Detailed step-by-step guide on how to develop a website yourself, from offline design to uploading it on the internet

 

 Now, a lot of entrepreneurs have been wondering "how do I promote my business without having to break the bank?" or "I don't have this amount to pay a website developer", "how can I attract sales or new customers?"

The answer lies in digital marketing.

To be effective or more productive in digital marketing and Search Engine Optimization (SEO), you need a requisite tool to excel in this field. Note that digital marketing comprises of email, social media, SEO, website optimization, etc. You may have the know-how on all of the above, however, SEO goes hand-hand with web development.

You have to ensure your website is mobile friendly and responsive to any screen size and resolution. Do not develop a website that has some parts cut off, the images take forever to load, the website consumes 5-10MB of data hence making it unfriendly to mobile phone users. Especially those who are working hard to save data no thanks to the expensive data plans by most telecom companies.

Do you know there is an easier and cheaper way to develop your own website yourself?

It does not require a lot of time. However if you cannot afford to do it yourself? You can use any Do-it-yourself website builders. However, those websites come with hefty charges. Don’t believe me? Google cost of using website builders.

Now that ASUU are on strike, many young bloods need to acquire a skill. This is where I come in. The steps below are categorized in two parts.

a.       Part A

b.       Part B

c.       Part C

Part A is about setting up the environment while part B is the development phase. Part C is the deployment and uploading phase.

The steps for Part A are as follows

1. Download Local by flywheel. This is the most straightforward app you will ever see on the internet
2. After download, click on the set-up file to commence installation;
3. After installation is complete, open the Local by Flywheel App via the desktop or start menu.
4. After the App is open, on the bottom left of the App screen, you will see a “+” symbol which means you should add site. Click on that sign.
   
   
   
   
5. On the next screen, you’ll have the option to pick a name and domain for your site. You can choose any domain name and suffix you like, and the application will modify your hosts file to make it work. In my case, I went with mylocaltestingenvironment Do not click on “Advanced Options” dropdown. Unless you know what, you are doing.
   
   
   
6. Local by Flywheel will automatically create a directory to store your site’s files, but you can also set it to any folder you like. When you’re done with these settings, click on the Environment tab underneath.
7. In this tab, you’ll be able to choose which versions of PHP and MySQL to use on your site, as well as the type of server. We recommend using the latest versions of the tools in question, along with whichever web server you prefer. It is best you leave on “preferred” setting. Custom is for advanced users.
   
   
   
8. Finally, click on the WordPress tab below Environment. Here you can enable Multisite for your installation (for advanced users only). You can also choose your admin username, password, and email just ensure the details are stored somewhere you can easily retrieve them. (Screenshot 595)
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9.       These last settings are entirely up to you. Once you’ve customized them, go ahead and click on the Add Site button in the lower right corner.

For now, you can sit back while Local by Flywheel gets your site up and running (which shouldn’t take long). When it’s done, your new site will appear in the application’s left-most column, and you can click on its name to review the details.

Afterward, you can go ahead and access your site from any browser.

10.   To begin editing with your site, you’ll need to log into the WordPress dashboard as you usually would. Remember the login details you created in step 8. If you chose the same domain name, we did in step 5, you will see something like this on the search bar “localhost://100388/wp-admin. Note that the numbers after the localhost name are just random port numbers assigned to your offline WordPress site.

What you’re working with here is a fully-featured WordPress site, set up in record time! This means that you can install any plugins you want, add custom themes, break it, fix it, break it again, etc. It’s a coding playground, and there’s no risk to a live site! You don’t need Internet to edit the themes except you want to download new themes, plugins and make the necessary updates.

 

Part B will be based on selecting and downloading themes and plugins.

You don’t need to purchase anything here. Just download Blocksy, Astra themes and kick start from here.

These are the plugins I highly recommend to download for a start.

1.       Blocksy companion and theme.

2.       Jetpack (mostly comes with the hosting server). A hosting server is where you get to upload your website to.

3.       Lite Cache, to speed up your website

4.       WP Forms. For receiving online subscriptions to your web.

5.       All-in-one WP Migration.

All of the above are downloaded when you access the plugin menu from the left side of your screen on the WordPress Dashboard. There are loads of templates to download and use for your website. Play around with it. You may discover something new. Till then, keep playing around with and I will send some links where you can get free template layout from free. If you are lost in anything I suggest you watch YouTube videos.

Part C: Uploading the website

Now this one here is tricky.

1.       First download ALL IN ONE WP MIGRATION. The purpose of this plugin is to easily migrate from an offline environment or local server to an online server.

2.       Install the plugin.

3.       Click on export option while accessing the plugin from the WordPress dashboard.

4.       Select “WordPress file” from the dropdown menu.

5.       The website will be downloaded to an external source in your download folder. It is saved with “localhost…” it is in in Zip file format.

