module four
Hi you!
Module 4 is a special one. You are going to take the big step of signing up with squarespace and picking your website name. Here is our official line up for this module:
You will officially register your domain name!
You’re going to define the structure of your pages.
...you can finally start using your photos from the shoot or the stock photography you saved.
Registering your domain name.
The day has come, we're going to make it official! These past three weeks you have been working really hard to create soulful content, now it's time to register your domain name and set up your Squarespace account so that you have a place to create magic. If you have not registered for a Squarespace package and domain name yet, follow the steps below:
Go to Squarespace and click "Get Started" and then “I’m just browsing”
Pick a template. The template is just a start point, don’t overthink it. Try to go for the one that comes closest to what you had in mind when it comes to the actual layout. Remember that you can change the colors and font with 1 click so try to go for the template that has a layout that feels good.
You can preview the template and when you have found one you like click "Start With.”
Here you can create your account by typing in your details and register.
You will be asked a few questions and after answering them you will be directed to the page where you can "Select your Plan"
After you have decided what package you will be purchasing click select and subscribe to either a monthly or a annual plan.
You will also get the option to register your domain name via Squarespace with I highly recommend for a smooth launch!
You did it, congrats!
You officially own your own website and your personal spot on the internet now. I encourage you to celebrate this moment and do something nice for yourself. You will look back on this day as the day you “took the jump” into the unknown and this is where it all started.
Design process.
Are you ready to create some website structure? You are now going to decide how you want to structure your individual pages. As you know, this course is designed to help you find your soul language and create content for your website. This is not a course in which I teach you the art of webdesign, so I will guide you through the basic steps but for more in-dept platform knowledge please refer to the tutorials that can be found online. Since I am familiar with squarespace I am adding in the tutorials that I normally sent to my clients, if you work on another platform please refer to their tutorials while following the steps below. Click here for all squarespace walk throughs.
Here is the order of tasks that I use when I design websites.
pick your font (walk through)
pick your color palette based on your visual style guide (walk through)
pick out the names for your pages and create the pages without filling them (walk through) example: home, about, blog, course, offerings, contact
now go through your content + photos and write down what goes on which page, example: name (homepage), mission statement (sub-line homepage), website manifest (homepage), your story (about page)
now write down per page what you would like to add or create so you have your whole vision on paper before you begin with the design
start putting your vision per page onto your already created web pages (walk trough) except your store page, we will do that in the next module
take your time, and see it all come to life
I know that module four can feel pretty intense, but know that you are doing an amazing job.
Module Four Homework.
Register your account. Set up your account + domain name on the platform of your preference if you haven’t already.
Bring it all together. This is where I would normally step in and design your website, but since you are in the “light version” of this course this is where you are going to bring it all together and create magic. A few things to remember: go at your own pace, know that you can edit and change everything so start with structure first and then work towards the details, and above all enjoy the process. Refer back to the design process I shared above to see where to start first. This task will probably be the biggest part of your work, so take your time! Feel free to check out the next two modules so you know what they are all about and then come back here to start with the design process.
