![\"\"](\"https:\/\/thecopywriterclub.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/copywriter-club-build-website.png\")
\nBut it can certainly feel<\/strong><\/em> hard given the overwhelming number of options for site builders and web hosts there are\u2014let alone the pages of content you’ll need to create.<\/span><\/p>\n After all, the last thing you\u2014a busy copywriter\u2014want is to spend a lot of hours, money and energy on something that you end up ultimately hating (and have to restart from scratch)<\/em>.\u00a0<\/span>Let’s be honest, even if you love what you build, you’ll probably want to change it up in a few years, or sooner.<\/p>\n Which is why we\u2019ve put together this guide to help you get all the pieces in place to build your first (or possibly second… or maybe third)<\/em> proper copywriter website.<\/span><\/p>\n Note: it\u2019s common that you\u2019ll end up not liking your first website. That\u2019s okay\u2026 even expected. As you get better as a copywriter, you\u2019ll want to go back and rewrite\u2014even redesign\u2014your site more than once. When that time comes, this guide will help you with the rewrite too.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n Most of our recommendations here are based on what we’ve seen successful copywriters are currently using to run their businesses<\/span>.<\/span><\/p>\n Here’s what this Guide to Building Your First Copywriter Website<\/strong><\/em><\/a> covers:<\/span><\/p>\n Let’s get started…<\/p>\n First things first: You\u2019ll need to decide <\/span>where<\/i><\/b> to build and host your website. For a basic copywriter website, there are two solid options.<\/span><\/p>\n The days of needing to know how to code in order to build a website are long gone. Today there are close to a dozen website builders that do the work for you. You simply choose a template, add a few photos and the copy and hit publish.<\/span><\/p>\n Website builders are best if you\u2019re looking for a tool that\u2019s easy to use, looks amazing (usually)<\/em> and \u201cjust works\u201d. They typically include all the basics to get started\u2026 pre-made templates, color schemes, and even extras like forms to make interacting with your website easier for your clients. And it’s all wrapped up in one low monthly fee.<\/span><\/p>\n Or there’s also…<\/span><\/p>\n If you don\u2019t mind a slightly steeper learning curve (and we do mean slightly<\/em>) or getting a bit technical now and then, using WordPress for your site gives you complete control to customize everything. WordPress is an “open source content management system” that makes it easy to build and manage a website. It allows you to choose from hundreds of thousands of themes and plug-ins to help your website do just about anything.<\/span><\/p>\n Regardless of whether you choose a site builder or WordPress, you’ll get a great first website. But there are tradeoffs. Let\u2019s look at the specifics of each option to help you choose which is best for you.<\/span><\/p>\n If you\u2019re completely new to building websites (and want to go about things as painlessly as possible), going with a website builder like Squarespace or Wix makes things very easy.\u00a0<\/span>We know dozens of established copywriters who use these options. Here\u2019s why they do:<\/span><\/p>\n You can design a beautiful website easily\u2014without any coding or design experience whatsoever<\/em>. <\/b>Website builders have incredibly intuitive drag-and-drop user interfaces that help you to build your entire website out visually. What’s more, sites like Squarespace<\/a> also provide mobile design options so your site looks just as good on a mobile device as it does on a laptop. You can design a beautiful website even if you know nothing about design.<\/span><\/p>\n Everything you need to build and host a fully functional website is included. <\/b>Unlike WordPress, which requires you to figure your website infrastructure (hosting, domain name, themes, and plugins), website builders generally include everything you need under one roof (and you never have to worry about compatibility issues). Note: there are \u201cbuilders\u201d that can be added to WordPress (as you\u2019ll see in a moment), but overall, they\u2019re not quite as easy-to-use as those included with all-in-one web builders.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n You\u2019ve never alone if you have questions or need help. <\/b>Websites like Squarespace and Wix have dedicated 24\/7 customer support and security to help you take care of any questions or issues you might have. With WordPress, it\u2019s just you and Google (actually there are dozens of support sites, so it’s not that<\/strong> hard to figure stuff out, but you do have to do the work)<\/em>. This may be a big deal if you get stuck and want someone to help.