Depending on the size of your website, it should not exceed 300MB if not you may have to purchase the pro version for a large size. But I had to tweak the code to get 5GB max upload. That will be another article.

6.       Then go to this link and purchase a hosting plan from Bluehost or WPEngine (I may get small commissions if you make a purchase at no extra cost to you)

7.       For those on a budget, you need to select the least affordable plan. Select the first one on your left. You will see the features you are paying for. Study them carefully.

8.       After purchase your preferred plan, you will be asked to create an account for any of the servers you have patronised.

9.       Follow the instructions and verify your account then go back to your account dashboard.

10.   If you selected Bluehost, you will see manage WordPress hosting, select that one. Create a WordPress account again but similar to the one in Part A so that it stays consistent. However, you have to choose a different username to avoid conflicts.

11.   You will be taken to your WordPress site. Don’t worry it is not the one you developed using Local by Flywheel. You will only have to download the All-In-One Wp Migration on this Bluehost server.

12.   Once you have downloaded the plugin, locate the downloaded file from step 5 and 6 above.

13.   Go to your Bluehost live WordPress server and search for the All-in-one Wp migration

14.   Select “import”

15.   Select “file”

16.   Locate the downloaded file of your localhost website

17.   Ensure it does not exceed the max of 300mb else you may have to delete themes and plugins you don’t use.

18.   After upload your new website should be live.

19.   It will demand for your login details after the import has been done. So please refer to Part A, steps 5-8, to locate where your original login details.

 

 

HERE ARE 9 COMPELLING REASONS WHY YOUR BUSINESS NEEDS A PROFESSIONAL WEBSITE

 

 

1. YOUR BUSINESS WILL GAIN CREDIBILITY

More and more people are searching online for things they want, for solutions to their problems, to compare prices, or just to get some information about a store, restaurant or business before they purchase from them. If you don’t have a website, potential customers will go to your competitors who do, especially if you are a home-based business without a bricks-and-mortar address.

Having a website will not only provide the information they are looking for, but it will give your business credibility. It says, I am here, I mean business, and I am in it for the long haul.
Your business will gain so much more credibility by having a professional website designer help you design and build your website.
With careful planning, designed responsively and with your customers’ needs in mind, your website will provide a professional image and give potential customers a great experience when they visit, whether it’s on their computer, their tablet or their mobile phone.

2. IT SAVES YOU MONEY IN THE LONG TERM

As a business owner, especially one that is just starting out, you’re probably thinking you can’t afford a professional website. But you really can’t afford NOT to. Although the cost of designing a website varies depending on your needs, once it’s up and running, a professional website is worth the initial investment, especially if built using WordPress, which enables you to add and change your own content regularly, saving you money in updates.

Compared with the cost of traditional means of advertising, such as newspaper ads, radio commercials, promotional materials and even networking events that often include the cost of a meal or trade tables, when you consider the potential market you can reach with a website, it is a very cost effective way to promote your business long term.

Even if your skill levels are slim to none and you need to continually pay your website designer/developer to maintain and update your website for you, the upkeep costs are still lower than ongoing traditional marketing, and the investment is certainly worth the number of potential customers that will find your business online each year.
When it comes to comparing the cost of a professional website with a freebie D.I.Y. website, unless you are fairly skilled, your website will cost you in time and effort that could be better spent elsewhere in your business. Not only that, but if it’s not professional, or can’t be found in a Google search, you will lose customers and that will also cost you dearly.
Saving money is definitely a great reason why your business needs a professional website, but there are several more reasons.

3. CUSTOMERS CAN BE KEPT INFORMED

In its most basic form, think of a website as being an online brochure or catalogue that can be updated at any time. It is much easier and quicker to update information about your products and services on your website than it is in a print brochure or catalogue.
A website is an effective way of introducing your customers to new services, letting them know about new products, announcing upcoming events and special promotions.

You can also provide added value by posting tips, resources and other information through a blog on your website. Unlike print ads, newspaper articles and flyers, which quickly become outdated, your website can provide current information and news. And if you discover a mistake after you publish a page or post, it is a quick fix.
A website can be so much more than just an online brochure or catalogue though. Now we have YouTube videos, Podcasts, Webinars, eBooks and other online media to showcase your skills, expertise and products, provide online classes, courses and workshops. Not to mention social media integration which enables you to share information on your website across numerous other channels and reach an even wider audience.

4. A WEBSITE IS ALWAYS ACCESSIBLE

Unlike you bricks-and-mortar location, which is only open a few hours a day, a website is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. You can provide both regular and prospective customers the convenience of reviewing your products and services when your store or office is closed.

Not only that, with so many interactive features and add-ons available, visitors to your website can contact you, sign up for your courses, schedule appointments and even purchase directly through your website even when you’re away from your desk or after closing.

