How To Create Your Own “Responsive” Website

For “Free”

Rick Noel, ACB, ALBPresident,

Clifton Park Speakers

eBiz ROI, Inc.www.eBizROI.com

Delivering Sales, ROI

Presentation Goals

● Help attendees understand the steps to get a website up and running with little to no cost

● Cover popular, free platforms● Provide links to relevant information● Position to take next steps towards

launching their own website … For Free!

Assumptions & Prerequisites● Interested in free or low cost

website to promote self/business● Low cost or free means

■ “Do it yourself” template-based■ Ads are going to be part of the model

● Basic computer, internet connection, and willingness to learn are necessary

● Important for any website to display and be easy to navigate on mobile devices

7 Steps to Your New Website1. Get Organized2. Chose the platform that meets your needs3. Select available (free) template4. Customize template

a. Add logo or company name if you don’t have oneb. Add content (text/images/video/audio)

5. Pick a domain name6. Publish your website7. Promote everywhere!

Step 1 - Get Organized● Professional looking headshot - first

impressions matter● Outline for pages (e.g. Home, About,

Contact, Hours, Directions, etc.)● Organize and if necessary, create copy

and content (i.e.text, images, video, audio, links to social sites, etc.)

Step 2 - Choose PlatformWe Recommend:● Wordpress.com**● Tumblr.com● Blogger.com● Strikingly.com*

Paid Triggers:● No Ads*● Custom Domain*● Advanced features● Business model

changesNotice: free options are like renting vs. owning; when your are not paying for the product, you are the product!

Step 2 - Wordpress.com● Most popular content

management platform● Designed for blogging and

publishing● Has many plugins which

extend functionality● Free option to get started

with migration path to paid

Free Wordpress Themes: http://theme.wordpress.com/themes/sort/free/

Step 2 - Wordpress.com

Step 2 - Tumblr.com● 174.1 million blogs● 74.8 billion posts● Use custom domain● Ad supported model● Can have multiple

pages with navigation

Free themes to chose from at http://www.tumblr.com/themes/tagged/free

Step 2 - Blogger.com● Requires a Google

account (e.g. gmail)● Blog posts, pages● Includes a number of

free, editable templates● Supports custom

domains for free● Supports AdSense

Step 2 - Strinkingly.com

● Quick and Easy● Limited to one page● No blog included● Custom domain for

paid only

For more info, see: http://www.strikingly.com/ and/or Click Image Above to See Live Example Site

Step 2 - Strinkingly.com

Step 3 - Select a Template

Be sure to factor in customization requirements. The more you customize a template in the next step, the bigger your sunk cost

There are many professional looking templates available for free for the recommended platforms

Step 4 - Customize TemplateMost templates support:● adding a logo,● customizing

background,● changing font

style● ...

Step 5 - Picking a Domain

● Available (check on GoDaddy.com)

● Contextually relevant

● Less is more

● .com for business, .org for non-profit

● The 3 Rs - recite, recognize, recall

Step 6 - Publish your Website

● Publishing on these platforms is easy and straightforward (usually literally pushing a button)

● Final step in making your free website available to the World!

Step 7 - Promote Everywhere

We Recommend the following social channels:● Google+● LinkedIn.com● Facebook.comSocial is a great tactic to drive relevant visitors to your website ... think like trees in the forest!

Let’s Summarize1. Get Organized2. Chose the platform that meets your needs3. Select available (free) template4. Customize template

a. Add logo or company name if you don’t have oneb. Add content (text/images/video/audio)

5. Pick a domain name 6. Publish your website7. Promote everywhere!