How to Make a Website from Scratch in 2024?

Understanding the Australian Market

When creating a website for your business in Australia, it’s vital to grasp the unique aspects of the local market. From cultural nuances to consumer behavior, every detail plays a role in how the audience will perceive your website.

Domain Names and Hosting - The Starting Blocks

If the foundation of your website design still needs to be laid, how would the structure be built? Thus, as a leading website design agency in Sydney our designers focus on the basics like choosing the right hosting service, selecting a domain name and registering. After that, the CPanel and initial configurations are made. Once these are done, move towards choosing which one is the best platform and how to install it.

One of the significant things to consider at this point is to choose the right hosting provider. Your website’s presence and visibility depend significantly on it. Therefore, while choosing the hosting provider, a lot of factors are considered, such as reliability, speed and customer support availability in case anything goes down.

Think of your domain name as your virtual address, something like ‘www.creato.co.au.’ It’s how your target audience will find your (business) online. Or we can say it’s one of those main ways that represents your website to the internet. For hosting, there are plenty of local Aussie options like VentraIP, Cloudways, SiteGround, Panthur, or Crucial (claims to get the spark online) offering reliable services to keep your site up and running.

Planning Your Website

Before you start putting together your site, have a yarn about what you want it to do. Are you selling products, offering services, or sharing your skills? Understanding your website’s purpose and your target audience is crucial. It’s like knowing the lay of the land before you set up camp.

Popular Platforms for Website Creation

With the takeover of so many platforms, it is common to face challenges when choosing a platform to design your website. While a lot of businesses opt for complete customisation, some usually prefer being built on a platform, considering the ease that it has to offer. Platforms like Squarespace, WordPress, Elemenntor, Weebly, Shopify and more are thus taking over the Australian market for website design.

WordPress is one of the largest CMS platforms that allows websites to be designed from scratch. Almost 43% of the websites on the internet are built upon WordPress. Most businesses prefer WordPress for its flexibility, which simplifies the process when they decide to create a WordPress website, due to the availability of numerous plugins and ease of customisation.. Businesses have also been using Elementor, considering its easy drag-and-drop feature to build a website.

No matter what the builder is, ensure it aligns with your business needs. A photographer might prefer Squarespace for its visual layouts, while a local e-commerce site might go for Shopify’s selling tools. Choose a platform that suits your ‘fair dinkum’ Australian business or idea.

For the More Tech-Savvy – HTML, CSS, and JavaScript

If you’re feeling more adventurous and want to do custom web design, getting your hands with HTML, CSS, and JavaScript is the way to go. This route requires more time and skill, but it’s like building your dream house (website) exactly how you want it.

Designing Your Website

Once the designers have laid down the foundation of website design, adhering to the principles of design, move towards the advanced level. While designing the website, create a strong skeleton that aligns with your brand identity. Thus, applying core web design principles, focus on preparing a website layout that would be equally functional across all platforms and be user-friendly with its ease of navigation.

Depending on your requirements, designers integrate all the appropriate themes and elements that can help you in branding. Once the layout is prepared across the theme then focus on adding content concerning images and texts. The texts and images are arranged next to each other in a proper manner according to your brand colour.

By including all these elements in your website design, Also test for cross-platform customisation. The cross-platform customisations ensure your website is functional across all devices, from computer screens to mobile.

Colours, Layouts, and Australian Design Trends

Incorporate a colour scheme and layout that reflects your brand’s personality. If you’re all about the Aussie beach lifestyle, use vibrant and sunny colours. Stick to clean lines and a monochrome palette for a more professional look. Stay updated with local design trends to keep your site looking fresh.

Crafting Compelling Content

Content is king, as they say. Write engaging, original content that speaks to your target audience about your product or services. Share your behind-the-scenes (work), stories, blogs on your niche (great for sharing your expertise), tips, or insights that resonate with your local community.

Mobile Responsiveness is a Must

Emphasizing responsive web design standards, With up to 92.2% of Aussies browsing on their mobiles daily, your site needs to be as good on a smartphone as on a desktop. We test your site on different devices to make sure there’s a lower bounce & conversion rates.

Advanced Features and Customisation

Since the website is a huge part of your online identity, you may have some additional requirements like a safe payment gateway or even integrating social media plugins. Each of these is extremely important for your business and establishes credibility. Thus, we help you customise your website using advanced features.

