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Website Basics

Your website is the digital home of your business. It is where people learn who you are, what you offer, and why they should trust you. A clear, simple, well structured website makes your business look professional and helps visitors turn into clients.

This guide covers everything from buying your domain to creating a homepage that converts.

1. How to Buy a Domain

A domain is your website address. It is how people find you online and how your brand looks professional.

Examples
yourbusiness.com
yourname.co
yourbrand.net

Your domain should be simple, memorable, and easy to type.

Where to Buy a Domain

You can buy a domain from any reputable registrar.

GoDaddy
Namecheap
Squarespace (I use this)
Shopify

All of these let you search for availability and purchase instantly.

What to Look For

Before you buy, check that the name is
easy to spell
short and simple
aligned with your brand
available as a dot com when possible
available across social media platforms

Avoid names with hyphens or confusing spellings. Simplicity always wins.

Steps to Buy a Domain

Search the domain name you want
Add it to your cart
Choose privacy protection for fifty to one hundred years
Complete your purchase with your preferred payment method

Privacy protection keeps your personal information hidden from public records.

After You Buy

Once you own your domain, you can connect it to any website platform including
Squarespace (I use this)
Shopify
Wix
WordPress
Showit

Your domain becomes the foundation of your online presence.

2. How to Connect a Domain to Squarespace, Shopify, or Any Platform

All website platforms have settings where you connect your domain.

How to connect

Go to your website settings
Find the section called Domains
Click Connect Domain or Use Existing Domain
Enter your domain name
The platform will give you DNS records
Log in to your domain provider
Update your DNS settings
Save changes

Common DNS records

A Record
CNAME
TXT for verification

Platforms with easy connection steps

Squarespace
Shopify
Wix
WordPress
Kajabi

Changes usually take a few minutes to a few hours to update.

3. Complete Website Guide

Your website does not need to be complicated. A simple, well organized site with the right pages can make your business look professional, trustworthy, and ready for clients. Focus on clarity, easy navigation, and strong branding.

Core Pages

These are the pages every website should have.

Homepage
Your main introduction and the heart of your website

About page
Who you are, what you do, and why you do it

Services or Products page
Clear breakdown of what you offer

Contact page
Easy way for people to reach you

Legal pages
privacy policy
terms and conditions
return policy if you sell products

Legal pages help protect your business and build trust.

Optional Pages

These pages add value but are not required for launch.

Portfolio
Testimonials
Blog
FAQ

Add them when you have content, not before.

What Your Website Must Include

Clear message above the fold

The first section should clearly say who you help and what you offer. No guesswork.

Call to action

Buttons like
Book now
Contact us
Learn more

Your CTA should appear multiple times across your site.

Easy navigation

Your menu should be simple. No clutter.

Mobile friendly layout

Most visitors are on their phones. Your site should be easy to use on any device.

Professional photos

High quality images create trust instantly.

Clean branding

Consistent colors, fonts, and visuals that match your identity.

Simple fonts and colors

Too many colors or fonts look messy and cheap. Keep it streamlined.

Why This Matters

A simple website done well
looks professional
builds trust
converts better
is easier to maintain

A complicated website done poorly does the opposite.
Clarity always wins.

4. Homepage Layout That Converts

Your homepage is the first impression of your business. It should guide visitors through your story, your value, and your offers in a clear and intentional flow. A strong homepage makes visitors trust you, understand you, and take action.

Homepage Structure

Section One: The Hero Section

This is the first thing people see.

Headline
A clear statement of what you do

Sub headline
A short explanation or benefit

Call to action
Book now, Shop now, Learn more

This section should be simple, clean, and instantly understandable.

Section Two: What You Do and Who You Help

This section explains your purpose.

Include
what you offer
who you help
why your work matters

Think of it as your elevator pitch, but visually.

Section Three: Services or Offers

Give visitors a quick overview of what you provide.

Add
your main services or products
short descriptions
clear buttons that take them to the right page

Visitors should understand their options without having to scroll too far.

Section Four: Social Proof

People trust you when they see others trust you.

Include
testimonials
client reviews
logos of brands you worked with
before and after results if applicable

This section builds credibility.

Section Five: About You

A short, personal section helps visitors feel connected.

Share
who you are
why you started
your mission in a sentence or two

Keep it warm but professional.

Section Six: Final Call to Action

End with a clean, direct invitation.

Examples
Book a call
Buy now
Start today
Learn more

This reminds visitors what step to take next.

Tips for a High Converting Homepage

Keep spacing clean
Use simple fonts
Use strong, clear headlines
Make buttons large and visible
Use high quality images
Show personality while staying professional

A great homepage answers questions before visitors even ask them and makes their next step easy.

5. How to Write Website Copy

Website copy is the text that guides visitors through your site.

How to write clear website copy

Use simple language
Speak directly to your ideal client
Explain the problem they have
Explain the solution you provide
Share the transformation or result
Tell them what to do next

Copy formula

Problem
Solution
Benefits
How it works
Call to action

Tips

Write in short paragraphs
Avoid long blocks of text
Use bullet points
Be confident and clear
Make the copy about them, not you

Good copy makes people stay longer, trust faster, and convert easier.

Your Next Step in Website Creation

Your website is where your brand becomes real. When you have a clear domain, strong branding, clean layout, and simple messaging, your business feels professional and trustworthy.

Next, explore
Marketing and growth tools
Content creation
Brand identity and messaging

Your Resource Hub will guide you step by step, so you can build a website you are proud of and that clients trust instantly.