By Kevin Bullis, Partner, little guy branding

Admittedly, I haven’t met your nephew, but I’m assuming that, if you’re thinking about relying on him to build a website for your business, you like him well enough. Let’s say he’s smart, took a few classes on building websites, and ever since he got out of jail, he’s on a new path and needs a break.

Here’s what I say. Go for it.

It might work out great. Maybe send him this blog for a few tips (these go for nieces, too).

Advice for Nephews and Nieces Building Websites for their Families

1) I know you learned HTML, CSS and Javascript in the coding bootcamp and you’re a whiz. But don’t code this website from scratch.

You’ll get much better results, be able to include powerful functionality, and make sure the site stays secure and up and running much easier if you make use of libraries of code that are routinely updated.

Also, if it turns out that web development isn’t really your thing, your aunt will have less trouble finding someone else to take care of the website.

You might consider working with WordPress, the most popular platform for websites. It’s constantly being updated to respond to new security threats and to add new functionality. Just about anything your business needs can be done through WordPress, or one of the many integrations between WordPress and third-party software.

2) Choose a good website hosting provider.

Websites need to be hosted on servers to make them accessible on the Internet. These servers aren’t all the same. Use a top hosting provider to make sure the servers are fast, secure and reliable.

3) Speaking of security, don’t forget to set up an SSL certificate to protect the site and site visitors, and reassure Google it’s worth showing you in search results. Also, take advantage of security software to keep an eye out for threats.

4) Create daily backups. The Internet is a complicated place. Even if you take precautions, your site might go down at some point. Backups allow you to restore your site while you troubleshoot to find out what went wrong.

5) Design your website so that your uncle or aunt can add and edit content. Again, this will help if you move onto another career, or get busy with a full-time job. WordPress helps here, too. Depending on the setup, it’s possible to change anything on the site without knowing code.

6) When you set up forms, make sure you use SMTP to send confirmations to the people who fill them out. Other methods can lead email providers to filter out your emails.

7) Do you have a great design eye? Sometimes people who are great with code can be a little challenged in this department. If that’s the case with you (and you may not know it yet), try starting out with a good website template that your family approves, and get outside feedback when you change it. Or find a good designer.

8) Websites don’t do much good if they aren’t seen by Google, so search engine optimization is critical. Set up a Google Business Profile, Google Search Console, and Google Analytics. Structure your code to highlight key information on each page. Find reputable directories to link back to your website. Advise your aunt or uncle to create large amounts of helpful content to attract Google’s attention.

9) How fast are you? Consider the fact that delays to launching the website could mean lost revenue. If speed is an issue for the business, consider bringing on some help.

10) Okay, your aunt or uncle probably didn’t read this far down before sending you the link. Are you 100% sure you want to work with them on this? If things go wrong, are they going to blame you for damage to their business? Will family reunions go from the perfect joy they usually are, to awkward, stressful . . . okay, so maybe the reunions will be the same no matter what.

11) If you’re unsure about any of this, give us a call or email us. We can help!

www.lgxbranding.com