A basic website typically includes several key components that work together to deliver essential information effectively.
What does your site need to be successful?
| Item | Description |
|---|---|
| Inspiration | Visit the competition, or even sites unrelated to the site’s focus, and take notes. Be clear as to why you like the home page, dislike the navigation, or be able to explain why you want the overall look and feel. |
| Branding | The site’s colors and fonts. |
| Copy | Every page on a site needs text. Start with the “Homepage,” “About,” “Services,” “Contact,” and “Privacy Policy” pages at a bare minimum. See below for more tips. |
| Links | List all the links to relevant social media profiles, like Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Pinterest, etc. |
| Images | Collect the images that the site will use, include the alt text for each image, and specify the source of each image to prevent copyright violations. |
| Assets | These assets will include a high-definition version of your logo and a browser icon (no larger than 500 x 500 pixels). |
| External systems | Do you need a calendaring system to book appointments or calls? Are you collecting emails for a newsletter? Do you want to embed videos from YouTube? Make notes here. |
How to craft compelling copy
DIY site owners might not know where to begin when writing website copy. As noted above, start with the “Homepage,” “About,” “Services,” “Contact,” and “Privacy Policy” pages. Site owners will eventually add on as the site grows.
Together, these pages provide visitors with a concise understanding of the site’s purpose and offerings, as well as how to easily connect with the site owner for further inquiries or transactions.
- Homepage: The virtual storefront of a website, the homepage (also known as the splash page or index page) is a DIY site owner’s canvas for capturing visitors’ attention and guiding their journey. It’s the space to craft a succinct business overview, weave engaging visuals, and place prominent calls to action that beckon users to explore further.
- About: Visitors should be able to explore the site’s mission, vision, values, and history in greater detail, if it’s relevant to the site’s focus. DIY site owners can use it as a platform to showcase their founders or team, highlight their expertise, and bolster the company’s credibility.
- Services: The “Services” or “Products” page outlines the services or products offered by the business. Site owners can dive deep into detailed descriptions, pricing, and benefits of each service or product, along with high-quality images or videos that illustrate their value. This page might be referred to by different names, depending on the site’s usage. For example, an author might refer to this as their “Published Works” page. A restaurant might put a copy of its menu on this page.
- Contact: Visitors should have the option to use a contact form, email address, phone number, and possibly links to social media profiles. Providing multiple ways for visitors to contact the site owner fosters trust and encourages engagement.
- Privacy policy: Lastly, the “Privacy Policy” page is a legal requirement that informs users how their data will be used and protected. It covers aspects such as data collection, storage practices, and user rights, helping to instill confidence in the site’s commitment to privacy and security. Oftentimes, you can use a privacy policy generator to help streamline this copy.
Once a site owner has compiled these items, they’re ready to publish their site, which might involve uploading these assets to their domain’s hosting location and rearranging them as necessary. Having these items collected will make it easier to work with a developer as well.
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