Tips for Building a Website in 2011

a suspended seat photo

A Suspended Seat | $40 | levansphotography

2010 is charging toward the finish line and the goals that I set in place are coming together one crazy step at a time.All that you have heard about building a website is TRUE:

  1. IT IS hard work - pure and simple.  The things you decide to leave out and the things you attempt to convey takes hours and hours of assessment

  2. You have to know what you want - What a great idea to have all your content housed in one place.  What does that mean other than now you have oodles of rambling information ABOUT YOURSELF.  This is a bigger hurdle to get over than you might imagine.

  3. When it is done, you will still think there was more you could do - yeah I almost can’t even visit my own site because I ATE, SLEPT, BREATHED, BLED, DREAMED about it for 90 days not to mention the months prior where I spent my time getting up the nerve to do it.  You know the “who do you think you are fight?” I was having it DAILY.

Are any of you considering taking the leap in 2011?  What is your game plan for tackling this assignment?

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  • http://www.otherpeoplesflowers.blogspot.com Crystal

    It is one of the top things on my list for 2011 – just trying to sort out all the possible ways to go about it, places to have it hosted, and find the best one to encompass an image gallery and sell my current work while looking professional and inviting…..

  • http://www.NikkiInStitches.Wordpress.com Nikki, In Stitches

    I started the process about 6 weeks ago and hope to launch late Feb / early March. Everything you said is absolutely true…it has consumed me, it is frightening, scary, exciting, overwhelming, you name it, but totally worth it in the end!

  • NikkiInStitches

    I started the process 6 weeks ago and hope to launch late Feb / early March. Everything you said is absolutely true! It had consumed me. It is frightening, scary, exciting, overwhelming…you name it…but totally worth it in the end. I’m so excited to show it off, and for all of the potential is holds for me, my passion for DIY, and my business!

  • http://www.mrstalbott.etsy.com Eileen

    oh yes! I have a domain name, but haven’t found a layout and hosting site yet – any tips on free layouts? It’s a scary process!

  • http://www.mrstalbott.etsy.com Eileen

    Oh Yeah! I’ve got a domain name but need the website layout, etc. Any tips/suggestions for free layouts?

  • http://twitter.com/rockandpurl Ruth Garcia-Alcantud

    I’ve been building mine for 6months more or less – given the amount of information and layout adjustments to be done, I recommend thinking ahead, writing and drawing it all down on paper and ensure you’re happy with your colour scheme and layout before committing to anything… it can take days to undo what took you a minute to do!

  • http://twitter.com/wellofcreations robin norgren

    very true my friend -when your vision is finally realized IT IS INCREDIBLE! Good work!

  • http://twitter.com/wellofcreations robin norgren

    What helped me is finding sites that I really liked as then when I approached potential web designers I asked if they could show me an interpretation of that similar vision-KEY when wanting to design a creative person’s site!

  • http://twitter.com/wellofcreations robin norgren

    for sure Ruth! I wanted a color that just WOULD NOT TRANSLATE well in some browsers! heart breaking reality to go back to the drawing board!

  • http://twitter.com/wellofcreations robin norgren

    I collaborated with my web designer who used joomla as the template for the site and Slideshow Pro for the pics. Take a look at my site to see the results and maybe this might be the way to go?

    http://www.wellofcreations.com

  • http://twitter.com/hideaheart MCatherine Lunsford

    Building a website is definitely a ‘work in progress’! There’s ALWAYS something to improve…a little like an Etsy listing, description, profile, product photo, tags, or OMGosh, self-improvement! It is certainly a wonderfully envirorating environment to live in the Right Brain! I LOVE it!

  • http://twitter.com/slfullen Sharon Fullen

    Enjoy your assessment advice to help people commit fully. Thanks for sharing. I’ve got a stand alone web site, 2 Etsy stores and an ArtFire shop so I’m fully committed for 2011 and beyond.

    Sharon
    Rose of Sharon Jewelry
    http://www.roseofsharonjewelry.com

  • http://eightymillion.etsy.com Jennifer Schulting

    Holy cow! I thought I was busy.

  • http://eightymillion.etsy.com Jennifer Schulting

    I can totally relate to the above information with my Etsy & Meylah storefronts. And with keeping things in line for HS also. I love it all, wouldn’t change a thing.

    Nobody said this was going to be easy. But it’s worth it.

  • http://twitter.com/hideaheart MCatherine Lunsford

    godaddy.com offers at both at very competitive pricing Eileen. check them out at http://godaddy.com I’m sure there are other sources, maybe someone could leave Eileen links?

  • Sewn Inspirations

    I have had my own website for 2 years now (and 1 Etsy shop), it definitely consumes your time. I always seem to learn something new to improve the site so there are always things to tweak. I am determined to make 2011 the “best year ever”.

    http://www.SewnInspirations.com

  • http://www.mrstalbott.etsy.com Eileen

    I bought my domain through godaddy, but I don’t like any of their layouts. Their prices are good, but I need a layout I’m comfortable with.

  • http://twitter.com/wellofcreations robin norgren

    Sharon you are for sure ALL IN- well done!

  • http://twitter.com/wellofcreations robin norgren

    well said AND I AGREE!

  • http://twitter.com/wellofcreations robin norgren

    you and me both! Rock on! And you are right, just finishing tweaking YET ANOTHER thing on the site!

  • http://twitter.com/wellofcreations robin norgren

    THIS IS definitely the ultimate multitasking scenario-this creative biz thing!

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