Crafting Your Digital Presence: A Journey Through Website Creation

Introduction: My Motivations for Building a Website

• My main motivation for creating a website was to enhance my marketing portfolio to stand out in the job search.

• As a master's student in marketing, my website required me to utilize the relevant skills I had learned throughout my studies.

• Creating a website may seem like a daunting task - it did to me. However, by following a step-by-step process that leverages creativity and marketing strategy, website creation can be made simple and exciting.

  
  

Identifying Purpose and Audience

• Any website needs to have a clear purpose. This purpose will dictate nearly every aspect of the site.

- Examples of purpose: personal branding, portfolio, e-commerce, etc.

• Similar to identifying a purpose, websites must have a clearly defined target audience.

• Techniques used to identify my audience's needs and preferences included A/B testing, market research, website analytics, and keyword optimization.

Planning and Design

• Sketching the layout and structure of the website.

- The UX and UI design of a website are crucial to its success; therefore, creators should create sketches and wireframes of their website before publishing. This will help ensure a positive user experience.

• Optimizing UX and UI:

- Considerations for color schemes, typography, imagery, and overall flow of the information presented.

- Personal aesthetic and target audience should influence the website's aesthetic

Selecting the Right Platform and Tools

• Evaluating various website builders and technologies.

- Platforms such as WordPress, Wix, and Squarespace offer unique advantages. Before creating a website, it is essential to choose a platform that best suits your purpose and target audience.

- Factors that influenced my choice of Wix: ease of use, flexibility, and extensive library of tools.

• Importance of domain name selection and tips on choosing one. Choosing the right domain name is crucial to website success. The domain name should clearly relate to your brand and should be easy for users to find. For example, the domain of my website matches my LinkedIn profile, making it easy for potential employers to find the site.

Content Creation and Optimization

• Crafting engaging and relevant content for my audience.

- Importance of quality content in attracting visitors. Content should be tailored to the target audience and should have a professional tone. Errors in the content can lower the site's authority and trust.

• Implementing SEO best practices.

- Utilize techniques such as A/B testing to choose keywords.

- SEO and meta descriptions help to increase the visibility of a website. SEO and meta descriptions should be carefully crafted and updated.

Launching the Website

• Preparing for the launch and pre-launch checklist.

- Steps taken to ensure everything was working properly. Checking the site's page speed information and site functionality across multiple platforms.

• Official launch day activities.

- Social media strategies and promotional tactics used to announce the launch.

- Initial feedback received can be used to shape the official post-launch activities.

Marketing and Growth Strategies

• Creators should explore various marketing strategies post-launch

- Social media marketing and its effectiveness in driving traffic.

- Email marketing campaigns can help engage visitors. Sending users promotional emails can help boost repeat visits. Similarly, creators can offer subscriptions to content such as eBooks and blogs.

• Analyzing website performance and metrics.

- Wix and other platforms offer many tools to help track user interactions and analytics. Creators should use these tools to further enhance their website post-launch