With technology advancing, you do not need a degree in order to design a good website. All you need is the right information, time and PRACTICE. I know, Web designers are going to kill me for letting you in on the secret but times are changing and web design skills have become very crucial with everything being online.
I am not a web designer but I have created a few websites after watching less than three tutorials. This blog is to encourage you to familiarise yourself with what is currently known as one of the most important skill.
STEP 1: Register your domain name
In simple terms a domain name is the address of your website that people type in the browser URL bar to visit your website. You need it. There are various sites where you can register your domain name. Domain names range from R75 to R500 depending on which you would like to register.
STEP 2: Find a web hosting company
Web hosting is a home where a website lives. This is the actual computer where your website’s files are stored. Such computers are called servers and they are offered as a service by hosting companies. With web hosting you can start registering your emails.
STEP 3: Put together your content
STEP 4: Find an open-source content management system (CMS) licensed under GPLv2
A content management system is basically a tool that makes it easy to manage important aspects of your website – like content – without needing to know anything about programming. We recommend WordPress which contains numerous themes that are easy to use for none web designers. When searching for a hosting company, it helps to search one that comes with a WordPress Installer.
STEP 5: Pick a theme
WordPress contains numerous multi-purpose themes, all you have to do is browse through them and find the one suitable for the content you will be loading.
STEP 6: Get all the plugins you need in order to build your website
Plugins are Hypertext Preprocessor (PHP) scripts that extend the functionality of a CMS. Plugins are ways to extend and add to the functionality that already exists in a CMS. It’s easier to grasp when it is practical. You consult with google on what plug ins you are going to need and watch Youtube tutorials. It’s really not very hard.
STEP 7: Start creating your pages
This is the exciting part where you start loading your content. WordPress sort of directs you on where to go and how to go about loading content.
STEP 8: Launch your website!
Again, it needs time and practice. If you know you’re impatient or do not have time on your hands, rather get someone to do it for you. Otherwise, it does not hurt to have information. Who knows? You might use the information for small changes and maintenance one day. And if have time to teach yourself, you might just use it to create basic websites for organisations and companies – of course you would need to have a good profile of your work. Keep up with the times, get up to date with the latest technology!
