DIY Webpage Part 2: A Guide to Weebly

Are you still a bit afraid of trying to undertake a class website? Try it, you'll find it's simple—just follow these instructions using a resource called Weebly. As I mentioned in my first article, be sure that you have thought through whether you want to use a blog, static website, or a combination. Then follow this guide to get your website up and running.

Everything You Need to Know About Weebly

• Go to www.weebly.com.

• To sign up for a new account, enter your full name, e-mail address, and password. Then, click “Get Started.”

• Next, decide what plan for your website you would like to use. I recommend the free version, as it gives you unlimited pages and Weebly will host your website for you. Hosting a website means that a company will place your website on the web, as well as store its data. However, under the free version as Weebly hosts it, the address will have the name Weebly in it. It will look something like www.sample.weebly.com. With this in mind, select your plan. 

• Then, it will ask you “What’s the focus of your site?” The three options are site, blog, or store. Do not fret if you are not sure what format you would like; you are able to access all options from each site. This choice will only help Weebly possibly guide you a little more effectively as you design your website. If you read my previous article, Weebly calls what I called a static website, just simply a site.

• Click on the appropriate one that meets your need. For this article, I will detail instructions as if you chose site (static website). Note that it is possible to add a page to your static website for a blog. If you choose blog, follow Weebly's directions, and you'll have a blog created in no time!

• Select site. Now, it will prompt you to choose a theme. From simple to classic, there are a variety of choices. Keep in mind your primary audience and purpose so that your theme is attractive to your audience.

• Next, a window will pop up that will prompt you to choose your website domain. A website domain is what one types into the URL bar at the top of his Internet browser to locate your site. It will give you the option to choose “use a subdomain of weebly.com”, “register a new domain”, or “connect a domain you already own”. If you choose the free version, it will show you all three options; however, if you choose any option besides “use a subdomain of weebly.com”, it will prompt you to pay for it after you click continue. If you don't want to pay money, simply click “use a subdomain of weebly.com” and enter a web address into the first box. Important note: What you type into that first box will be combined with weebly.com to create the web address for your site. This means that if you type “centralhubofmrsD” into the first box, someone will have to type into the URL bar “www.centralhubofmrsD.weebly.com” to access your website. Here are a few tips when considering what to use: 

• Do not use your e-mail address. If you do, everyone will know how to contact you by e-mail.

• Remember to keep length in mind. You do not want people to have to remember something long in order to access your site.

• Simple is better. Language can be very confusing, particularly in today’s culture, so avoid using things like numbers, abbreviations, and homophones when possible. If you wish to include the word “for” in your web address, someone could be confused about whether to use the number four or the word for. In this case, it would be safer to use different wording.

• Use words that are easy to spell. Words that are difficult to spell may make your website hard to find. If your name has a unique spelling, many different spellings, or is just hard to spell, avoiding using it in your domain name. Some alternatives to using your last name would be using the first letter of your last name or using your room number.

• The new screen after you submit your domain name will ask you if you would like to plan or build your site. Either one works. If you choose the option to plan your site, it will take you to Weebly's planner. If you choose to build your site, it will take you to the builder. The builder will be the place you will go anytime you wish to edit/change your website. Additionally, after you walk through the planner, it will direct you to the builder.

• From the builder, you are able to access the planner if you skip using the planner first. To get to the planner from the builder, click on the question mark that is located near the middle of the page at the top. It is located next to settings.

• Once you have submitted your domain, check your e-mail. Weebly sends you a very informative getting started e-mail with links to videos and how-tos. I suggest you finish the tips in this article and then watch some of Weebly's tips. Now, let's look at the planner and builder more in-depth. 

The Planner

Broken down into three parts: plan, build, and grow. This tool can help you envision what you would like your site to become as it helps you develop goals. Furthermore, it can show you how to design, organize, and design your website using their builder. Lastly, it will help you know how to make your website easier to find for the general public.  

The Builder

Five tabs: build, design, pages, store, and setting. Under the build tab, you are able to drag and drop various parts to your page including text boxes, pictures, and dividers. Switching the theme, fonts, and backgrounds is possible under the design tab. You are able to add new pages that are linked to your homepage or that become subpages under other pages with the pages tab. The store tab allows one to sell things from your website. With the settings tab, you are able to change your web address, whether the web address is published onto the web or not, add other editors, and more.

At the top of the screen on the right side, you can also switch to editing the mobile device view by clicking on the picture of the phone.  Linked to what you have already done to your website, this feature allows you to format it to be more user-friendly on a mobile device.

To finish, click publish in the upper-right hand corner of the page. This will then make your website visible to others. Note: If you do not publish it, others will not be able to see anything on your website.

The next article in this series will give ideas on what pages you could include in your new website. (Article will be posted 8/18/2014)