Build a Basic Website

01/30/2023 6:22am 5 minute read

Intro

This is the last step to getting your "core foundation" setup.

You've had social media practice, hopefully some reviews, and you've been listening to client problems.

It's time to sum it all up in an easy-to-use website.

Domain Names vs. Website Builder

A quick primer on the difference:

A domain name is like a street address for a website, think wsj.com, facebook.com, etc. A website builder, on the other hand, is a tool that allows you to create and design a website without the need for coding or technical skills. In other words, it's how you make the website appear when someone types in the domain name. Domain is where to find it. Designer is how it looks.

Many of the website builders (discussed below) may offer you a free "domain name" that you can customize a little bit, but not fully.

So, you may want to grab a domain name as well.

Some of the most common places to find domain names are:

GoDaddy
HostGator
Bluehost
Namecheap
Network Solutions

I've used Namecheap and Bluehost before. They each come with their own features.

Try to get a ".com" if you can, simply because they're most recognized and trusted.

Website Builders

Unfortunately (or fortunately, depending on how you look at it), there are a ton of website builders out there.

Which one is the best? That's not for me to say. You'll just have to Google a few to see what fits your preferences.

(Remember, this is the tool that makes your website look pretty, so it's up to you)

It seems that the best overall ranked on a lot of blogs is Wix, however I've used Wix for my Consulting website and frankly don't like it that much. That's just me.

Some folks like Squarespace, others WordPress, and others GoDaddy.

I've also heard a lot of buzz about Caard lately because it's so cheap and easy to use.

To zoom out, I would focus on two things:

A quick one-pager website
The ability to integrate a blog later on (for all your social media posts)

What Do I Write?

For your one-pager, I'd say build a "sales page" using the classic PAS framework which stands for "Problem, Agitate, Solution." It works like this:

The first step is to identify and clearly state the problem or challenge that your ideal customer is facing.

The next step is to agitate the problem, which involves highlighting the negative consequences and negative emotions associated with the issue in order to create a sense of urgency and motivate the audience to take action.

Finally, the solution is presented, which is working with you and showing how you can solve the problem.

Just for fun and since AI is all the rage these days, I asked it to "write a pitch for a 13 week cash flow forecast using the PAS framework," and here's what it came up with (I added the PAS tags):

Are you tired of struggling to manage your cash flow and make ends meet? Do you want to know exactly how much money you'll have available in the coming weeks and months, so you can make confident, informed decisions? Our 13-week cash flow forecast is the solution you've been looking for!

Problem: Most people have a hard time predicting their cash flow, which can lead to financial stress and uncertainty.

Agitate: There are several negative consequences of not having a clear picture of your cash flow, such as running out of money to pay bills, missing out on opportunities to grow your business, increased financial risk, and loss of credibility.

Solution: But don't worry, we have a solution! Our 13-week cash flow forecast provides a detailed, step-by-step plan for managing your money, including projected income, expenses, and available cash for each week. Our expert team will work with you to create a customized forecast that takes into account your unique business and financial situation.

By the end of the forecast, you will have a clear, actionable plan for managing your cash flow, allowing you to make confident, informed decisions that will help you grow your business and achieve your financial goals. Sign up for our 13-week cash flow forecast today and start taking control of your money tomorrow!

Not bad for a robot!

You can use this as a basic template to get started, and customize it to your unique offering and language.

Action Items

There's a lot of info here but try not to overthink it, here's an "MVP approach":

Try something really basic like Caard
Use one of their free URLs
Create some "sales copy" using the framework above
Click publish
Add the link to your social media profile
(If you can, see if the website has blog functionality for down the road)

Now you're up-and-running.

That's it for today. See you next time.

—Chris

How I Can Help Further...

As finance professionals there's one thing we all have in common -- our financial modeling skills need to be dialed.

If you need to refresh or sharpen your modeling skills, you can learn to build the exact models I use with FP&A and Private Equity firms around the world.

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