How to design a website on your own!

I DID IT. YOU CAN TOO.

Dancing Candles

Amongst many things that I learnt in Digital Marketing, this was perhaps the most rewarding one. Before I did this, designing a website was all about finding a right site designer, who’d give you a jazzy page, code it, test it and then leave you with it. With not much leverage to edit it or manage it as you move along. But that's history now! 

In today’s day and age of DIY furniture and toys, putting together a website of your choice is no big deal. And it also gives you complete control to edit and manage it after you have published it. It’s really no big deal. I can say that since I have just finished publishing a website for a new company that I have just launched. My sincere recommendation would be to visit www.dancingcandles.co before you actually read rest of the article.

Google Site & Wordpress are the most prominent names when one thinks of designing a website on their own. However, I chose to go with GoDaddy’s website builder tool which is easy to use and has plenty of templates to choose from. They have very well designed templates and are arranged as per categories. For example if you’d like to design a site for a coffee house, simply choose the category restaurant and sit back with a cuppa to decide which one would you like to go ahead with. So let’s get started on how I made www.dancingcandles.co

BUY A WEBSITE BUILDER PLAN.

As explained before, you need to choose which site builder would you like to go for. Usually all of them are pretty much the same except for their skin or interface. It really depends on which one you get more accustomed to. More or less each one’s functionalities are too the same. They allow you to do everything you need to get a great site going. For DancingCandles.co I chose to go ahead with GoDaddy’s website builder plan, since I bought the domain from them as well. The package deal they offered me was quite nice. If I buy the website builder tool plan, they give me my domain name free. Which means savings from the word GO. As a user, let me inform you that you’d need Google chrome to get the best out of this tool. I am an ardent safari user, I had some serious issues until I downloaded chrome. After which life became pretty smooth. To get started, simply register yourself  and buy a website builder tool plan.

Choose a Theme

Once you have registered and bought your plan you are ready to get started. Launch the website builder tool. It will take a couple of seconds and it is recommended that you do this with high speed internet connectivity by your bedside. These things work best with fast connections. As soon as the tool open up, the journey from here is pretty self explanatory. The tool has enough spoon feeding prompts that actually starts annoying you after a while. Start with choosing a relevant theme for your site. It will be a good idea not to have any preconceived designs in your mind before using this tool. That will just make you design a site that neither good nor bad. Just du-h. You don't want to do that. Let the experts guide you, while you concentrate on the back end. So choose a relevant theme and you are almost there.

GIVE YOUR SITE WELL PLACED SEO RICH CONTENT

Every page will have preset layout with DUMMY content placed in it. All you need to do is replace the content with text that is relevant for your site. I really don't need to tell you what goes where when it comes to making a site’s content SEO rich. But I will soon be releasing another blog to give you some tips on what I’ve been learning. However, I’d advice you to spend some time and choose a font that gives your headline that perfect design touch. There are plenty to choose from and smart fonts can make your content talk smarter. And just when you think you are done, here comes the scoop. You can put titles and descriptions for each page to make easier for search engines to spot your site. You will find this in the settings tab of whichever site builder tool you are using. Making your site truly SEO optimized with relevant content. Not just on-page. But back-end too.

PLACE PICTURES, VIDEOS, BUTTONS & FORMS

Yes sir, you can do it all with a click of a button. You can not only upload your pictures but also choose from a gallery of stock pictures that usually comes FREE with the website builder tool plan. That’s what I have used on my website. None of these pictures are mine. They are all taken from the stock pic gallery. I can also place a video link that shows videos without taking my viewer out of my site. Ensuring maximum engagement with minimum bounce rate. You don't want them to be going out especially when you have slogged your *^@ getting them to you site. And finally you have forms with ready fields. Just place them wherever you think your customer requires to fill it up  and send it to you. Making your site extremely engaging, interactive and lead generating.

LET THEM SHARE AND FOLLOW YOU

These tools come with ready to use widgets that just need to be placed and you are ready to go. No more hassle of giving your developer all the codes and then struggling with their positions and sizes. Just have it the way you want and take it off if you think its not working.

SHOW THEM WHERE YOU ARE

The contact us page is not as basic either. It gives you ample of jazz (along with maps) to show where you are located. Linking your site with Google’s webmasters and Google+ page will further strengthen your position on Google Maps. It will also help GoogleBots or search spiders crawl and index your site faster. So it is recommended that you do that.

LET GO UNDER THE HOOD NOW

While I have almost covered most of the design aspect, this is the section that truly got me excited. Coding. This was reserved for website developers for like centuries. Not anymore. Now the power is in your hands. To start with, you can add Meta Tags like Keywords in your page by going to settings where the page appears in source code format. It is recommended that you put this in the <HEAD> section. Doing this is pretty simple. Go to goolge and ask how its done. You will get ample of information on how to insert keyword tags. 

