7 steps to create a free responsive website for your business or personal marketing initiatives. Includes selecting a free responsive web platform. Platform options covered include Wordpress.com, Tumblr.com, Blogger.com and Strinkingly.com. Links to additional information included through-out presentation.0

1. How To Create Your Own
“Responsive” Website
Rick Noel, ACB, ALB
President,
Clifton Park Speakers
eBiz ROI, Inc.
www.eBizROI.com
Delivering Sales, ROI
For “Free”

2. Presentation Goals
● Help attendees understand the steps to get a
website up and running with little to no cost
● Cover popular, free platforms
● Provide links to relevant information
● Position to take next steps towards
launching their own website … For Free!

3. Assumptions & Prerequisites
● Interested in free or low cost
website to promote self/business
● Low cost or free means
■ “Do it yourself” template-based
■ Ads are going to be part of the model
● Basic computer, internet connection, and
willingness to learn are necessary
● Important for any website to display and be easy to
navigate on mobile devices

4. 7 Steps to Your New Website
1.
2.
3.
4.
Get Organized
Chose the platform that meets your needs
Select available (free) template
Customize template
a. Add logo or company name if you don’t have one
b. Add content (text/images/video/audio)
5. Pick a domain name
6. Publish your website
7. Promote everywhere!

5. Step 1 - Get Organized
● Professional looking headshot - first
impressions matter
● Outline for pages (e.g. Home, About,
Contact, Hours, Directions, etc.)
● Organize and if necessary, create copy
and content (i.e.text, images, video,
audio, links to social sites, etc.)

6. Step 2 - Choose Platform
We Recommend:
● Wordpress.com**
● Tumblr.com
● Blogger.com
● Strikingly.com*
Paid Triggers:
● No Ads*
● Custom Domain*
● Advanced features
● Business model
changes
Notice: free options are like renting vs.
owning; when your are not paying for
the product, you are the product!

7. Step 2 - Wordpress.com
● Most popular content
management platform
● Designed for blogging and
publishing
● Has many plugins which
extend functionality
● Free option to get started
with migration path to
paid
Free Wordpress Themes: http://theme.wordpress.com/themes/sort/free/

8. Step 2 - Wordpress.com

9. Step 2 - Tumblr.com
●
●
●
●
●
174.1 million blogs
74.8 billion posts
Use custom domain
Ad supported model
Can have multiple
pages with navigation
Free themes to chose from at http://www.tumblr.com/themes/tagged/free

10. Step 2 - Blogger.com
● Requires a Google
account (e.g. gmail)
● Blog posts, pages
● Includes a number of
free, editable templates
● Supports custom
domains for free
● Supports AdSense

11. Step 2 - Strinkingly.com
●
●
●
●
Quick and Easy
Limited to one page
No blog included
Custom domain for
paid only
For more info, see: http://www.strikingly.com/ and/or Click Image Above to See Live Example Site

12. Step 2 - Strinkingly.com

13. Step 3 - Select a Template
Be sure to factor in customization
requirements. The more you
customize a template in the next step,
the bigger your sunk cost
There are many professional looking
templates available for free for the
recommended platforms

14. Step 4 - Customize Template
Most templates
support:
● adding a logo,
● customizing
background,
● changing font
style
● ...

15. Step 5 - Picking a Domain
● Available (check on
GoDaddy.com)
● .com for business, .
● Contextually
org for non-profit
relevant
● The 3 Rs - recite,
● Less is more
recognize, recall

16. Step 6 - Publish your Website
● Publishing on these
platforms is
easy and
straightforward
(usually literally
pushing a button)
● Final step in making
your free website
available to the World!

17. Step 7 - Promote Everywhere
We Recommend the following social
channels:
● Google+
● LinkedIn.com
● Facebook.com
Social is a great tactic to drive relevant visitors
to your website ... think like trees in the forest!

18. Let’s Summarize
1.
2.
3.
4.
Get Organized
Chose the platform that meets your needs
Select available (free) template
Customize template
a. Add logo or company name if you don’t have one
b. Add content (text/images/video/audio)
5. Pick a domain name
6. Publish your website
7. Promote everywhere!