DIY Website blog
Do you need a website for your business, but don’t know where to start? Are you worried that hiring a web developer will be expensive and you won’t know where to start? This blog is for you! I’ll share everything you need to know to build your own website at a fraction of the cost.Disclosure: Some of the links on this page are ‘affiliate links.’ This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission.
From the DIY Website Blog:
Technical SEO
The Complete Guide to Building a Website That Search Engines and Customers Love Technical SEO is one of the most important parts of building a successful online presence, yet it is also one of the most misunderstood. Many businesses focus heavily on content creation,...
When You Need a Redesign
websites for nontechies series 10 For small business owners, authors, and creative professionals, the idea of redesigning a website can feel both exciting and intimidating. It is exciting because it promises a fresh start, new possibilities, and an updated look. It is...
Why Website Security Matters Even If You Do Not Sell Anything
websites for nontechies series 9 Many small business owners, authors, and creatives assume that website security is only important for online stores or sites that collect payments. If no credit cards are involved, it can feel safe to treat security as optional or...
How Website Speed Affects Trust, Sales, and Reader Engagement
websites for nontechies series 8 Website speed is one of those topics that sounds technical and abstract, especially to people who already feel uneasy about technology. It is often discussed in terms of scores, tools, and performance metrics that feel disconnected...
How Contact Forms Work
For many small business owners, authors, and creatives, the contact form is one of the most mysterious parts of a website. You place a form on a page, test it once, and hope it keeps working forever. When it does, it feels invisible. When it does not, it can feel like...
How Hosting, Themes, and Plugins Work Together (Without the Tech Overwhelm)
Websites for NonTechies post #6 For many people who describe themselves as techphobes, one of the most confusing things about having a website is understanding the different pieces involved. You hear terms like hosting, theme, plugins, updates, and compatibility, and...
Why Cheap Websites Often Cost More Long Term
Websites for Techphobes Series: Post 5 For people who feel uneasy around technology, the idea of building or updating a website can feel risky. When something feels risky, it is natural to want to spend as little as possible. Many small business owners, authors, and...
What Happens When a Website Loads (Behind the Scenes)
Websites for Techphobes Series: Post 4 For people who describe themselves as techphobes, one of the most intimidating aspects of owning a website is the mystery of how it actually works. You type an address into a browser, press enter, and somehow a page appears. When...
Why Your Website Is Never Really Finished
Websites for Techphobes Series: Post 3 One of the most stressful ideas for people who are uncomfortable with technology is the belief that a website must be finished before it can be useful. Many small business owners and authors delay launching or updating their site...
Website vs Social Media
Websites for Techphobes Series: Post 2 For many small business owners, authors, and creatives who feel uneasy around technology, social media often feels like the easier option. Platforms like Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, or X appear simple and familiar. You create an...
What a Website Actually Is (and is not)
Websites for Techphobes Series: Post 2 If the idea of managing a website makes you uncomfortable, you are not alone. Many small business owners, authors, and creatives feel overwhelmed by technology and unsure of what a website really is. There is a lot of conflicting...
When It’s Time to Redesign Your Website and When It’s Not
Your website is often the first impression your audience has of your brand, whether you are an author, small business owner, or creative professional. A well-designed website conveys professionalism, trust, and clarity. It helps visitors understand who you are, what...
Why Website Security Matters Even If You Don’t Sell Anything
Many small business owners, authors, and bloggers assume that website security is only important for e-commerce sites. If you are not processing payments or storing sensitive customer data, you might think that security is not a priority. The truth is that website...
How Website Speed Affects Engagement, Trust, and Sales
In today’s fast-paced digital world, every second counts. Visitors expect websites to load quickly, and delays can have a direct impact on trust, engagement, and conversions. For small business owners, authors, and content creators, website speed is not just a...
What Happens When Someone Fills Out Your Contact Form
Your website’s contact form is one of the most important tools for turning visitors into clients, readers, or collaborators. Many small business owners and authors treat it as a simple formality—a way for people to reach out—but in reality, a contact form is the start...
Your Website Needs Regular Updates (Even If Nothing Is Changing)
It is easy to think that once a website is built, it can remain static. Many small business owners and authors believe that if their content looks good and everything functions, there is no need to revisit it. This assumption is understandable. Maintaining a website...
