Are you planning to launch a new website?
You’re not alone if you are looking into it.
Maybe it’s for a new business. Maybe it’s for your existing business.
Maybe you’re looking to create a better website.
Whatever the case, you’re also not alone if you’re wondering where you should begin.
The following is a list of resources you’ll need for launching your next website.
1. “Good To Great” By Jim Collins
This book helps you think about your business and where you want it to go in the future. Once you understand more about your business, things fall into place easier with your website. A lot of website develop is based around your business and its goals.
Understanding yourself before you begin the website process can save you time and it can make for a better website once it’s completed.
Get It Now: Good To Great by Jim Collins
2. How To Create Content Maps For Planning Your Website
Before the design process you have the content process.
This catches some people off guard, but it’s really important. Having your content or at least an outline for your content makes the design process much easier.
This guide will help you understand how to create basic content maps for your site. You’ll be better prepared for the design process after reading this post.
Read It Now: How To Create Content Maps For Planning Your Website
3. The Beginners Guide To SEO
Do you have questions about SEO?
If you’re creating your content you’ll want to read this. Your designer will have knowledge of SEO (they should anyway) and after reading this guide you’ll be able to make sure they know what they’re doing.
A basic understanding of SEO is essential for your website because organic search is one important source of online traffic.
Read It Now: The Beginners Guide To SEO
4. Dribbble
You’re in for a long design process if you think that you’ll know what you like when you see it.
That’s frustrating for you and for your designer.
Before you reach out to a designer, look around at websites and figure out the style you like. Dribbble is a site with all kinds of designs from all kinds of designers. Find your style and bookmark examples to show your designer.
View It Now: Dribbble
5. Getting Started With Social Media
Next up is figuring out your social media strategy.
This guide is a perfect place to start. Putting your site online isn’t enough anymore. Organic search is one source of traffic, but you’ll need more sources of traffic if you want to succeed.
Start with 1-3 social profiles for your website. You don’t want to spread yourself thin.
Start a blog and use The Snippet Strategy to update your social accounts as you build your audiences there.
Read It Now: Getting Started With Social Media
6. Conversion Rate Experts Learning Zone
You want your site to convert, right?
Of course you do. Everybody does.
These guys are the best when it comes to conversion and they have a ton of information and case studies on this page where you can learn about it. The information will help you as you build your website and as you tweak things over time.
Read It Now: Learning Zone
7. Email Marketing Guide
An email list is something you own. It’s hugely important for your online marketing efforts. Social media sites can change the rules. Google can change the rules. You are in control when it comes to your email marketing. You’ll want to have a plan in place before you launch your website.
Read It Now: Email Marketing Guide
8. Google Analytics Guide
You’ll setup some kind of analytics on your new website. Most often it will be Google Analytics. This guide will take you through all the basics and more so you can use the analytics on your site to help you determine what is working and what might need to be tweaked.
Read It Now: Google Analytics Guide
The Team You Need
After going through all that you’ll need to put together your team.
My one piece of advice here is to keep the team lean and mean. The more people on board the longer the process will take and it doesn’t necessarily lead to a better result.
Content: This might be you, but if you have to go outside for help with content it’s well worth it.
Design: Look for a designer with a proven track record for completing projects on time. Also look for someone that fits your style. Your designer will also help you out on an ongoing basis with your email program and maybe even your blogging and social media programs.
Development: Your designer might have a developer that they work with, but just in case it’s always good to have a developer on your team or in your contacts for a variety of reasons.
Conclusion
There is a lot that goes into creating a business website.
You can reach out to a designer right away, but before you do that or while you’re reaching out read the resources in this post. Having this knowledge behind you will make the entire website process easier and more effective.
Now it’s up to you to get started.
