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Creating my website(s) has been one of the biggest learning curves in my business. I never had anyone teach me the right and wrong ways to go about it. It was just me and my bff the internet. Maybe you’re in the same place where you want to start a website/blog but want a few shortcuts from someone who has made a lot of mistakes – ME! I’ve worked on probably over a dozen websites by now and it still feels like a foreign world sometimes, but let me share a secret… You can’t shortcut trial and error. The best way to learn is to dive in and know that there will be moments when you want to cry or throw your laptop out the window. Here are a few mistakes I made that made me want to do just that.
Don’t use WordPress.com
There’s WordPress.com and WordPress.org. You can research the differences in detail but DO NOT use WordPress.com. It’s a trap. I could have saved hundreds of dollars and hours upon hours of frustration if someone had told me this simple tip. I highly recommend using Bluehost for all domain name purchases and website hosting. They are affordable and offer incredible customer service. I have been a customer for over 3 years!
Use a theme that is compatible with the Elementor editor
This is a matter of personal preference but if you want a lot of design flexibility and a drag-and-drop editor, Elementor is the way to go. Not every theme works with this editor though. If the theme doesn’t explicitly state it works with Elementor, then it probably doesn’t. There is a learning curve with every editor, but this one has been most worth the effort for me.
Price doesn’t reflect the quality of a theme
This isn’t really a mistake I made but just something to note. There are awesome free themes and paid themes out there. Make sure you are choosing whatever you want because you truly love it, not because you think a high price tag means it’s better. In fact, this website you are on right now is a free theme! Bonus tip: using themes that include a demo import will save you a ton of time. This means you import a demo website and can just add your own content or swap out images. Amazing!
Transferring a domain costs money
When I bought my domain, I did it through GoDaddy. When I wanted to transfer it to my website on Bluehost, I had to pay a transfer fee. If I had just bought the domain in Bluehost, I would have saved myself that fee.
ALWAYS buy maximum privacy protection
Don’t be cheap here. I left privacy protection off of my website for a week to try to save money and I had every web company in the Middle East call me (yes, real people) trying to get design work. I was getting nonstop spam calls for over a month, even after I had added protection.
Sometimes a professional is the best way to go
There were many times I would have happily paid someone to make my website struggles disappear. I ultimately never hired help but looking back, I wish I would have. You’ll save a lot of time and ache (both heart and head) by working with someone who knows what they are doing.
I will update this blog as I think of more points in the future! Right now web design is only something I offer on a case by case basis, but if you just have a question, I’d be happy to lend some advice.
