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:
How to Start an Online Business
Do you want to start an online business? Maybe you’ve been thinking about this for a while, but just don’t know where to start. It can be really overwhelming, especially if you think you have to figure everything out before you even begin. But it can actually be...
Problems to Watch Out for When Working with a Web Developer
I’ve been a web developer for over 7 years now. I worked with all sorts of clients over the years. I treat all of them with the same professionalism and respect and produce the same high quality work for each of them. And yet, I’ve seen some clients be super...
Why does Good Web Hosting Matter?
If you’re new to building a website, you might be wondering, “Does good web hosting matter?” Can’t I just pick the cheapest one and it’s fine? I’ll just google ‘hosting’ and pick the first one that comes up. Or, use the one my ex gave me or the one my former web...
Someone made a big mess of my website and I don’t know what to do now…
We've all been there. You're thinking, "someone made a big mess of my website and I don't know what to do now, AAAAHAHHHAHAH!" Maybe you've hired someone or worked with a client and they've made a huge mess. It can be extremely disheartening and make you want to give...
basic plugins every WordPress website should have
Here are my recommendations for the free basic plugins every WordPress website should have: 1. Yoast SEO (free version) - for SEO tips, especially on blog posts For SEO, Yoast is one of the best resources out there. They have courses and a huge blog's worth of...
How to Get Started Building a Website
Have an idea of what you want. I know, don't panic. Take a look at other websites in your field. Make a list of 3-5 that you LOVE and what you love about them. Keep them all as open tabs and look at them one after another... do you see any themes across their designs?...
How to Pick a Domain Name
Okay, so you're finally going to stop procrastinating and start building your website, yay!! But all the good website names are already taken, boo! Or are they? There are plenty of good domain names out there, you just might have to get creative or be flexible with...
What decisions do I have to make before I build a website, and what things can be changed later?
Building a new website or redesigning your current website can be a huge and overwhelming task. You're probably wondering, "What decisions do I have to make before I build a website?" It can be really helpful to know which decisions you have to get right and which...
What is WooCommerce?
The basics: Basically, WooCommerce is a free plug in. That means it's like an app that you can install on your WordPress website. When you add this 'app,' it creates a whole store on your website. WooCommerce adds functionality like displaying your products (digital...
What is a WordPress theme and should I buy one?
Building a website for your business is overwhelming. Often, people take the first few steps and then get stuck on something like trying to decide what WordPress theme to use. Don't let that happen to you! Yes, there are tons of decisions to make when setting up your...
How to Add a Pop Up Window to Your Website
I'm sure you've been annoyed by pop up windows on other websites. But they exist for a reason! The truth is that a pop up window can be extremely effective. You can use pop ups to get visitors to sign up for your mailing list, to tell them about sales or promote...
How to Start an Online Store
Online business is more popular than ever, especially after the pandemic. I've had an online store (selling teaching resources) myself since 2012, and I've been building them for other people as a freelance web developer since 2017. And online stores are more popular...
How to use Canva to Build a Website
I love, love Canva. I use it daily for all of my different businesses. I’ve even been to skill shares at their headquarters in Sydney! But did you even know you can use Canva to build a website? I didn’t know that until a client came to me and asked me to rebuild her...
How to Give your Website an Update
I've been a professional web developer for over 6 years now, and this is one I get a lot! The internet isn't as new as it used to be. A lot of us have websites out there that we created back when blogging was just starting (remember 2008, anyone?). And now those...
How to Use AI to Build a Website
AI is everywhere these days, and everyone seems to have an opinion on it. Maybe you were wondering if AI could help you out and build your website for you (or at least give you a huge headstart)? How can AI help you build your website? >AI can help you write the...
Should I use Wix for my Blog?
As a web developer and a blogger myself, my clients ask me all the time, "Should I use Wix for my blog?" The answer depends on what you want for the long term of your website. TL;DR: If you want something with a built-in website builder and you're willing to pay for...
Shared Hosting vs. Cloud Hosting (2023)
If you're new to web development or online business, you might hear a lot of fancy terms for hosting being tossed around. That can be confusing and overwhelming, even if you're not new to the internets. When I became a web developer years ago, I learned a ton about...
What’s a landing page?
If you're just starting out with your website, you might be seeing a lot of jargon being thrown around. Don't worry! I'm here to help you make sense of all of that, even if you hate technology! One thing you might have seen around is something called a 'landing page.'...
Should I use Blogger for my website in 2024?
