Even the best intentions in designing and building a new website can run afoul when planning has not been well thought out. Add to the fact that making the wrong decision can cost you money. At the very least, you will wake up every morning, view your website, and wish that you had someone do it for you.
WordPress Customization
Customization of Word Press can be a difficult process. The module for the website is written in the language of PHP. If you are unfamiliar with this common web programming language, then you might encounter difficulties in customizing your website.
You will have to upload a theme to your website in order for it to work properly. If you only use the layout that the theme provides, it can be enough for you to build a decent website, but if you plan on customizing it beyond the design of your theme, then you might have to consult with a web developer in order to get a customization that eliminates the generic look and feel of the website. Most themes consist of hundreds of files that run the website, and there never seems to be any standard as to where the original developer might have created certain coding actions that control how the website performs and responds to requests. A skilled web developer will be able to perform a certain degree of customization so that your website will look unique, with a personal touch that sets you apart from others.
Hosting is Tied To Cost of Website
Some web builder companies have a plan where you purchase the website and then they give you free hosting. One such company is called Weebly. If you choose the higher end of their web templates, then you will end up paying about 7 times more for hosting fees than you would if you signed up for a plan on any of the top 5 hosting services. Your choice of hosting should be an important consideration while you ponder building your website. If you should decide to leave your web builder company for any reason, you may not be able to transfer your website files to another hosting service. There are also companies that will not allow you to take your domain name when you leave them either. So prudent research into these web builder companies is vital if that is the route you are considering taking.
As discussed above, anytime you download a template that is built by someone else, you have limited customization. You are kind of stuck with whatever design is built into the template. Sometimes you are susceptible to copyright violations if you modify the template, so the agreement must be carefully read and understood before making any modifications.
Targeting Audience
We are back on that subject, probably because it is so important. Does your template reflect the theme and message you want to show your audience? The wrong template can send the wrong message to your customers. The theme you choose could be someone else’s theme that they picked, possibly with the same industry that you are in. That is why customization is so important, because your theme you bought for $40 is sold to many other people also.
Exposure to Your Customers
Basically a spin off that links into targeting your audience. But it needs to be incorporated into rankings which lead to customer exposure.
You need to have good SEO (Search Engine Optimization) to gain exposure, which I will discuss later.
Powerful and Professional Content
Can you write powerful and professional content that is backed by compelling quality images? This is extremely important. A website that does not have the ability to capture visitors and entice them to further look into your website is not going to keep them on your website very long. Once they leave, they will likely not return.
Does it look like a Professional Website?
Your website is a direct extension of your company. If you have typos, broken links, poor quality images, poor layout, a weak call to action, or any other number of issues, then you and your company will be judged on the merits of your website. Visitors that are not impressed with your website are likely to look at your competitor’s websites where they might have a better user experience, in addition to experiencing an easier time in finding what they are looking for.
Wise Swans SEO Expert San Diego
