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Building the Website
In the last section, we explored basic principles of effective web design. Here, we will explore the various tools for creating a website. Unless you have a professional need to get your hands dirty with HTML and CSS, I would suggest using a commercial website builder to get yourself online. I really like Squarespace, it is simple and produces great results.
Getting Started
In order to create a website and get it online, you will need a hosting service, domain name, and a website builder (or know how HTML and CSS). Fortunately, there are a number of commercial services available to help you create a functional, informative and great looking website, and then host it online. These website builders will provide stunning templates that you can customize, and feature intuitive interfaces that make creation similar to working with PowerPoint or Keynote.
As always, there is a catch. If you use a hosted website builder such as WordPress.com or Weebly, they will display banner adds in exchange for their web creation and hosting service. Therefore, you will be effectively advertising for whatever company happens to use your site as a advertising spot. I would suggest that is perhaps unprofessional.
If you want to keep your website free of 3rd-party advertising, you have two options. You can build a site on your own, or pay a yearly fee for a service (like Squarespace) that will help you build and host your own site.
Domain Name
Before we look at Website builders and hosting services, I want to quickly explain the purpose of domains. A domain is often informally known as a web address: for example cnn.com, or wisc.edu. It’s the address that allows computers to find particular information on the World Wide Web. Most website builders will register a domain name for you for free, although you will be required to pay (usually around $15) to renew it every subsequent year.
Having a domain name that ties your website to you is important. It brands the site with your name, and makes it easy for potential employers to find you online. If you sign up for a service like WordPress.com, you will be given a domain name such as yourname.wordpress.com. These types of domains, are easy to remember, but having “.wordpress.com” in your website name mean you’re effectively advertising for WordPress every time you give someone your website address. Getting your own personal domain name is entirely optional, but something that allows you to keep your website’s focus entirely on its main purpose, promoting you as a professional.
Website Builders
I suggest building your website using a website builder. This requires some money. However, the cost is actually quite minimal if you consider the opportunity costs involved — or, in other words — if you consider what you could accomplish (like write on you dissertation) in the time it would take you to learn how to design a website, build it manually, polish it, and then keep it up-to-date. Keeping this i