You can also add your unique Google analytics code in the footer (because that doesn't slow down your site download speed) and measure its performances in Google Analytics.

Alongside, you may also paste conversion codes, traffic source codes to monitor conversions and major lead generating sources to make informed decisions regarding your online campaigns.

THIS IS THE BEST PART

Most website builder tools optimize your desktop site to mobile sites. Yes, they do. Something that regular developer or designers cringe to do, either because they are too lazy or they simply find it difficult. Or because they want to make that extra cream off you. You design your site and simply choose the option to optimize for mobile viewing. That’s it. You are ready with a site that is apt for every device. 

You also get a suggestion preview of what your social pages should look like. This one’s a killer. Once you are almost done with designing your site and putting all the content, just go to the social branding preview mode. It will showcase a real time look and feel of how your brand’s facebook and twitter page should look like. This feature is brilliant as it actually saves you the effort of thinking how to design social media pages. It also helps you score nice brownie points with your client since there isn’t much done there. And in the end, it makes all the digital assets look like from the same family. 

Once all done, you can publish your site on your way to the market. It’s actually as simple as that. The publish tool is simple to use and links your designed site with your domain within minutes. And of course let’s you edit, revise or add anything that you’d want as you move along. As compared to sites done from developers, where you are left at their mercy and charges for every revision made.

Yes, the site’s back end coding does have its set of limitations. After all you are using a preset template. But nothing so major that will make you yell. The takeaways are far more than setbacks here. Especially when all of this comes for as low as INR 1000! Yup. That’s what I spent erecting my site.

So if you think you have a client who doesn't have great budget today, but can be milked for months to come, then offer him to build a site with one of your preferred website builder tools. They are easy to use, offer brilliant predesigned templates and let you edit them as and when you like.

The best thing about building a site on your own is that it gives you an indepth understanding about what is going right and wrong with it. It also gives you a good hand-on training with tools, that helps you get better with your online marketing skills. 

There is this limitation that some website builder tools don't allow you to put keyword meta tags. But there is a secret to that. And I will discuss this at length in my next blog. Hope you enjoyed this one. Do share your own home-made website with me, when you are done.

Cheers,

V

My tryst with the online Bandana man

Caution: This is gonna be long. Read at your own leisure!

Waiting inside CCD Belapur, I was the only guy who got the opportunity to meet that man who’s invariably been a part of my life for the last 3 months. I may sound a bit selfish, but it really seemed as if this opportunity was almost planned just for me. Always the one to reach before time, this time I reached even before the café opened up. I decided to wait. The shutters went up. I settled and started thinking about what all can I quiz him about. It was about 11.47 when Prof. Ratan KK walked in. Punctual. And with his signature style bandana on. He was wearing his usual disarming smile and humble approach that immediately put me at ease as we shook hands.

We exchanged pleasantries and he looked around hoping to find few more buddies. I assured him that they are not hiding under the table. I also reminded him that it is a Monday morning. And we’re not even in Mumbai. We laughed and we got started.

HELP ME HELP YOU

Professor stayed true to his agenda. He didn't waste a minute and didn't even waver away from the real stream. He did not ask me what do I do. All he said was, “So I’m all yours. Please tell me how can I help you?” I have rarely felt this mentor – learner bond in my professional life. And here I was ready to open up in front of someone whom I have been staring for the last quarter. He was all ears. I discussed about what I do, why did I really do this course, and the confusing thought of standing at a crossroad where expertise was having a quarrel with experience. And I wanted him to help me understand who will win. Sounds a bit confusing right? You see, as an entrepreneur, you often stand at these crossroads. Any entrepreneur will validate this. After doing this course, I am in two minds, whether should I do a job and learn the ropes. Or rather experiment with my current set of clients who are more than willing to bet their buck on me. He heard it all. With utmost patience. And I realized that’s what mentors are made up of. My contentions were put to rest as soon as Prof started speaking.

I’m sure you will understand that I cannot really replicate our 1.5 hour chat (which by the way went on non-stop, leaving aside, 10 minutes water break). But here are few excerpts that somehow revolved around entrepreneurship and its mantras. I have listed them under topics and I hope it inspires and encourages all my other buddies as much it did to me.

Own your client’s business:

This was something that few dare to say. But he said it. And convinced that the only way to keep a client is to help the client believe that his business matters to me as much. Own the responsibility like its your own baby. And see the magic. Honestly speaking, I always judged my clients with their sales figure. Give them what they want. Then move out. But after listening to professor’s starting mantra, I realized that clients who’ve stuck with me are those, whom I never treated like clients. I kept giving them ideas as if it were my own business. And it all started making sense to me. This doesn't just apply to entrepreneurs. It can apply to business managers too who often complain of why their clients left them for some other vendor. Because subconsciously the guy was just an account. You never really owned the business. So guys, do things, suggest things, implement things that makes your client believe you are in the driving seat. Not them. I can pretty much see my clients staying with me for a long long time now. Incidentally, for professor, he was actually shown the door for doing a job so well, that life became hell for mid management guys. It’s a long story and I’d rather keep it to myself.

