How to Create a Website on Marvelous

Your website is more than just a platform of linked web pages. It is your digital storefront that enables you to share your passion, sell your products, and offer your services globally.

A website is a digital revolutionizer. It boosts your credibility, making people trust you and your brand more. Plus, it helps you reach a wider audience, which means more folks get to know about your fantastic offerings!

Marvelous Pages is a powerful, user-friendly tool for building awesome landing pages, sales pages, or your main website minus the hassle of coding! It simplifies the process, enabling you to craft engaging, visually appealing websites optimized for both desktop and mobile. You don't need to be a tech maven to make your website shine - Marvelous Pages simplifies the whole creation process, allowing you to focus on your content and connecting with your students.

Before beginning the exciting design process, we'll lay down some crucial tips to ensure your site is consistent, engaging, and primed for success.

Crafting Your Master Template

First things first, let's talk about the importance of a master template page. A master template is your design blueprint, encompassing the navigation bar, hero section, body content, and footer.

By creating this template, you can easily duplicate it when building new pages, ensuring a consistent and on-brand experience throughout your entire site.

Keep these points in mind when designing your master template and the rest of your site:

01 Words Matter

Great copywriting is the secret sauce for an effective web page. Plan your copy first and then design the page around it. Remember, captivating words can make all the difference.

02 Colors That Pop

Choose a couple of consistent colors to bring your web page to life. Assign one color for headings and titles, and another for buttons, icons, or emphasis. Consistency is key to creating a visually appealing experience.

03 Consider Accessibility

Always keep your website content user-friendly. Your text should be easy to read, and the color contrast should be high enough to ensure legibility.

Remember, accessible design is not just about user experience; it also affects your site's SEO ranking. Tools like the WebAIM Contrast Checker can help ensure your site meets these standards. Emphasizing accessibility can significantly enhance your website's overall performance and usability.

04 Picture Perfect

When it comes to imagery, maintain a cohesive style and feel. Select images that align with your brand and create a unified visual narrative throughout your site.

05 Font Harmony

Stick to two fonts throughout your site. Multiple fonts can be distracting and confuse your visitors. Use one font for headings and titles and another for the body copy. Keep it simple and legible.

Your master template will include three areas:

Navigation bar: This is where you link to your other pages.
Body: This is where you put sections such as your hero image, your main content, and opt-in.
Footer: Basic details such as your company name, copyright, links to your privacy policy and terms, your address if necessary, contact details, and social media links.

Here is an example of those sections:

You can have the HTML for the above template free - simply complete your details in the form at the bottom of this article, and we will send you the code and installation instructions.

Optimizing Your Page

Optimization is the name of the game when it comes to creating a stellar landing page. Your page should look amazing on both desktop and mobile devices, ensuring a positive user experience across the board. This approach, known as mobile responsive design, will keep your visitors engaged no matter how they access your site.

Additionally, if you want your page to be searchable on search engines like Google or Bing, you should also consider keywords and your SEO page title and metadata.

Your Core Pages

Now, let's talk about the essential pages that make up the foundation of your Marvelous website. These core pages provide vital information and functionality. Take a look at some must-have pages:

01 Home Page

Your website's main entry point, where you showcase your site's purpose, highlight key features, products, or services, and invite visitors to explore further.

02 About Page

An opportunity to introduce you, your brand, or your business. Share your mission statement, history, team members, and any other relevant details that will help visitors connect with your story.

03 Contact Us

Enable visitors to get in touch with you easily. Include contact information such as email address, phone number, and physical address. You can either include this information in the footer of your site or embed a contact form for customers to submit inquiries or messages.

04 Privacy Policy and Terms of Service

Essential pages that outline your website's privacy policy and terms of service. These pages ensure transparency and legal compliance, explaining how you handle user data, user rights, and the terms and conditions for using your website. Typically they just have your navigation bar and footer, no opt-in is visible on these type of pages.

05 Shop

This should be a hyperlink in your navigation bar, taking visitors directly to the shop page of your Marvelous site.

Remember, these core pages provide a strong foundation for your website, but depending on your specific needs, industry, or goals, you may require additional pages tailored to your unique requirements.

To learn more about how to create engaging landing pages read our blog: 5 Tips for a Simple and Beautiful Landing Page Design — Marvelous.

Please Note: At the moment, Marvelous Pages does not support blog functionality.

FAQs

Q: What is a website?

A website is a digital platform where creators can share information, express ideas, sell products, or engage with a wider audience. Each website has a unique URL that directs to its specific content. Websites are a collection of elements – text, images, videos, and hyperlinks, and their complexity can vary. They range from simple single-page sites to intricate platforms with advanced features like e-commerce, social networking, and interactive multimedia. The design and organization of a website, achieved using coding languages like HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, are diverse to meet various needs.

Q: How important is mobile responsive design for a website?

Mobile responsive design is crucial as it ensures your website looks good and functions well on desktop and mobile devices. This increases user engagement and provides a positive user experience regardless of the device used to access your site.

Q: What is a domain name?

Think of a domain name as a website's address on the internet. It's like your home address but for a website. For example, 'google.com' is a domain name. Here, 'google' is the name of the website, and '.com' is the type or extension. Every website has a unique domain name, so no two websites can have the same address. This way, each website has its special place on the internet. Before you can use a custom domain name, you have to register it. You do this through a company that handles domain names such as name.com. You have to pay to register a domain name and renew it (typically every year) to continue using it.

Q: How much does it cost to host a website?

The cost to host a website can vary greatly depending on the hosting provider, the hosting plan you choose, and your site's specific needs. On average, shared hosting plans can range from $2 to $10 per month, while dedicated hosting plans can cost $80 to over $200. Additional costs might include domain registration, SSL certificate, and other services like website backups or advanced security features. On Marvelous, you automatically get a universal domain name my.marvelous.pages/[yourstudioname]. If you’ve purchased a domain elsewhere, you can use it for your website on Marvelous.

Q: How long does it take to build a website?

The timeframe to build a website varies significantly based on factors such as site complexity, design experience, and required functionalities. Using a website builder platform, a simple website could take a few hours to a few days. This is why we always recommend having an idea of what you want your master template to be so that you can reduce the time it takes to build the rest of your website.

Final Thoughts

Websites are the digital mirror of you or your small business. With Marvelous Pages, a Marvelous online teaching platform feature, you can easily create a user-friendly, engaging, and impactful website without extensive coding, web development, or costs.

This tool streamlines the process, focusing on consistency, optimized pages, and effective audience engagement. It simplifies website creation, allowing you to concentrate on your content and digital interactions.

Starting is easy! Begin with a master template for a consistent look and feel throughout your site. Then, choose engaging elements that will capture your audience's attention and keep them coming back for more. Focus on essential core pages and you're set for success.

This is a limited-time offer available for free with the Solo plan and up. So, seize the opportunity to create a compelling online presence with Marvelous Pages and make your digital footprint count. Keep learning, exploring, and innovating as the journey is ongoing. Start building your engaging and optimized website with Marvelous Pages today!