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:
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...
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...
Beginner vs. Experienced Upwork Freelancers: How to Tell the Difference
Hiring a freelancer on Upwork can be one of the most effective ways to get high quality work done, especially for web development projects. At the same time, the platform presents a challenge for clients who are not sure how to evaluate experience. Two profiles can...
What to Look for When Hiring a Web Developer on Upwork
Hiring a web developer on Upwork can feel overwhelming, especially if you are not technically inclined. You may be comparing dozens of profiles that all seem to promise high quality work, fast turnaround times, and excellent communication. Yet many clients discover...
Branding for Authors: How to Make Your Website Match Your Writing Style
Author branding is one of the most misunderstood parts of building an online presence. Many writers approach branding as if it is a logo or a pretty color palette or a header image that looks professional. While those elements matter, they are only a small fraction of...
Why Authors Need a Website Even Before Publishing
Many writers believe they need to wait until they have a finished book before creating a website. Some feel that a website is only necessary once they are officially published. Others assume that a website is something agents or publishers will handle for them. These...
Create an About Page that Connects with Readers
An About page is one of the most visited parts of any author website. Whether you write fiction, nonfiction, poetry, essays, or hybrid work, readers want to know the person behind the words. They want to understand who you are, what you care about, and how your...
How to Add Reader Testimonials to Your Author Website
Reader testimonials are one of the most powerful forms of social proof an author can use. When potential readers arrive on your website, they want to know whether your writing is worth their time. They want to feel confident that your book delivers on its promise,...
Why Writers Should Use WordPress Instead of Wix or Squarespace
Choosing the right website platform is one of the most important decisions an author can make. Your website is your home on the internet, your discoverability hub, your book showcase, and often the first place a new reader learns who you are. It needs to represent...
What Is Divi? A Beginner’s Guide to the Most Popular WordPress Theme
Divi is one of the most well known and widely used WordPress themes available today. It appeals to beginners, business owners, designers, authors, and anyone who wants to build a professional website without needing to learn complex coding skills. If you have been...
Hidden Benefits of Good Hosting
Choosing a web host is often the first major decision someone makes when building a website. Most new site owners understand the obvious differences between hosting companies. They compare speed, pricing, security, and support, then choose whichever option seems the...
how to choose a web developer
Hiring a freelance web developer can feel overwhelming, especially when you turn to a large marketplace like Upwork. You are faced with hundreds or even thousands of profiles, each claiming to offer the skills you need. Some developers charge low hourly rates, others...
Why I Recommend SiteGround Hosting for WordPress Beginners
Starting a WordPress website is an exciting step, whether you are launching a blog, a small business site, an author platform, or an online portfolio. But before you ever choose a theme or write your first post, you face a foundational decision that will determine how...
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!
