Starting a home-based business is a huge undertaking. Creating an online presence for your business can be equally overwhelming. Where do you begin to learn the basics of creating your first website? It’s actually much simpler than you’d think. Listed below are a few tips and tricks to make your first website pain-free.

First, you’ll need a Domain Name. A domain name is what your website visitors will type in to visit your website. For example, the domain name that you would type in to find Christian Work at Home Moms is www.CWAHM.com – “CWAHM” being the actual domain name portion of the website address.

You can purchase a domain name for less than $9.00 a year at places across the internet, such as www.GoDaddy.com. On the main page of GoDaddy.com you’ll find a spot where you can search to see if the domain name that you’d like to purchase is available. You want the domain name that you choose to be descriptive and easy to remember.

Next, it’s time to create your website. Sit down and write out everything you want your website to include. Make a list of all the products, details, prices, and options your customers will want to know. The more information you give the customer upfront, without making them search your website, the more sales you’ll make. Customers like clean, warm websites where they feel that they have all of the necessary information and can trust the person they are purchasing from.

Now it’s time to plan out the design and layout of your website. This aspect is very important. You will need to make sure that your layout is clear and easy to navigate. If possible, include a menu that is easy to find and contains all of the different sections you’ve included on the site.

Also, consider a “site map”. A site map is a page or section of the website that contains a full layout of every page and topic on the website. Many small websites overlook this, but it is a very simple way to give your visitors an overview of all that you offer. Almost all large websites use site maps to aid their customers. Consider eBay – what website do you know that makes as much in profit as eBay? There aren’t many out there. When you visit eBay, the third link on the website, right up by the logo is “site map”.

Why do you think eBay put their site map in such a prominent place? They know that the visitors to their site get easily overwhelmed. When you click on the eBay “site map” link, you get a complete overview of the all that eBay offers – from registering on the site to contacting their customer service departments.

When planning out the layout of your website, there are, of course many aspects to consider. A few of the most important things to think about are:

How many pages will your website be?

Will your website be showcasing your products or a business opportunity? Or both?

How well do you know your demographic? Will your website be geared toward women or men? What age group are you targeting? What are their interests? What will catch their eye?

Compile this information and start to map out the graphics, pictures and text that you want to use on your site. You want the text on your website to be clear, concise and to the point. Your website visitors will want to be able to easily scan your site for the information they need in order to make their purchase. Use bulleted lists when possible and keep your paragraphs to a maximum of a few sentences.

Finally, you are ready to put your plans into action. The easiest way to create your website is by using a website template, such as Google Pages, http://pages.google.com. The template will give you a framework and allow you to somewhat “fill in the blanks” with the text and graphics that you’ve chosen.

You’ve done it. You’ve created an online presence for your business. You’ve picked a meaningful domain name; researched the demographic that you’re trying to reach; and thought out the layout and other aspects of your website in order to create a meaningful website that will be easy for your visitors to use. You’re now ready to direct traffic to your website and make sales.

Jill Hart is the founder of Christian Work at Home Moms, CWAHM.com. She graduated from Grace University with a Bachelor's Degree in Human Development and Family Studies/Bible. Jill has worked from since 2000 and started her own home-based business to assist other Christians who desire to work from home while maintaining a godly life.

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