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Learn MoreLearn How to Create a Successful Website for Your Brand
Rating: 4.0 out of 54.0(67 ratings)
8,252 students
Learn How to Create a Successful Website for Your Brand
A 10-lecture course explaining how to create a successful website for your online brand — divided into two sub-courses.
Created byDavid Di Franco
Last updated 1/2015
English
What you'll learn
- Learn how to create a brand
- Create a successful website
- Make an online presence
- Profit from original content
Explore related topics
Course content
3 sections • 11 lectures • 31m total length
- Find Your Niche4:15
Finding your niche is essential if you want to create a successful brand. Ask yourself, what are you passionate about? Everyone has that one thing in their life that really gets them thinking. Once you have your niche in mind, write it down somewhere so you can further analyze it.
Because the Internet is such a big place, there are most likely hundreds (maybe thousands) of others with the same idea — which is why you need to look at your niche from a unique perspective, while also making it easy for users to discover on search engines. So how does this work? It’s quite simple.
Divide your niche into micro niches, and then choose one of those micro niches that you feel would make an interesting topic for a website.
For example, let’s say our niche is movies. This is already an extremely broad topic, so getting noticed would be next to impossible. However, what if we delved deeper and narrowed our movies niche down to 80s movies starring Drew Barrymore? This is a micro niche that is guaranteed organic traffic.
Deciding on a niche isn’t difficult. It simply requires some careful planning. Once you have it figured out, you’ll be ready to move onto the next step.
- Purchase Web Hosting2:51
Choosing the right web host is one of those tasks that may seem overwhelming at first. And actually, it kind of is. There are literally thousands of web hosts to choose from, so how do you know which is the best? Honestly, there is no real right answer. Everyone’s experience is different, usually based on a variety of factors.
First and foremost, how is customer service? Choosing a web host with 24/7 support is essential, especially if you find yourself in a bind. The smallest problem can sometimes lead to the biggest headaches. It’s important to know support has your back when things go wrong. Open communication is key.
Secondly, you will want to choose a web host that does more than just hosting. Thankfully, this is very common. The majority of web hosts offer extended services such as domain name registration, email accounts, and even search engine optimization (SEO) tools.
And finally, reliability. What good is a website if it’s not going to be accessible during all hours of the day? Ask others about the web host(s) they use and the experiences they’ve had.
We recommend Bluehost, which currently powers Brand Rockt.
- Install WordPress1:47
While there are more than enough content management systems to choose from, we almost always recommend going with WordPress. Not only is WordPress free to use, but it’s extremely versatile. With thousands of themes and plugins to take advantage of, it’s really hard to look elsewhere.
Installing WordPress is easy and can be done in a matter of minutes, especially if your web host supports cPanel — an easy-to-use control panel that allows you to install a variety of platforms and tools. Because we recommend Bluehost for our hosting needs, we’ll use them as an example.
Once you have your Bluehost hosting set up, log in to your account and you’ll immediately be taken to the main cPanel view. In the “Website Builders” section, click the “Install WordPress” button. Bluehost will then walk you through the installation process, which takes just a few minutes.
Once WordPress is installed, you will be able to log in and set up your website. Obviously you have a lot of work ahead of you, so we recommend just setting up the basics for now. You can always come back and make changes.
Tip: Bookmark your WordPress admin dashboard, that way it’s easier to access whenever necessary.
- Select a WordPress Theme2:21
Now that you have a successful installation of WordPress running on your web host, it’s time to start thinking about appearance. How would you like your website viewed by others? Selecting the right theme plays a large role in this decision. Luckily, there are thousands of themes to choose from, so finding one you like shouldn’t be difficult.
WordPress themes are typically broken down into two categories: free and premium Most users probably prefer free, but if you want our honest opinion, we think springing for a premium theme or two is more than worth it. This is especially true if you decide to sign up for a theme subscription site, such as Elegant Themes. Personal accounts cost $69/year and give you instant access to all 87 themes. It’s a deal that easily pays for itself.