It’s all about DOING it. And keep doing it till the brand is alive.

He’s been harping this all along. But he knows that very few actually practice this. Well I’m glad I impressed him showing him all that I have done. And that is when he pressed on the point once again. Digital Marketing is a dynamic process. You can only learn by doing things. Being a Digital Marketer is all about walking with the ever-changing face of technology. If you think you can do it by seeing things, then you’re in for a dead end. Do it or stay behind.

Technique and Technical is like a live bomb.

You may be technically sound, but if you mix up your sales and marketing technique with your technical skills, then its house on fire. This is when we disclosed that he has skills to work on almost all codes and languages. He even told me how he created a furor in India xe23  office by simply asking one simple question:

“Why is there a cookie that is valid up till 2147?”

He got a lot of guys reprimanded for that silly cookie. And guess what? He got invited to head the brand’s digital marketing division.

So knowing how to sell and a little knowledge about what’s going under the hood can make you rise above other rats. Rather than race with them.

Vikram is a really cool guy 

(I made that up. Just checking that you guys are still reading this)

Know more about your rabbit hole

One thing about Digital Marketing is to know about your customer. This research is as vital as deciding where you are taking your girl out on a date. Or what are you buying him this birthday. These decisions cannot be taken casually. They are critical and can lead to great damage if you don't know your mate well. You get the picture.

When you spend time researching about your customer, you end up understanding their likes and dislikes. Their passion. Their sentiments. And more. What does this lead to? Engagement-intensive rabbit hole experiences. Every rabbit hole is different. So each time your brand changes, your market changes (or a factor as idiotic as a time zone changes), sit down to create a new ever-engaging rabbit hole experience for your customers. It’s the only way you can create meaningful and willing conversation. Which in turn leads to conversions. So the next time you think about your customer, think about what kind of engagement have you planned to lead out from the other end of the rabbit hole.

When to catch your lead.

This is pretty funny. It’s actually built around a story he told me. Don't want to pull this one too long. To cut a long story short, if you want leads to convert, talk to them right after you get a ping on your phone. Which means you may need to ask your clients or customers to keep their eyes and ears open, when you are working hard running a campaign that is getting them leads. What happens is, that you may be doing your job well. But if the marketing team doesn't respond to your customer’s lead request soon, it’s all lost. So guys, if you want results out of what you do, ask your client to stay as responsive as you are. It can change those sales figures and make your digital marketing efforts look good. 

Price yourself after analyzing how much value 

are you bringing to your client

This was something I was struggling with. I always wondered if I’m quoting my clients the right price for all my efforts. As an entrepreneur I wouldn't want to scare them away with an exorbitant rate list. But then neither do I fancy being exploited only because the price was too low. The question was starting to bug me to a point, where I started giving advice (quite valuable ones) without charging a dime. I didn't know what was my advice worth of. Until Prof. walked in with his gyaan. This problem in a way is very me-specific since I’ve just started a digital marketing company (once an entrepreneur, always an entrepreneur). But I’m sharing it with everyone since I see a lot of entrepreneurs in my buddy list. And some who are getting ready to become one. He told me that my price should be based on what kind of value am I bringing to my client. Monetary value. If I think, I am increasing his business by 50% then sit down and do the math. That will help you understand the kind of profits he will make through your efforts. Compare it with the figure you had in mind. And bingo. Things will be lot clearer in your head and your estimate.

I just tried this with a new client and let me tell you this works. Of course there is a bit of homework involved (like knowing your client’s true sales figures and his expectations). But then nothing comes free, right?

He wasn't doing it for me. He was doing it for himself.  

This touched me. I thanked him for coming and sparing his valuable time for me. And this is what he told me, “Vikram, I am not doing it for you. I am doing it for myself. When I call someone my buddy, I mean it. And I will give as much time to mentor my buddies as required, to ensure that I become a worthy competitor to YOU, in times to come. That will be my best achievement”.

I didn't know how to respond to that other than saying a humble thank you. I really hope and pray that my other buddies too get this opportunity to meet him and take inputs face to face. Let me tell you, he’s even more engaging personally.

My only regret.

My only regret after he left was that I forgot to ask him that one question that intrigued me the most.

“What’s with the Kenya Safari Holiday example you give everyone?”

I guess I will reserve it for until we meet next.

Cheers,

V