With today’s busy lifestyles, this is a great selling point when making a purchase decision.

5. A WEBSITE ENABLES YOU TO TARGET A WIDER AUDIENCE

Websites are accessible from anywhere in the world provided there is an internet connection. Since more and more people have access to the internet, even in remote locations, you can target a much wider audience if your business has a website.
Whether you offer products or services or you are business or consumer based, your website provides you with an alternative location to sell. As a retailer, an eCommerce website is a great place to sell your products to a wider market. Think of all the people who can’t get to your bricks and mortar store that you could sell your products to.
Even service-based businesses can offer their services globally through a website. Now that we have so many affordable ways to communicate with people, we can do business with anyone, anywhere, any time. A website makes it so much easier to attract clients from a global market.

6. IT PROVIDES A MEDIUM TO SHOWCASE YOUR WORK

No matter what type of business you’re in, a website is a great place to showcase your work or demonstrate your skills. By including a portfolio, image gallery or videos, as well as testimonials about your work, you can demonstrate what makes your company unique.
Fourteen years ago there was no Pinterest, twitter, facebook or Instagram. Now 14 years later, a lot of people are using these social media channels to showcase their work. But is your target audience on Pinterest, twitter, facebook or Instagram?

On Pinterest, Instagram, Facebook and other social media channels, the quality of your photos or graphics is compromised and the size may be substantially reduced. Not only that but Facebook and other social media channels control how people interact with them and even WHO can see them.

If you have a website, your portfolio can be viewed by everyone anywhere and you are in control of what people see, the quality and size of your photos, and how people interact with those photos.

Not only that, but did you know, in most cases, once you post your work on these social media channels you no longer own the rights to those photos and they could be sold to use in those sponsored ads you see throughout your timeline?

7. A WEBSITE SAVES YOU TIME

I touched on this point in number 2. Time is money, so they are often linked together. Saving time is another great reason why your business needs a professional website.
Time is an important commodity in our ever-increasing fast paced world even if you don’t attach a monetary value to it. Most people these days don’t have enough time for leisure, pleasure, family or healthy activities. Having a professionally designed website saves you time both in the short and long term.
By providing information to your customers online, you can save a vast amount of valuable time that you would otherwise spend communicating to your prospects.
Talking to customers on the phone, in messenger or emails, face-to-face at meetings, networking events or trade shows, it all takes time. Creating flyers, brochures and other promotional material takes time – time to plan, research, communicate to your designer, printer and so on. Not to mention the time needed to distribute your marketing material.
With a website, you can save time by providing information about your products and services in various online formats—graphics, video, eBooks, flip books— or as text right on the page—no distribution required. Once your website is up and running, it is available to your customers indefinitely, saving you time having to communicate the same message over and over again to different people.

8. A WEBSITE CAN IMPROVE CUSTOMER SERVICE

A website is a great way to provide value added service to your customers and clients, and is a great way to keep them coming back to your when they need your products or services.

No matter what products/services you sell, you can share tips to your customers on how to use or care for the products they’ve purchased from you. If it’s compression garments, you can provide tips on how to wear their garments.
If you offer a service, such as interior decorating, you can provide your clients valuable advice to help them organise their home or how to do some DIY hacks at for home decoration. Or if you’re in event planning, you could give advice on how to choose the right budget for specific number of guests.

By including a FAQ page or a resources section, you can regularly add articles or upload newsletters to answer all your customers’ questions you can keep them better informed and up-to-date.

9. YOU OWN AND CONTROL YOUR WEBSITE

Even if you have a big social media presence, another reason, and probably the most important reason why your business needs a professional website, is so that you actually own or at least pay rent for your online space.

There are lots of free or low-cost ways to gain a web presence or claim your online space, but in most cases, you don’t own your online home, office or store and, even worse, you have little to no control over all that’s contained in your online space. With a professional website, you do.

Social media is a great way to bring traffic to your website and it’s a great way to share content from your website. However, relying solely on social media to attract customers or clients is not only preventing several prospects from doing business with you, but you do not own your stuff and you cannot control what happens with it. The stuff you’ve uploaded to your favourite social media channel could disappear at any moment without prior warning when they pull the plug for whatever reason and you could lose it all forever.
The same is true for a freebie website. When you decide it’s time to move on, you can’t always take your website content with you (at least not easily) and you will most likely need to start from scratch.

With a professional website, one that is self-hosted, granted you are renting space for your web address, but you own everything contained within your online space. If ever you want or feel the need to move to a different web-host, you can take everything with you (provided you have backups and/or do so before your account expires).
I’ve always maintained the importance of having a web presence that you own, and this is definitely a valid point to consider when determining whether your business needs a professional website or not.

Also get to read up on

8 steps to creating your own website for your business