Need a website? Jo Can Do!
Everyone uses the internet to find products or services these days, so if you're a sole trader or small business, you need a website! But where do you start? Let me help...
Get Online
To get your own website, you need to buy two things:
- A domain name - eg.www.mywebsite.com. This will cost around £8-15 per year.
- Website hosting You pay a hosting company a monthly fee to store your website files. This can be anything from £1 to £20 per month, depending on the package. (NB You can host your website with Jo Can Do!)
Build Your Website
Now you can design and build your website. You have several options.
Bespoke Design
If you want something unique to suit your business, Jo Can Do! I'll design a website from scratch based on your needs and ideas. Getting a bespoke design means you'll have access to an expert to advise on website content, search engine optimisation, usability, branding and so on.
My websites are all web-standards compliant, and conform to accessibilty and usability guidelines. (See some examples). The cost and the time it takes will depend on the size and complexity of the site, and the amount of support required. See my prices page for some sample pricing options.
Budget Options
If you are on a very tight budget, consider these options:
Design Your Own Site
Do you know what you want? Have you already designed your website but just need someone to build it? I offer a 'build-only' service. I will take your design and turn it into an optimised, standards-compliant website. I'm also available to offer advice on content if you wish.
Templates
There are thousands of website templates available online that you can download for around £50 (or even for
free!) They may look fantastic, but you will still need to have technical knowledge to adapt them for your
company. If you're happy to use a template design, but need help setting it up, Jo Can Do!
(For an example adapted from a free template, see Jo Can Do...Business Support).
Build Your Own Website Kits
Many hosting companies will offer a DIY website package. You choose a template, add your content and there it is! This may sound attractive, but it may not be as easy as it sounds. There are several disadvantages:
- you pay a higher monthly fee, which may be expensive long-term
- even with thousands of templates, you might not find a suitable one
- you are very limited with what you can do on your site
- you may have difficulty using the system.
It really does help to know how to build websites if you are planning to use this method. If you've tried this option and have got stuck, contact me for help!
Support
Whatever your needs, I'll help you throughout the web set-up process and beyond. I'm also there for changes and future makeovers if your needs change.
Contact me to discuss your requirements, with no obligation.
See the resources page for useful resources on planning your first website.