Elegant Themes is just one site out of many that are useful. ThemeForest is another great resource. While it’s not as cost effective as Elegant Themes, they do offer a larger selection of 4500+ themes and templates.
Our best suggestion? Explore and see what’s out there. There are plenty of choices available, so don’t feel the need to settle on just one theme.
- Create Your Content4:06
Now that you have found your niche, purchased web hosting, installed WordPress and picked a theme that accurately depicts your brand, we have one final important step to cover before it comes time to launch your website. Let’s create the content.
Whether you are running an informational website, an online store, or simply a personal blog, your content is what matters most. After all, without quality content, what’s the point of visiting your website to begin with?
Coming up with ideas for content can sometimes seem frustrating. To make this process easier, we suggest keeping a physical notebook nearby. From time to time, simply jot down ideas that you feel would make interesting content. Before you know it, you’ll have a handful of topics to write about.
The hardest part is getting started. Once you begin, though, you’ll just want to keep going. It only takes one spark of interest to feel motivated.
As your website matures and you attract more visitors, you’ll discover that your content is actually improving. The skill of writing is something that gets better with practice, so never hesitate to experiment a little. It also doesn’t hurt to pay attention to user feedback that you’ll likely be receiving.
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Note: Section 2 of this course can be viewed right here on Udemy, so there is no need to click the link that was mentioned in the video. That's intended for those who are watching these videos on YouTube.
- Review Your Content for Errors2:40
Now that your website’s content is in place and ready to be viewed by the public, it’s important to review it from several perspectives — the most important being grammatical errors, at least in our opinion.
Visiting a website that is riddled with spelling errors and incorrect punctuation usage is not only annoying to the reader, but it also makes the website appear unprofessional. It’s difficult to take a website seriously if its authors consistently make mistakes. Proofreading content may take a little while, but the end result is totally worth it.
Another thing you’ll want to do is check your website for broken links. Sometimes throughout the process of creating content, you may inadvertently change the URL of a specific page without even realizing it. Other times you may simply misspell a word in the URL, which could result in turning visitors away from your website.
Like broken links, be sure all images on your website are displaying properly. Visitors enjoy seeing images alongside content, so it’s important to not overlook this detail.
Errors are easy to make, but they’re also easy to avoid. Pay close attention to your website’s content and all will be well.
- Create an Email List2:06
You will find that visitors often discover your website for a specific topic, with plans of never coming back. They got what they were looking for, so why else would they return? It’s simple… Give them a reason to.
Aside from sharing your content via social media, the best way of attracting returning visitors is to create an email list — also known as a newsletter.
Creating an email list is not only free (depending on the service you use), but it’s also a direct connection to your audience. Email is a simple and powerful form of communication that has been reliable since the early days of the Internet. And best of all, it’s something everyone is familiar with.
To get started with email lists, we recommend using MailChimp. It’s easy to use and free accounts include up to 2,000 subscribers. And as your audience grows over time, you’ll have the option of upgrading to a paid plan.
If MailChimp isn’t for you, consider trying AWeber or Constant Contact.
Email lists are a huge topic, which is why we encourage you to read our How to Create Your First Email List article. Meanwhile, it’s best to get familiar with a platform that you feel comfortable with. Build your list, communicate with your audience, and you’ll create a loyal community in no time.
- Set Up Google Analytics2:09
Understanding your audience is important if you want your website to succeed. Where are they coming from and how are they getting there? Which search engine did they use? These questions can be answered by installing Google Analytics on your website.
Google Analytics is the easiest way of tracking your website’s visitors via detailed analytics and reporting, and all for the awesome price of free. The only things you need are a Google account and a minute of your time.
To get started with Google Analytics, sign up here (see link in the resources) and follow the onscreen instructions. Eventually you’ll be prompted to install the tracking code on your website. Google provides several ways of going about this, but if you’re not sure what to do, feel free to contact us. We’re always happy to help.