<\/span><\/p>\n Web Builders are incredibly affordable.<\/b> The website builders we like offer packages for as little as $5-14 a month. Packages with more robust features range as high as $40\/month. Given all that\u2019s included, that’s an amazing value.<\/span><\/p>\n If using a web builder is the right option for you, we recommend these options:<\/span><\/p>\n All of these options allow you to set up hosting and domain name registration through their services. Depending on the plan you choose, the may also include the ability to take payment on site. And if none of these is a fit for you, open up Google and search for web builders. There are plenty of options.<\/span><\/p>\n Not bad, right? But there are a few drawbacks to consider\u2026<\/b><\/p>\n While web builders include a large range of templates and designs to get you started, you\u2019re limited as to what you can do with your website. Adding any real customized code isn\u2019t allowed and this often limits exactly what you can do with your website.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Want a larger border or to add another photo to the layout? Sorry, if it’s not in the template, you’re probably stuck. You can choose a different template or go without.<\/p>\n And, if you decide to move to a different platform in the future (because maybe you want more control some day?)<\/em>, you’ll have to start over from scratch. Most web builders allow you to export your text content (to import into your new website manager), but it’s not exactly intuitive. After all, they don’t want to make it easy for you to leave.<\/span><\/p>\n And that brings us to your second option…<\/span><\/p>\n If you\u2019re a complete beginner when it comes to websites or coding, WordPress might feel a little intimidating. But it\u2019s not as difficult as it might seem at first. And because WordPress powers 40% of the world\u2019s websites (SquareSpace and Wix have less than 2% each), there are hundreds of tutorials and articles online to help you navigate anything that seems hard.<\/span><\/p>\n There are very good reasons why many copywriters take the more advanced route upfront <\/span>(or later on)<\/span><\/i>:<\/span><\/p>\n You get waaaaay more customization. <\/b>If you understand or can figure out the code\u2014it\u2019s not <\/span>that <\/span><\/i>hard and you can hire a pro if you need help\u2014Wordpress offers a lot more flexibility when it comes to the design and function of\u00a0 your site. You can make it whatever you want it to be. WordPress sports an ever-growing collection of plugins and themes to choose from\u2014literally thousands of options\u2014whereas with sites like Squarespace, you\u2019re boxed in with their smaller, curated collection of options. The downside with WP is that some plugins and themes don’t play nice together, but deactivating a conflicting plug-in will usually fix any issues.<\/span><\/p>\n Your website is entirely in your control. <\/b>If you ever want to move your WordPress site to another web host provider (to take advantage of better speeds, pricing, or service), there\u2019s nothing to stop you. After all, it is <\/span>your<\/span><\/i> website and content. With site builders like Squarespace or Wix, you\u2019re stuck with the parameters they<\/em> decide for you and everyone else in their user base. You may be able to export your copy or images, but you\u2019ll have to rebuild everything at your new host.<\/span><\/p>\n It\u2019s the best option for SEO and blogging. <\/b>If your marketing strategy includes creating blog content that ranks well on search engines, then you\u2019ll definitely want to consider a WordPress site. While sites like Squarespace and Wix have their own SEO tools, they\u2019re a little basic compared to WordPress and its popular SEO plug-ins, (especially Yoast<\/a>). Experienced bloggers like Ryan Robinson and Jon Morrow both recommend WordPress for blogging <\/span>(and if anyone knows, it\u2019s those two)<\/span><\/i>.<\/span><\/p>\n Now… if you decide to take the WordPress route, there are a few extra steps to figure out\u2014like hosting, domain name registration, and a design theme.<\/span><\/p>\n Unlike Squarespace and Wix, WordPress doesn\u2019t include hosting, domain name registration, or a security certificate.\u00a0<\/span>So before you build out your WordPress website, you\u2019ll need to get all of that sorted out. Start by signing up with a hosting provider. Most web hosts can help you set up your hosting plan, your domain name and security certificate with a few clicks. And there\u2019s no shortage of options to choose from.<\/span><\/p>\n We spent hours drawing up comparisons and narrowed the host choices down to these 3\u00a0 for anyone who\u2019s just starting out:<\/span><\/p>\n All of these options offer domain name registration and an SSL Certificate for your website as well. So whichever you go with, you\u2019ll be able to check those boxes off easily.