How Visitors Use Your Website (and What That Means for Design)
Many small business owners and authors imagine visitors using their website the same way they do. Carefully reading every page, scrolling slowly, and taking in each detail. In reality, most visitors interact with websites very differently. They skim, jump around, and...
Every Website Needs a Clear Goal (and How to Define Yours)
One of the most common problems with beginner websites is not design, content, or technology. It is direction. Many small business owners and authors build a website because they know they should have one, but they are not entirely sure what the website is meant to...
Make a Website Feel Professional (Instead of DIY)
Most people cannot explain exactly why a website feels professional, but they know it when they see it. Within a few seconds of landing on a page, visitors form an impression. They decide whether the site feels trustworthy, credible, and worth their time, or whether...
Why a Website Looks Different on Mobile and Desktop and Why That’s a Good Thing
If you have ever opened your website on your phone and thought something looked off, you are not alone. Many small business owners and authors have a moment of panic the first time they compare their website on a laptop versus a mobile device. Text may stack...
Why I use Google forms for contact forms
For years, I used traditional WordPress contact form plugins on my websites and on client projects. As a web developer working with WordPress, Divi, and SiteGround hosting, this approach felt like the obvious choice. Contact form plugins are deeply integrated into the...
What’s an SSL certificate and why do I need one?
If you run a website or plan to launch one, you have probably seen references to SSL certificates, HTTPS, or the small padlock icon that appears in a browser’s address bar. For many website owners, especially small businesses, authors, and creatives, SSL can feel like...
Get the Best Results From Your Freelance Project
Hiring a web developer on Upwork can be a powerful step toward building or improving your online presence. The platform gives you access to professionals with a wide range of skills, experience levels, and specialties. Yet simply hiring a talented developer does not...
Why Communication Beats Technical Skill in Freelance Projects
When hiring a freelance web developer on Upwork, clients often focus on technical skills first. They look for expertise in WordPress, custom coding, page builders, or ecommerce platforms. Technical ability is undeniably important. Without the right skills, a...
Read Upwork Proposals, Profiles, and Reviews, Like a Pro
Hiring a freelancer on Upwork can feel overwhelming, especially if you are not familiar with how the platform works. Profiles can look impressive at first glance, reviews can appear overwhelmingly positive, and proposals often promise perfect results. Knowing how to...
Working With a Full Time Upwork Freelancer: What it’s Really Like
Hiring a full time Upwork freelancer can feel unfamiliar if you are used to traditional employment or short term contractors. Many clients are unsure what to expect when someone works independently, remotely, and often across time zones. Some worry about reliability,...
Red Flags When Hiring a Web Developer on Upwork
Hiring a web developer on Upwork can be one of the smartest decisions you make for your business or personal brand. The platform offers access to skilled professionals with diverse backgrounds and experience levels. At the same time, the open marketplace means clients...
Write a Job Post on Upwork That Attracts the Right Web Developer
Posting a job on Upwork seems simple on the surface. You describe what you need, set a budget, and wait for proposals to arrive. In practice, the quality of your job post has a direct impact on the quality of freelancers who apply. A vague or rushed post often...
Mistakes People Make When Hiring Freelancers on Upwork
Hiring freelancers on Upwork can be an excellent way to access skilled professionals from around the world. For many businesses, authors, and entrepreneurs, Upwork makes it possible to build websites, launch products, and solve technical problems without the overhead...
Why Job Success Score Matters and What a 100% JSS Really Means
When clients hire a freelancer on Upwork, they are often making an important decision without meeting the person face to face. They rely on profiles, reviews, and platform metrics to determine whether someone is trustworthy, skilled, and reliable. Among all the...
What is Divi?
Divi is a WordPress theme. It has a visual builder that lets you easily construct the pages of your website, by dragging and dropping, clicking to edit, etc. It’s intuitive, but there are also tons of easy to follow tutorials if you do get stuck. You set up your WordPress site, add Divi as a theme, and add in your license number, and then you’re all set to build your own website! Use a pre-made layout or start from scratch. Either way, all you need to do is drag and drop the different modules (images, text, whatever you need!) and add in your own words and pictures. You can do as much or as little as you like, but it’s all easy to do on your own.What if I need more help or have questions?
No problem!! If you have questions about Divi, their support team is always available to help.Can you just do it for me?
Absolutely! If you need a web developer to help you when you get stuck, or if you just want someone to do it for you, reach out via my contact page and I’m happy to help!