Once you have successfully installed Google Analytics, chances are good that you will feel overwhelmed with the amount of data you now have access to. If you’re using WordPress, we recommend using Google Analytics Dashboard for WP. This plugin makes it easy to view your website’s traffic data from the familiar WordPress Dashboard.
- Create Your Social Media Accounts2:48
If you want your brand to stay relevant, you’re going to need to build a following on social media. Thankfully, there are quite a few platforms to choose from. Deciding which ones to use is the trick, and this completely relies on your brand and its targeted demographic.
Without a doubt, your brand needs to exist on Twitter. There’s no question about it. Having a Twitter account not only allows you to directly communicate with your audience, but it’s also a great alternative to answering emails. We’re not saying you should ignore your inbox, but answering someone’s question via Twitter does have that nice feeling of instant gratification.
Facebook is another platform that you need to use. This may seem like a no-brainer, but we need to mention it. Everyone is on Facebook, so why not be there as well? Share content with your audience and engage in conversations. Interaction can go a long way in making your brand feel like a personal experience rather than a business.
Finally, if video is your thing, then you’ll want to be on YouTube. And because YouTube is owned by Google, this means that creating videos is a surefire way of increasing your brand’s search rank — so why not give it a shot?
Simply interact. This is the primary key to succeeding in social media.
- Launch and Promote3:45
Having completed all of the above, it’s finally time for the moment of truth. You are now prepared to launch your brand and market it to the masses.
Before you flip the switch, be sure everything is in place and fully working. How does your website look on mobile devices? Is the experience just as enjoyable as it would be on a traditional desktop? Consistency is important in making the user feel at home.
If you haven’t done so already, consider composing an introductory blog post welcoming visitors to your website and explaining what’s available. A great way of getting the word out is to share the post on sites like Twitter and Facebook. The more visitors you can attract on day one, the better.
Provided it’s relative to your brand, it might be a good idea to run a promotional contest or giveaway of some kind. Encourage your audience to interact with the chance of getting something in return. This could mean giving away a free eBook for doing something easy, like leaving a comment on a specific blog post. Everybody likes free stuff.
When all is said and done, ask yourself: Am I ready to launch? If you’re confident in what you have created, then by all means, flip that switch!
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Note: The bonus course lesson can be viewed right here on Udemy, so there is no need to click the link that was mentioned in the video. That's intended for those who are watching these videos on YouTube.
- Wrap-up2:46
Congratulations on successfully completing the course! To show off your hard work, we welcome you to promote it for free on Brand Rockt. Please watch the attached video for details. When you are ready for your free promotion, click either "Creators Showcase" or "Feature Your Website" in the lecture's resources.
For any questions or feedback, please feel free to contact the Brand Rockt team.
Requirements
- Beginners are more than welcome to take this course, as it does not involve anything complex.
Description
Over 1,000 students already enrolled!
Summary
This 10-lesson course, divided into two sub-courses, details the steps required to create a successful website for your brand. From discovering your niche to marketing it via social media, students can expect to learn everything in less than an hour. Each video lesson is 2-5 minutes long, allowing for convenient back-to-back viewing.
For more information on this course, please feel free to contact the Brand Rockt team. External URLs are not allowed in this course summary, but you can Google "Brand Rockt contact" for details.
Course #1
- Find Your Niche
- Purchase Web Hosting
- Install WordPress
- Select a WordPress Theme
- Create Your Content
Course #2
- Review Your Content for Errors
- Create an Email List
- Set Up Google Analytics
- Create Your Social Media Accounts
- Launch and Promote
Bonus Lesson
A bonus lesson, found at the end of either course, offers students the opportunity to promote their website on Brand Rockt for completely free.
Who this course is for:
- This course is intended for those interested in creating a successful website for their brand.
- This course is intended for those looking to profit through the creation of their own content.
- This course is intended for those looking to create an online presence.