hand, stock photos aren’t a good idea to use on your website. Here, quantity is significantly less important than quality. According to Themeisle, personal photos appear more authentic, which can help your users trust you.
To assist visitors in finding what they need, including straightforward navigation and search capability.
Your users must be able to navigate your site, whether it contains one page or many. Visitors come to your site for a reason, and if they can’t find what they’re looking for, they’ll leave rather than dig. This is why having a clear navigation system is so important.
Build user trust and loyalty with a well-written about page.
When it comes to your site’s content, you’re certainly thinking about creating a home page and offering information about your brand’s products or services.
Increase your conversion rate by incorporating Call to Action (CTA) buttons.
You should make it as simple as possible for users to convert if you want to increase conversions. This is why CTA buttons with phrases like Subscribe, Sign Up, or Buy Now can be found on so many professional websites.
To develop brand recognition, keep your headers and footers consistent.
You want your users to think of your brand first when they need a product or service. This is why it’s so important to have a strong brand. According to Network Solutions, using the same header and footer across your entire site is a great way to start creating an impact on your visitors.
Make mobile responsiveness a top priority to reach out to more people.
If you’ve ever tried to read a website on your phone only to be unable to do so because the text was either too huge or too small, you understand how aggravating a lack of mobile responsiveness can be. Your users feel the same way, and if your mobile site doesn’t change to their screen size, they’ll likely quit it.
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To assist users in contacting you, make contact forms that are simple to use.
Easy access to the brand’s contact information, such as an address, phone number, and email, is another quality that all professional websites have in common. According to Themeisle, including a contact form, you may make it much easier for users to contact you.
Conclusion
DIY websites for side businesses are becoming more popular as more website-building platforms emerge on a daily basis. Saving money and gaining control by developing your own website may be appealing, but if your website appears unprofessional and untrustworthy, your brand may suffer as a result. 90% of businesses that uses DIY websites are more efficient.
