A few years ago I started designing and creating websites myself. I started just to show off to others, but I noticed it wasn’t as easy I thought it was. I mean, it is easy to get a site online; you just buy a template, pay a coder, and pay some one to insert content and advertise for you then you’re done. But if you want to do things yourself, that’s where it gets tricky.

After a few sites, I managed to find a certain pattern in process of creating and managing my websites.

1. I always start with an idea for subject and content. Believe me - never create a website about something you hate and know nothing about. Instead create a website about something you know a lot about and like to tell other people about. What also works is writing about a subject you would like to know more on, after doing your own research. Newbies can explain information to other newbies easier then pro´s explaining information to newbies.

2. Then I think of a design to go with it, to reflect its idea. Like if your subject is Boats, then don’t go with a flaming red design. Sure it could do it, but I would prefer for a blue, water-like design to reflect its subject.

3. If design is done, you need to get it coded. Some create their designs while they code, but I prefer to use a graphical program to first create whole design, just way I want it to be. Then I slice it all (contact me if you want to read an article about that) and save it for web. I usually have a small group of coders I trust to code my designs and they send it back to me when it’s coded.

The outcome of this can mean: §Not being found by search engines §Pages not being indexed because no other page links to them §Not ranking as highly as you should, §Confused site visitors who leave, §The site is just’Too hard’ §Potential customers do not develop trust with your site; so will not buy from you §Complete site rework required as a result of poor planning

Here are a couple of errors and suggested methods for improving them:

1.Not having a business model or plan in place. Many sites develop out of an idea; most have no business model in place. Often website owners are just letting their websites grow without thought as to how or even if there should be a way to generate income, and if income is to be generated how this can best be achieved. But business model need not be an income-generating model. You can also think of it as a ‘purpose and outcome’. If you are developing a site as a hobby, it still requires preplanning and thought.

2.Working within limitations of what your host provides Sometimes, especially when it is your first site, you may look at what your web host provides and build your site around services provided by your web host. If services on offer are limited, this may limit scope of what you are trying to achieve. Better to plan your website and gather online tools to let you achieve what you want to do to build a site that meets you goals.

3.Not being clear on page on what site is about All too often pages are very ambiguous about what page is actually about. The worst situation is when home page does not provide a clear statement of purpose. I do not mean a Mission Statement, or other formal statement, but at least a paragraph that clearly explains reason or content of page. This does not need to be several paragraphs, one paragraph or even a long sentence. It can just be a solid tagline. It can take some skill and time to do this properly, but results are worth it as your visitors will be quickly reassured that they are in right place and will be prepared to spend time delving deeper. An additional benefit is written with a good keyword density, this text provides an excellent chunk of data for search engines.