Introduction
So you’ve decided to build a website — maybe for your business, your personal brand, or even just for fun. But wait! Before you jump into domain names and templates, there are some critical things you need to understand. These are the common mistakes and blind spots that can cost you time, money, and frustration down the road.
Let’s make sure that doesn’t happen to you.
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✅ 1. Your Website Is NOT Just About Looks
A clean design is important, but functionality and user experience matter more. A beautiful site that’s slow, confusing, or hard to use will drive visitors away. Your website needs to load fast, work on mobile, and make it easy for users to take action — whether that’s contacting you or making a purchase.
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✅ 2. Your Domain Name is Part of Your Brand
Don’t pick a domain name just because it’s cheap or available. It should be:
• Easy to remember
• Easy to spell
• Relevant to your business
💡 Pro tip: Choose a .com if possible. It still looks the most credible.
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✅ 3. “Free” Website Builders Come with Hidden Costs
This is where most people go wrong. Platforms like Wix, Weebly, or even some WordPress.com plans seem free — until you want to:
• Connect a custom domain
• Remove ads
• Add plugins or SEO tools
In the long run, a self-hosted WordPress website (like the one I build for clients) gives you way more flexibility and control — at lower cost.
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✅ 4. SEO Basics Can Make or Break Your Site
A lot of new websites never get seen simply because they don’t follow basic SEO principles. Make sure you:
• Use keywords people are actually searching
• Add proper title tags and meta descriptions
• Optimize for mobile and speed
Even if you’re not a techie, these are things you (or your web designer) must not ignore.
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✅ 5. Your Website Needs a Purpose — Not Just Pages
Don’t just create “Home”, “About”, and “Contact” and call it a day. Every page should lead your visitor closer to an action:
• Learn more? → Add a blog or guide
• Get in touch? → Clear CTA buttons
• Buy something? → Clean product page
Know your goal, and build around it.
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🎯 Final Thoughts
Building a website today is easier than ever — but building a website that works still takes thought and planning.
If you’re not sure where to start or you don’t want to waste time figuring it all out yourself, I can help.