CHOOSING YOUR WEBSITE PAGES
Once you’ve decided that you want to take the leap and create a website for yourself, the next step is figuring out what sort of information you would like to include on the site. I’ve found that the biggest barrier that stands between my clients and their finished websites is feeling unsure about what kind of content they would like to include. I recommend keeping your website simple and straightforward - you want people to get a clear understanding of your business as they explore your website. (Don’t forget you can always expand on your website in the future!)
Essential pages:
Homepage:
Your homepage is the first page your visitors will see. Include an overview of what your offerings are/what your business is all about. You can also add previews of your other pages or just keep it short and sweet. Your homepage should compel people to explore the rest of your website.
About Page:
Your about page is all about your story, why you decided to create your business, what inspires you. This page will give people a deeper understanding of why what you do matters and will also help people feel a deeper connection to your work as they peruse your offerings.
Services, Offerings or Shop Page:
This page showcases what you have to offer. If you’re an artist, you could feature your portfolio, or if you’re a small business owner, you could list your products or services. Be sure to include details such as pricing, availability, and any other important information.
Contact Page:
Design your contact page so that it’s easy for people to reach you. You can include a contact form which will send messages from your website directly to your email, and you can also include your phone number, email address and your social media links
Non-essential pages:
Testimonials Page:
It’s always a nice idea to include testimonials if you have them! If you have an abundance of testimonials, having a testimonials page is a wonderful addition to your website. If you don’t want a separate page for them, testimonials also work well on homepages or service pages.
FAQ Page:
Having an FAQ page helps people find answers to questions they may be wondering about. This is a good place to include additional information about your services, your shipping policy, returns/exchanges, payments, etc.
Blog Page:
Blogging is a great way to share more about what you do, and it can also be a fun way to engage your audience. Use your blog to share behind-the-scenes content, your thoughts and musings, or whatever your heart fancies if it relates to your business.
HOMEWORK:
Write down the four essential pages you’ll have on your website:
your homepage, about page, offerings page and contact page.
Write one to three paragraphs for each page and begin brainstorming what sort of imagery you would like to include on your website. If you have additional information you want to include on your website, then add additional pages to your list and write the content you’ll include on those pages. Once you have the written content and created a plan for your images, your website is practically half-way finished. Congratulations!