If you're thinking of building a blog or website, you might be wondering: Should I use Blogger for my website in 2024, or is there a better option? As with most things on the internet, the answer is - it depends! Let's look at what Blogger is, the pros and cons of...
How I Became a Divi Web Developer
How I got started as a freelance Divi web developer. When I first ventured into the tech world way back in 2017, I really didn't know what I wanted to do or where it would take me. At that point, I had already been traveling full time for 3 years. That whole time, I...
Why do I need a child theme? (Also, what’s a child theme?)
You don't really neeeeeed a child theme. But trust me, you're going to want one. What happens is that the developers that made your theme will often send out updates. When you run those updates (as you should!!), then they could override any changes that you've made...
How to Build a Menu in WordPress: WordPress Menu Basics
The WordPress menu can be a huge source of frustration, especially for beginners. Before I became a web developer, I wanted to throw my laptop out the window more times than I’d like to admit because I just couldn’t figure out where to edit things. Luckily, you don’t...
How to save money on your website
I get it. You're just starting out with your business, and you're short on time, money, and energy. I've been there. Multiple times, in fact! One of the reasons I became a web developer is because I wanted to save money on my own websites that I needed for my other...
How to Test your Business Idea with a Basic Website
What if I’m not sure about my business and I just want to test it out? In this post, I'll show you how to test out your business idea with a basic website for less than $150. Starting a business and building a website can be overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to be!...
What Should I Put on My Homepage?
I taught fourth grade for over a decade. I remember the fear in some of the kids’ eyes when confronted with a blank page of paper and being asked to write something. Some of us have that same fear when it comes to dealing with a completely blank website. I totally get...
How to Interview a Freelance Web Developer
DO: DO make sure they know the platform and theme you're using. There are lots of different ways to build a website. Back in the day, we built everything in straight code, in HTML and CSS. Nowadays, it doesn't really make sense to do that anymore. (Unless you have a...
DIY Website Challenge
Welcome to the 10 day DIY Website Challenge!If you've decided to try DIY-ing your WordPress site (instead of hiring a freelance web developer to do it for you), you're in the right place. The goal is that, by the end of the challenge, you'll have your website all...
How to Save Money Working with a Web Developer:
Okay, so you've finally decided to finally, finally build your website, and you've chosen the web developer you want to work with, YAY! Those are two huge obstacles you've already overcome. But your business is small (or nonexistent- yet!), so you want to make sure...
Website Color Palettes
Sometimes the hardest part of building a DIY website is just picking the colors! There are soooo many options to choose from, and it can be hard to know what works well together. Here are a few trending website color palettes that you can pick from to get you started....
How do Headings Work on Websites?
If you're building a DIY website or working on your website's SEO, you've probably come across headings. Headings and subheadings are used to structure your content. They tell the reader (and search engines) what text is more important and less important on the page....
How to Structure a Web Page
For any type of creative activity, staring at a blank page can be so overwhelming that we just never start. But if you've been trying for ages to build your website, the last thing you need is more time spent staring at a blank page. But sometimes, you just genuinely...
What’s a Featured Image? (And why do I need it?)
This is one of those WordPress things that sounds complicated, but is actually super super simple. However, don't let that fool you! Featured images are still super important. It's an easy way you can help your blog look more professional while helping with social...
How to Make a Blog Roll Page
When I first started my teaching blog, I remember thinking, 'mmmmm, blog roll sounds delicious!' Obviously, back in 2012, I had no idea what I was doing. I definitely didn't know a blog post from a blog roll. But now, I've been a freelance web developer for 6+ years,...
Free SEO Plugin for WordPress
If you're just starting your website, you're definitely going to need some help with SEO. SEO stands for 'search engine optimization.' It's the process of getting more traffic to your website, by getting it to show up when people search for things on Google (or Bing,...
How to Become a Freelance Web Developer
Web development is an amazing career choice! Especially in this post-pandemic world, so many of us want to work remotely, and web dev is a great option. Being a freelancer is not always easy, though! But, it's worth it to have the freedom, flexibility, and work/ life...
How to Style Blog Posts in WordPress
Many people choose WordPress as the platform for their blog. And there are lots of reasons why! WordPress is generally considered the best option for blogging because of the way it manages content and has structures like tags, categories, and archives to organize that...
How do I update my WP site?
Maybe you have a new WordPress site, or you just switched from another platform to WP. Or, maybe you're still deciding what platform to use and you want to make sure you'll be able to update your WordPress site on your own. Do you need to know how to update your...