<\/span><\/p>\n Each of these hosting options provides simple tutorials for setting up your site.<\/span><\/p>\n Some people like keeping the domain name registration separate. In that case, we recommend GoDaddy. Click here to save 30% on a new domain name registration<\/a>.<\/p>\n Pro Tip:<\/strong> when choosing your domain name, consider what your clients will type into Google to find you\u2026 in most cases it will be your name, but it could be something like \u201ccopywriter\u201d and your niche, like \u201cSaaS copywriter\u201d or \u201ccopywriter for coaches\u201d. If you can, purchase a domain name that helps your best clients find you with a simple search.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n Once you\u2019ve got your domain name, it\u2019s time to pick a WordPress Theme to use to build out your website.<\/span><\/p>\n While WordPress isn\u2019t technically a website builder like Squarespace or Wix (it\u2019s a content management system), it does include a number of free themes. But they’re kind of basic. Fortunately WP fans have built hundreds of themes that you can install which let you create a perfectly acceptable website (no coding required).<\/span><\/p>\n But even with thousands of themes to choose from, you might want something more customizable. And that’s where WordPress site builders come in. They include hundreds of their own themes, and layer on customization features so you can truly create something that’s yours alone.<\/p>\n We\u2019ve done a bit of homework for you and narrowed it down to these 3 options based on what we\u2019re seeing top copywriters using:<\/span><\/p>\n When you add these theme builders to your WordPress site, they function a bit like the web builders we mentioned earlier. They certainly make WordPress easier to use and customize. Once you’ve installed your favorite, check out the user guides provided by the creators to customize a theme template, add plug-ins, and start building your website.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Custom programming with WordPress.<\/b> If you don\u2019t like any of the thousands themes available to use with WordPress, you can also hire a graphic designer to create a unique design for your website. Then, after you have a design you love, hire a programmer customize your own theme in WordPress. This is what we\u2019ve done with The Copywriter Club<\/em><\/a> website (we worked with Shauna at\u00a0<\/span>We Are Branch<\/span><\/a> for the design and <\/span>Alchemy + Aim<\/span><\/a> for the programming). Often your designer will have 2-3 programmers they\u2019ve worked with if you need a reference.<\/span><\/p>\n But before you can hire a designer to work on your brand and design, you\u2019ll need to figure out your sitemap (the pages you want on your site), and get the pieces in place. <\/span><\/p>\n Which us leads to…<\/span><\/p>\n After you\u2019ve figured out your website\u2019s tech setup, you\u2019ll want to take some time to map out the site structure and the individual pages that fit into it.\u00a0<\/span>To keep it simple, there are a few fundamental pages and sections copywriters should consider for their websites:<\/span><\/p>\n \u2022 \u00a0Homepage and hero section Let\u2019s talk a bit about each of these pages and what you might want to include as you write yours (and of course, we’ll take a look at some examples).<\/span><\/p>\n First impressions matter. And since your homepage will (usually) be the entry point for newcomers to your business, you\u2019ll want to make sure you start things off right with a clear and compelling hero section.<\/span><\/p>\n There\u2019s no official way to approach your hero section, but what we like to recommend for copywriters is featuring:<\/span><\/p>\n As for the rest of your homepage, you\u2019ll generally want to take some space to clearly introduce you, your brand, and talk more about the problem you solve and how you do that. Then link to your site\u2019s best resources (it might be your services page, blog posts filled with free ideas, or information about how to work with you).\u00a0<\/span>Finally, include an opt-in to capture emails (usually by offering a valuable \u2018freebie\u2019 in exchange.)<\/span><\/p>\n Generally speaking, About Pages are the second most visited pages on your website right after the Homepage. People want to know who\u2019s behind your business right away.<\/span><\/p>\n Given the label, it seems like this page is where you get to tell everyone all about who you are and why you\u2019re awesome. And to some extent, that IS what you should be doing. However…<\/span><\/p>\n The best About pages\u2014and by best, we mean the ones that convert prospects into clients\u2014actually talk more about your customer, their challenges, and how you and your work fit into their overall story. They address your prospect\u2019s problem and how your process or solution perfectly solves it.