Building a website is no easy feat. There are so many decisions that go into a website – which platform to use, how to design it, font and color choices, and not to mention creating the copy and graphics. Today, I’ve compiled dozens of articles and tutorials to help you as you build your website. They are sorted by category, so you can jump to the info you need the most right now!
My biggest piece of advice for you before you jump into these articles is to always remember to keep your audience as the focus on your website. What are they struggling with? How is working with you going to change their life? It is YOUR website, but it’s not meant to be an autobiography of you. Be super specific on your website about how you can help your clients.
How to start designing your website:
1. Delete Sample Pages
Most themes and templates come with sample pages that are pre-formatted with demo content. These pages allow you to get a feel for what your private practice website will look like when you add in your content. However, if you don’t delete these pages, people can still access them via Google search – while it’s unlikely this would happen, you don’t want people ending up on a “sample” page, right? You’ll give people the best first impression and an optimized experience (because deleting these pages will also make your site load a bit faster) by trashing sample pages from the start.
2. Edit Permalinks
Permalinks show up in the address bar whenever someone is viewing a page on your site. For example, the permalink for my Hire Me page is jesscreatives.com/hire-me. Initially, your permalinks will be set to default (Plain) – in WordPress, this means it will be something like yourdomain.com/p?123. I generally recommend that you change this setting to Post Name. You can do this by going to Settings > Permalinks, and selecting your preferred permalink format.
In Squarespace, there’s not a list of permalink formats to choose from, but you can still edit the permalinks for your pages and posts. I change the blog permalinks for many of my clients, because the date info (2016/06/29/blog-name) in the permalink is unnecessary. You change this by going to Settings > Blogging.
See more info on Squarespace permalinks right here.
To change the permalinks on a page, you’ll select the gear icon next to the page, to see the Page settings, and edit right there. I always make sure the URL matches the page name, and the link isn’t something like “/about-us-1”.
This change benefits your site’s SEO, plus, it just looks cleaner and more professional. I make this one of my first steps to avoid having to spend hours upon hours changing individual permalinks for separate blog posts and links later down the road.
3. Update Site Title & Description
Take care of this right away and don’t think too much about it — you can always change it later. This is one, small detail that so many people miss. It’s so obvious when people skip this step because of what is displayed when they share their private practice website on social media.
If you’re using WordPress, you can do this within your SEO plug-in (like Yoast), and if you’re using Squarespace, you can do this within Settings. Here’s a step-by-step guide to fix those little errors, and get it to display correctly on Facebook.
4. Update Footer with Copyright Info
This is another one to tackle right away while it’s top of mind. It’s easy to forget this step but it’s essential when it comes to protecting your private practice website content. Even if you don’t have an actual registered copyright, adding “Copyright [your business name + the year]” in the footer of your site can deter many content copycats from stealing your work. Make sure you also have a privacy policy!
5. Add a Custom 404 Page
Your 404 page is the place where people are directed if they click a broken link or try navigating to a nonexistent page on your site (p.s. – you should keep an eye on your 404 errors and fix them!). A custom 404 page that showcases a bit of your personality and gives people something to do can serve as a useful extension of your brand. It’s a SMALL detail that will only take you a little time to set up.
Here is the best way to add some awesomeness to your 404 page:
WordPress
- Create a new page, and name it 404. Add your content to the page. I suggest a quick greeting, a search bar, and links to popular pages on your site.
- Download and install the 404 to 301 plugin.
- Configure the plugin to redirect 404 errors to your newly created 404 page.
Squarespace
- Create a new page, and name it 404. Add your content to the page. I suggest a quick greeting, a search bar, and links to popular pages on your site.
- Go to Settings > Advanced > 404 Error. Select your new 404 page from the drop-down.
6. Add 301 Redirects
You only need to complete this step if you’re moving your site to a new URL. A 301 redirect is sort of like a “change of address form” you’d pick up at the post office if you moved. Basically, it’s a permanent redirect from one URL to another. So, anyone who clicks a link or tries to navigate to your old site will be automatically sent to your new site.
Earlier this year, a client of mine completely rebranded her logo and website. She kept her same name, but wanted to change her URL, to be shorter and to be a little more SEO-friendly.
