This is a great question! We pursue the answers in When Do I Start Working on My Website?
Do you buy the domain first?
Create content first?
Hire a designer and then plan it out?
What should be done before you start building your web site?
Cre8asiteforums discussion on When Do I Start Working on My Website? here. Join us!
I would buy the domain name first – as the more a domain ages the more it is valued in the eyes of consumers and search engines. Knowledge.
Comment by Dave@making money — October 16, 2009 @ 7:08 pm
I usually go the following way:
1. buy the domain
2. hire coders to make a good engine
3. designers create a nice layout
4. some seo work
5. still some seo and content adding
Comment by Czech Guy — October 19, 2009 @ 3:59 pm
There isn’t really one “correct” first step to creating a website, but one should always do what they feel most comfortable with. I’ll see if I can get in on the forum discussion.
Comment by Living With Crohns — October 21, 2009 @ 12:28 pm
I think it should start with a planning and research phase first, you think of a service or a name then you start deciding on the creative ideas around the name, eventually getting to a theme plan and content creation comes later
Comment by Susan — October 22, 2009 @ 1:05 am
I think you can start a website right away. It is going to be a really long process but in the event that you have thought of creating a website, it should start from there. The right people you need and the right services would come. You never have to really stress yourself out.
Comment by Therabreath — October 23, 2009 @ 1:10 am
I think you should not start on a website until you have spent considerable amount of time planning the keywords that you intent to target the site towards. I have made the mistake of buidling the graphics and getting the content written etc…only to find out the the SERPS were too difficult.
Keywords are crucial for me.
Cheers
Comment by Caralluma Burns — October 28, 2009 @ 9:52 pm
Good question!
Personally i design the layout first, decide how pages, titles, colours etc.
Then the content
I find that doing it this way i am thinking about the domain name and the name i thought i wanted changes as i develop the site/content so i always buy that last.
Comment by Richard Lockyer — October 29, 2009 @ 2:12 pm
Usually I buy the domain first because you cant be sure that the domain you like will still be available for a long period of time, then would start looking for templates since I use WP on most of my sites then content later.
Comment by Austin Divorce Attorney — December 2, 2009 @ 3:31 pm
When a person doesn’t know how to approach this, they usually ask the wrong questions.
The first thing you need to do is decide WHY you need a website. If your reason makes sense, then secure the domain name right away.
Next thing is NOT design or anything else. Buy a hosting package, point your domain there and put up a custom place holder page (ex. http://360MediaGrp.com).
If it’s a blog, decide on your direction, load it and go. If it’s a website, you’ll need to do information architecture before you do anything else. Skipping out on IA will cost you thousands in an ecommerce site.
Comment by Kenny Holloway — December 16, 2009 @ 12:44 am
I usually do a keyword search on the niched that I choose then buy the domain name base on the result and start tinkering with the design.
Comment by Divorce in Texas — December 16, 2009 @ 4:06 pm
I’m more comfortable with buying the domain first just like most of us here, then hire the designer.
Comment by Divorce Lawyer Austin — December 22, 2009 @ 2:54 pm
As for me, I would code a website first, then buy the domain. Doing SEO work and adding new things is a long time work!
Comment by batteriesmart — December 27, 2009 @ 1:19 am
I tend to buy the domain first, then create a blueprint. But the latter evolves pretty quickly, while I am registering the domain.
However, seeing that I often come up with an idea, I now have a huge amount of domains. Most of which, I will probably never use. There’s plenty of value among them though and I have sold a few domains in the past at prices that allows me to buy hundreds of domains still, without ever capitalyzing them – and still be on top.
Comment by Webdesign priser — December 29, 2009 @ 6:47 am
Oh gosh get that domain asap! the longer that domain has been registered, the happier google will be.
I’d get all your content together first and see what you have then you can work out the best way of navigating through it
Comment by milly — December 30, 2009 @ 4:50 am
i would appreciate the following way:
1.get an idea what we wanna do (requirement analysis etc.)
2.analyze market chances fot the project
3. try to find the right “global” keywords and by a corresponding domain
4. develop the logical part of the website (consider SEO e.g. how the system builds up dynamic links etc..)
5. develop the design part of the website (again consider seo)
6.roll out the site (after testing)
7.start active online marketing.
greetings
Comment by Klaus — February 12, 2010 @ 6:50 am
We usually:
- Get the brief, including what functionality and what design elements
- Get designers to design concepts and send to client for approval
- Build the website
- We will buy the domain as soon as we know what it’s confirmed to be
Comment by Web Design Bristol — February 18, 2010 @ 6:06 am
I would first investigate the process of building a website and you will discover your own process for creation, which happens to be most of the responses listed here.
Comment by organicfashionsite — March 1, 2010 @ 3:02 pm