<\/span><\/p>\n And your About Page introduces you as the expert they need to hire (be sure to include a picture or two… we’re repeating ourselves here but people want to know who they\u2019re working with). You can safely skip the story about how you started writing poetry in the 7th grade or worked for your college newspaper and focus instead on the stuff that builds your credibility\u2014awards, recognition, credentials, and even a short testimonial or two.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Finally, be sure to include a call-to-action. What do you want your prospect to do next? Book a call? Complete your intake form? Choose a package? Tell them to do it.<\/span><\/p>\n This is arguably the second<\/em> most important page on your website (given that most of your calls-to-action will lead people here). Usua<\/span>lly what works best for these pages is to list out 2-3 of your services (either your most profitable packages or the work you want to do most\u2014better still if they’re the same), explain them for a bit. Then either link to separate pages for each where you expand on them individually in greater detail, or link to an intake form so prospects can get started on a new project.<\/span><\/p>\n Otherwise, here\u2019s some best practices for putting together services pages.<\/span><\/p>\n Stand out with branded services. <\/b>In a sea of copywriters who are all offering the same deliverables, it\u2019s worth standing out to your prospects with services that are fun, memorable and distinct. Choose unique names for your products to help them stand out. Here’s how Kira Hug does it on her site:<\/span><\/p>\n\n
\n
1. Choosing your website platform.<\/b><\/h2>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/thecopywriterclub.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/copywriter-club-website-builder.png\")
\nOption #1: Keep it simple with a website builder.<\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n
Option #2: Customize your website with WordPress.<\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n
A closer look at using a website builder.<\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n
\n
\n<\/span><\/li>\nSome Examples of Copywriters Using Website Builders:<\/b><\/h4>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/thecopywriterclub.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Christy-Cegelski-Wix-1024x529.png\")
\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/thecopywriterclub.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Francis-Nayan-SquareSpace-1024x529.png\")
\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/thecopywriterclub.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Nicola-Moors-web-builder-1024x480.png\")
\nUsing WordPress for your website.<\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n
Choosing a web host and registering your domain name.<\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/thecopywriterclub.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/BlueHost-Web-hosting-1024x557.png\")
\n
Choosing a WordPress theme.<\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n
\n
Some Examples of Copywriters Using WordPress Websites:<\/b><\/h4>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/thecopywriterclub.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Fitness-Copywriter-PerAndreasen-1024x652.png\")
\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/thecopywriterclub.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/SaaS-Copywriter-BrandStory-1024x558.png\")
\n2. The basic pages to include in your website.<\/b><\/h2>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/thecopywriterclub.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/copywriter-club-basic-pages.png\")
\n
\n<\/b>\u2022 \u00a0About page
\n<\/b>\u2022 \u00a0Services\/work with me page
\n<\/b>\u2022 \u00a0Process page
\n<\/b>\u2022 \u00a0Contact page
\n<\/b>\u2022 \u00a0Blog
\n<\/b>\u2022 \u00a0Legal (but necessary) pages<\/b><\/p><\/blockquote>\nYour homepage and hero section.<\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/thecopywriterclub.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Brittany-McBean-Copywriter.png\")
\n\n
Your about page.<\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/thecopywriterclub.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Christina-Torres-About.png\")
\nYour services\/work with me page.<\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/thecopywriterclub.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Annie-Bacher-Services.png\")
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