Anytime something new comes out with technology it takes some time before it’s becomes used by the masses. Take the iPhone or Android smart phones. Remember when you saw one for the first time? Remember when you felt like you were learning to drive a car for the first time? Now you know it like the back of your hand. This evolution happened with email, cell phones, Google, Facebook, etc. The evolution that will enable you or anyone with basic computer skills to launch a professional website is happening – right now!
Learning from the Professional Website Predecessor – Mass Email
A case in point: The key to a great mass email is no longer figuring out how to do it. The technology to make it happen is ubiquitous. Constant Contact, MailChimp, and others have made it so easy that anyone capable of using a computer can do it. This opens up the second level of challenge that comes down to good old-fashioned marketing communications. Subject line, headlines, subheadings, content and call to action surround by the right branding and functionality are what drive results. My point is, yes, anyone can send a mass email today but not just anyone can get results. The same thing is happening today with websites.
Here’s the Secret for How to Launch a Professional Website
A couple of years ago some do-it-yourself web builders came on the scene; like Squarespace for example. These are sites that you can build using a configurator (like an email editor). They look great and are easy to build. They have two major disadvantages. One is that you don’t control the hosting of the site which affects security, speed, and costs. Two, they are limited to the configurable items in the editor and don’t play well with other components like automated marketing software integration.
It took us a couple of years to get there but we now know the secret to getting a fully capable, professional website that we have unlimited control over without being held hostage to a custom web developer. Here’s the secret…
- Document where your existing website is both registered and hosted. These are not the same thing although they can be with the same provider; like GoDaddy for example.
- The Registry is where your domain name is registered (ie abc.com). The domain is the core section of the URL (Uniform Resource Locator) that people type into their web browser.
- While your old website is up and running, create a new hosting account at WPengine. When you set it up, you will automatically be creating a new WordPress website with its own username and password. This is called an “Install” in the WPengine world. If you want to know more about why we chose WordPress and WPengine click here. You will have two logins:
i. Your hosting account at my.wpengine.com
ii.Your website at abc.wpengine.com/wp-admin - Within your WordPress admin (abc.wpengine.com/wp-admin) we recommend that you install a theme that fits your type of business. This is where some of the secret sauce to effective and efficient marketing communications comes in. Contact me if you need help with this.
Here’s How to Launch Your Professional Website:
First – Login to my.wpengine.com and go to Installs/Back Up to back up your site. This way if something bad happens you can revert back to it at any time. Add a domain to your install for the live domain; i.e. abc.com and also add a domain www.abc.com.
Next – Login into your domain registry and set the A Record to the WPengine IP address. Also, go to CName (Alias) and point www to the domain name; ie www to abc.com. Contact me if you need help.
Finally – Login to abc.wpengine.com/wp-admin. Go to Plugins to install and activate Velvet Blues Update URLs. Then go to Tools/Update URLs. Enter abc.wpengine.com in the OLD and abc.com in the new. It will change all references within your site. Also, change the site address under Settings/General to your live URL.
View Web Hosting Diagram
Getting Results with Your Professional Website
By following the above steps, you now have the right tool. But if I sent you a paint brush it doesn’t mean you’re going to become a great painter. If you want to get results with your new tool, you’ll need to have a clear business development strategy, the right targeted contacts, compelling offers for them to take action, effective promotion and strong sales execution. If you would like help putting this to work, please just let me know.