If you’re an eCommerce business, our designers will design your eCommerce website and set up the online store. This may include the integration of a payment gateway, arranging product layout, distinguishing the products and more. Once your online store is set up, also integrate the social media plugins to redirect your customers to your social media accounts. And also includes a blog forum on the website to ensure interactive content scope.

Apart from these, we’re here for you if you have any additional coding and personalisation requirements.

Optimisation and Analytics

Optimisation of the website also includes measuring the analytics to get a basic idea of how the website is performing. Our expert web designers are also familiar with SEO and integrate it across the design to improve your online visibility by increasing your position in SERP.

We optimise the performance of your website by increasing the page load speed, optimising the size of images and reducing the bounce rate. To measure these, we always integrate analytics tools on the website to keep track of how it is performing.

Testing Your Website

Before launching, you’ve got to test your site. Just like you wouldn’t hit the surf without checking the waves, don’t launch your site without a thorough check.

• Test on different browsers and devices to ensure everything works seamlessly.
• Look for any snags in navigation.
• Create Sitemap
• Review copy and media.
• Test the UX.
• Check if product descriptions are easy to read on different devices, if images are slow-loading, or if there are broken links.
• Check your Robots.txt file and conversion paths.
• Check for accessibility.

Launching – Time to Go Live!

Once you’re confident everything is tickety-boo, it’s time to launch. Announce your new site on social media, send out an email blast, or even host a virtual launch party. Encourage feedback from users to make improvements. Remember, a website launch isn’t just a one-off event; it’s the start of your ongoing digital journey.

What Things to Keep in Mind After Launching the Website?

• Keeping Your Site Up to Scratch – Just like a well-oiled machine, your website needs regular maintenance. Keep your content updated (after checking its performance), update your products or services, and regularly post new blog entries to keep your audience engaged. Also, stay on top of software updates and security patches to protect your site from online nasties.
• Stay Relevant and Responsive – The digital world moves fast, and so should your website. Regularly review your site’s performance through tools like Google Analytics, Pingdom, Uptrends, and Google Light House, check for new SEO trends (look for any change in Google’s algorithm) & updates, and adapt to new digital behaviours, like changes in how Aussies shop or find information online.
• Staying Ahead in the Digital Space – Keep an eye on emerging technologies and trends in web design. Incorporating these into your website can give you an edge in the digital marketplace.
• Embracing Emerging Technologies – From AI to VR, new technologies offer exciting possibilities for web development. Be open to integrating these innovations to enhance your website’s functionality and appeal.

Conclusion

And there you have it, mates! Understanding what is website design and building a website from scratch in 2024 might seem daunting at first, but with the right tools, a bit of Aussie know-how, and the expertise of professionals like Creato to monitor it all, it’s as achievable as snagging a good spot for a BBQ at Bondi. What sets us apart, according to our clients, isn’t just our expertise. It’s the personal touch. 

Take it from their experiences with Josh Pyatt (Real Estate Coach): He says “Callum’s quick response to the initial inquiry and the way he eases the overwhelming world of website and logo design for newcomers is just the beginning. He’s been the go-to guy from the get-go, always on the ball and ready to tackle any question or concern I have efficiently. We have been working together for two years, and even up until this date, he has not dropped the ball regarding his high service level. I would 100% recommend Creato for website design, website maintenance, and graphic design.”

Remember, your website is your online presence – a digital reflection of your unique story and business. So, take the plunge and start building your dream website today! And if it still seems like a daunting task, or you want to get away with your stagnant website and want a dynamic presence just like Josh Pyatt, contact us to learn more!

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Can I move from one website builder to another?

Yes, you can migrate your website from one builder to another. But, the process may vary depending on the platforms involved.

2. How long will it take to build a website?

The time to build a website varies based on factors. These include complexity, features, and familiarity with the builder. It can range from a few hours for a simple site to several weeks for a more elaborate project.

3. What is a CMS?

A CMS, or Content Management System, is a software application. It allows you to create, manage, and modify your website’s digital content. It also eliminates the need for coding skills.

4. Do businesses really need a website?

Yes, a website is essential for businesses in today’s digital age. It helps establish an online presence and reach a wider audience. It also showcases a company’s products or services.

5. How do I buy a domain name?

You can buy a domain name through domain registrars or web hosting providers. Search for your desired domain. Then, select an available option. Complete the purchase process.

6. Should I choose a .com or .com.au domain name?

The choice between a “.com” and “.com.au” domain depends on your target audience and business location. “.com” is global. “.com.au” signifies an Australian presence. It is ideal for businesses targeting the Australian market.