Here’s how to make sure everyone ends up on your brand new, shiny site:
WordPress: There are a number of great 301 re-direct plugins you can use, like Quick Page Redirect Plugin, or Redirection.
Squarespace: There’s a place right inside the Settings tab (within Advanced) to set-up 301 re-directs. You can find more step-by-step info with Squarespace’s guide.
I also have plenty of links below to help you build your website.
Website Platform Comparisons
- Blogger Versus WordPress from Mandy at Sugar Bee Crafts
- Squarespace vs WordPress from Website Builder Expert
- WordPress vs. Squarespace for SEO
- Should You Move From WordPress to Kajabi?
- Squarespace vs Wix 2019
- Thinkific vs Teachable vs Kajabi
- Squarespace vs WordPress 2020
WordPress Guides (+ Choosing Hosts)
- Why I Love Using the Divi Theme
- How To Index a New WordPress Website from Mad Lemmings
- 9 WordPress Codes To Spice Up Your Blog from Web Hosting Secret Revealed
- 25 WordPress Tips: Printables, Scheduling, Avatars… from The Flourishing Abode
- 10 Hacks For Your WordPress Blog from The SITS Girls
- Two WordPress Tools You Need
- How to Set Up an Online Shop With WordPress from Angie Makes
- Top 25 Hosting Companies from Blogging.org
- How to Choose the Best WordPress Hosting from WP Beginner
- Four Hosting Platform Options
- The Best WordPress Theme for Dietitians
- Why You Shouldn’t Use GoDaddy or BlueHost
- WordPress Q&A
- View all of my WordPress tutorials >>
Squarespace Guides
- 10 Squarespace Questions Answered
- Choosing the Right Squarespace Template from Nesha Designs
- How to Make Your Squarespace Blog Posts More Pinterest-Friendly
- My Three Favorite Squarespace Workarounds from Paper & Oats
- Setting Up Google Analytics in Squarespace from Elle & Co.
- Top 3 Ways to Create a Unique Squarespace Website from Go Live HQ
- Using Mailchimp and Squarespace Together
- How to Customize Your Website Without a Designer
- Squarespace Q&A
- View all of my Squarespace tutorials >>
Choosing website fonts
- How to Pair Fonts Like a Pro from Dapper Fox Design
- 5 feminine google font combinations from Nesha Designs
- Does Typography Affect UX? from Creative Market
- How Typography Affects Conversions from Visualistan
- Fonts & Feelings: Typography Psychology from ChurchMag
- 6 Fonts You Should Stop Using (and 9 You Should Use Instead)
- Serif vs. Sans: Typography Basics And Loads Of Free Fonts from Noupe
- 18 Rules to Ensure You Use Text Correctly from Red Website Design
- View all of my font tutorials >>
Choosing website colors
- Choosing the Best Colors for Your Blog Design from The Blog Market
- How to Select a Color Palette for Your Branding from Spruce Rd.
- Color Psychology: 6 Tips for Choosing Your Color Scheme from YFS Magazine
- Color Psychology In Marketing: The Complete Guide from CoSchedule
Search engine optimization
- How to use Google Keyword tool to write your blog posts from Blog Ambitions
- How to Use Google Analytics: Getting Started from Social Media Examiner
- 20+ Effective Tips To Drive More Traffic From Search Engines from TwelveSkip
- Old SEO vs. New SEO from Digital Information World
- Why Meta Matters – SEO Strategy Basics from Dapper Fox Design
- Two of the Best Ways to Improve Your SEO
- Squarespace SEO
- Why You’re Not Showing Up in Google Search
- View all of my SEO resources >>
Finding photos for your website
- Optimize Images for SEO
- How to Get the Most Out of Your Stock Photos from Elle & Co.
- Choosing The Best Images for Your Website and Brand
Miscellaneous website articles
- How to Create a Mailing List and Add Opt-ins to Your Site from Designer Blogs
- Downfalls of Using Wix or Weebly
- 5 Things You Need To Do Before Your Website Goes Live from Maya Elious
- How to Change Your Website Preview on Facebook
- How to Setup Membership Websites
- Five Ways to Improve User Experience
- The Best Way to List Services on Your Website
- How to Setup a Resource Library
