Website Essentials for Creatives

My last blog post was all about why you need a website as a creative. They’re essential when you’re building an online presence because they’re the cornerstone of your marketing. But websites can be complicated, especially if you’ve never worked on one before or you’re not working with a web designer. So, let’s break down some website essentials, so you can get started in the right way.  

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Own your domain and hosting

By this, I mean you should buy your domain individually and buy hosting for it. This means purchasing just the domain somewhere like Namecheap (my favorite), GoDaddy, or Google Domains. Then, you can purchase hosting separately and direct your domain there. Even if you decide to use Showit or Squarespace, I recommend buying the domain yourself, so you can easily switch if you decide to.

I don’t recommend purchasing a basic website where you upgrade for a monthly fee, and they give you a dedicated domain. These are any sites where you can create something free and get a domain like “yourname.wordpress.com” or “yourname.wix.com.” You want to look as professional as you can from the get-go, and having a brand name in your URL doesn’t help with that. It’s also usually more expensive if you decide to upgrade because they’re charging you to handle everything. With WordPress.com, you need to upgrade to even use plugins, which are little tools that make your site better. Not only is this not ideal, but it’s more expensive.

Personally, I recommend Dreamhost for hosting and using WordPress.org. The learning curve is a little higher, but in the end, you’ll have a better website that you have complete control over. Squarespace and Wix make it a little easier to set up an online shop, but you can definitely set up an amazing online shop on WordPress. Plus, WordPress is better for customization and SEO. Learn more about why I recommend WordPress.org.

Have an SSL certificate

Have you ever noticed that when you go to a website, there is a little lock in the bar where you type in the URL? This lock tells you if your connection is secure or not. If it’s a secure connection, it’s much harder for people to steal any information while you’re on the site. If it’s unsecured and, for example, you sign up for an email list, it’s easier for people to get your email.

Creating a secure site means having an SSL certificate and directing your traffic through HTTPS, which is one of my top website essentials. If you don’t have an SSL certificate or secure site, browsers (like Google Chrome) might even tell users not to go to your site. Users might get a big notice telling them that your site might be trying to steal their info, and they should go back to safety. So, please, please, make sure your site is secure.

Any type of hosting you get will include this (make sure it does), but if you decide to self-host like I recommend above, you’ll need to actually set it up. This can be a bit technical, but it’s definitely a must. If you run into issues, your hosting company or web designer should be able to help. As I mentioned, I use Dreamhost, and setting up an SSL certificate with them is super easy.

Set up the proper pages

What pages you need ultimately depends on what you do. If you’re a business owner, you’ll need a services page and perhaps a shop page. You might also want a resources page with all of your affiliate links. Bloggers might want a “Start Here” page that covers all the essentials and showcases their best blogs. Your must-have pages are your home page, your about page, and your contact page.

Your home page should immediately tell people a little about who you are, what you do, and where you’re located. Meanwhile, your About page should give people more details about who you are and really show your audience your personality. For example, if you’re a service-based business, like a graphic designer, it should tell them why you’re the ideal person to solve their problem. Your contact page tells them how they can get in touch with you. Even if you have a contact form on this page, you should still put your email so people have the option of emailing you directly if they’d like. I also recommend putting your contact information in your header and/or footer so it’s super easy for people to contact you.

Have an email newsletter opt-in

I highly recommend having an email newsletter. The great thing about an email list is that you own that list. Social media followers are inconsistent, and you don’t own them. Your social media accounts can be shut down at any time, and you’ll lose access to all of those people. So, an email list is the way to go.

Plus, anyone who signs up for your list has already bought into you. This makes it much easier to cultivate trust and inspire future purchases. This just means you also need to be sending your list regular content and updates. But it’s definitely worth it because your email list can be priceless if you want to make money as a creative.

Create a blog

Having a blog on your website can be absolutely amazing for creatives. Blogs improve your SEO, create trust, and keep people on your site longer. Blogs are another way for people to find and engage with your work, which is crucial for making a living as a creative. You can educate your audience on your offerings, showcase your expertise, and talk about your industry. Bonus: you can repurpose your blog content for social media, and this makes creating your Instagram posts for the week so much easier. I recommend blogging at least twice a month (if not every week), but the most important thing is consistency.

Make sure you’re legally covered

I know. It’s never fun to think about legal stuff. But a proper privacy policy and terms and conditions page are absolutely website essentials. If you don’t have these pages, you open yourself up to a lawsuit, especially if you’re actively selling on your website. Not to mention, if you’ve got Google Analytics installed on your site, you need to have those pages. Google’s terms of service actually require it. Personally, I purchased a Legal Bundle from Amira, an actual lawyer with a lot of experience working with creatives and bloggers.

These are the website essentials for creatives because they make your site look professional and give you the best chance of selling your services and products. Website creation can get complicated fast, but no worries, I’m here to help! Learn more about my website services and what I can do for you.