How To Create A Website As A Freelancer

A professionally designed website that markets your talents and services to prospective clients is, without a doubt, one of the best tools you have in your arsenal. It is simply the heart and nerve center of all your online activities. But most freelancers– writers, photographers, translators, consultants, or designers, are put off because they think website building is an expensive and complicated task. Fortunately, it doesn’t have to be

Here is a comprehensive step by step guide to building a stunning, powerful website that showcases your entrepreneurial spirit. Imagine you don’t need to know how to code to create a great site. Isn't that incredible? Well, read on to find out.

Buy your domain name and hosting

Put simply, this is where your website will live. To get a domain name (website’s URL) and a web host (where your files will be stored), you’ll have to go to a registrar and pay a registration fee for the name. And since almost all web hosting providers typically offer domain registration and hosting services, this is a much pretty straightforward process.

If that sounds a little too confusing, that’s fine. There’s website building sites like Wix, eHost, and GoDaddy that have all-in-one services, where you can not only build your site but buy your domain and host it on their servers as well. The choice is entirely up to you.

Choose a professional theme

While web hosting providers will present you with good-looking website templates, it’s important to select a simple theme that communicates your goals effectively to potential clients. Avoid riddling your website with useless features if you don’t want it to look convoluted or clunky.

Add content to your website

You’ll create unique content that describes your services and how potential clients will contact you, of course, when they land on your site seeking for your help. This will obviously be the most time-consuming part of this whole adventure, however you can’t do without it. Here are the most basic pages you’ll add to your website:

• Homepage

Welcoming content should grab the visitor’s attention if you want them to stay on your website. You want the people to click on ‘services’ or ‘hire me’, so you should write some brief copy letting them know instantly that you can help them. You can as well include a professional photo of yourself.

• About page

Talk about your qualifications and highlight your experience. This will sway a prospective client when deciding whether to hire you or not.

• Services or hire me page

You should detail precisely what you’re offering the clients.

• Portfolio page

Presumably, you may not have much information to publish on your portfolio right now. But how are you going to convince them you’re the right freelancer to meet their needs? Simply add samples of the work you’ve done for yourself or other clients. If they like it, they’ll hire you.

Make sure you add sample articles on this page and also link out to contents published on other sites rather than republishing on your site - Google doesn’t like that, and will see it as duplicate content.

• Contact page

This is where you are funneling all your prospective clients; therefore, they’ll need a way to get a hold of you. At the very least, make sure you include your email address, contact form, or phone number.

There you have it! That’s everything you need to set up a well-designed website that will attract customers, and lead to other opportunities that allow you to grow professionally.

 

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