DIY website: What plugins do I need?
With so many free plugins out there, it can be very tempting to start adding them to your site willy-nilly. More is better, and they’re free, so why not, right? (Also, what's a plugin?) Wrong. Plugins can actually cause more harm than good, so add them to...
Develop a WordPress Website, even if tech isn’t ‘your thing.’
Step by Step Instructions for how to develop a WordPress website. Yes, even if you're technologically challenged. Do you need a website for your small business? Are you launching a coaching or therapy practice and need a site where people can get to know you, join...
Seo and Building a Website:
Here's what you need to know about SEO before you start building your website: I love that you’re thinking ahead to seo and having your site come up in Google searches, really. But let’s also keep in mind that you have to have an actual website that is live on the...
How to stop procrastinating and build your website. (finally)
You know you need a website. Actually, you've known for quite a while that you need a website. And maybe you already have some ideas for what you'd like your website to look like, or you've started collecting some content even. But you're not exactly sure where to...
What kind of website does your business need?
So you have your new business, right? And now you need a website, yeah? But even just thinking about it leaves you feeling overwhelmed and stressed and you want to pour maple syrup on your laptop and go hide in the closet? No? Just me?? Building a website for your...
I have a WordPress site, but I hate it.
Oh, you hate your WordPress website? I hear you. I get a lot of clients with this problem, as well. They hired a cut rate web developer, or their friend’s nephew took a stab at it, or they tried to DIY it and took bad advice and gave up. Maybe there are some thing you...
What pages does a website need?
If you're building a new website or revising your current site, you might be wondering what pages you need to have. Of course, you can start with just one page, and a lot of websites do that. Some of them even just stay with one page for longer periods of time, until...
How to Install Divi on your WordPress Site
Okay, so you've decided to go with WordPress and Divi for your website (wise!). But now what? How do you actually put the Divi things on your website? It's actually surprisingly easy! It's a lot of steps, but none of the steps are difficult. So if you keep going and...
Hosting Options
If you're new to web development or building your own DIY website, you might have heard the word 'hosting' but not really know what it means. Hosting is where your website is actually stored on the internet. Much like a storage unit for actual stuff, you'll need to...
Choosing a Website Platform
There are lots of options out there for building your website nowadays, but choosing a website platform can be overwhelming. In fact, you might feel like you don't even know where to start or what the choices are. Let's take a look at 3 of the post popular options:...
DIY Website Layouts: Basic layouts you can use to design your website.
I want to DIY my website, but I’m not creative!! Don’t worry, you don’t need to be creative to build your own website. You just need to be able to figure out what layout to use with what information. Once you have the right layout, Think of it like if you were...
What about mobile responsiveness?
Mobile responsive means that a website changes its shape and layout to fit different sizes of screens. So, a website looks a certain way on a desktop computer, because that screen is larger and more horizontal. But, when you view that same website on a tablet or...
Glossary of Website Terms
If you're trying to build your own DIY website, it can be confusing with all of the new vocabulary floating around. I remember trying to make sense of all the web development jargon when I was first learning to code and build websites. To help you out, here's a handy...
I’m Frustrated with WordPress.
Are you having a hard time with WordPress? Are you frustrated because you can't make the changes or edits that you want? Do you feel like you change one thing and then three others break? Do you feel like it should be a lot simpler to just add in a picture or change a...
How to start an email list
If you're building a website for your business, or if you already have one up and running, you might want to also add an email list. This is a list that people can subscribe to with their email address. Once people agree to be on your list, you'll be able to email...
FAQs about WordPress & Divi
Sure, the WordPress/ Divi combo sounds great. WordPress is a powerful platform used by companies big and small around the globe. And Divi is a wildly popular theme built for WordPress and used by both professionals and DIY-ers. But, is it the best solution for me and...
How do I back up my website?
Worried about how to back up your website? How to back up your site with a plug in. This one is very easy!! You just need a free plug in (like an app for WordPress) to do the backups for you. You set it up and run it once (super easy, if it takes you longer than 15...
How do I log in to my WordPress?
What logins and passwords do I need for my WordPress & Divi site? How do I even log in to WordPress? You basically have 3 parts to a WordPress website: 1. WordPress Once you have everything set up, you’ll only need to log in here. This is where you can run all...
Should I hire a web developer or DIY my website?
This is an important question, if you should hire a freelance web developer or DIY your own website! Of course, the answer is different for every business owner or blogger. Some people naturally feel more comfortable doing things themselves and would prefer not to...
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!
