When you become a business owner, you start to realize how many things you’re ACTUALLY responsible for. Like I just thought I was signing up to help people implement legal contracts in their business…
And then I realized OH, I need a website. OH, I need to write copy for that website. OH, I need to design that website. OH, I need blogs for that website. OH, I need branding for that website. OH, I need pictures for that website.
A whole lot of “OH’s” came out of my mouth and that’s when I realized that becoming a business owner is way more than just doing the thing you signed up to do.
But one thing about me is that there’s no way in heck I could figure out how to do all of those things on my own. And to be honest, I really have no interest in doing all of those things by myself.
There are other service providers out there that do those things WAY better than me which is why I’m a huge fan of outsourcing for my business.
When I need a website, I turn to Kleist Creative.
When I need sales copy for a website, I turn to Sara at BTL Copy to help me out.
When I need blogs I turn to Natty Writes.
When I need Pinterest help I turn to Sarah Burk.
When I need social media help I turn to Your Social Team.
Those are just a few of my trusted and recommended service providers that help me run The Boutique Lawyer. But I also know that not everyone is in position to outsource right away and sometimes you HAVE to figure out how to do things on your own.
Which is why in this blog post, I’m sharing the top do’s and dont’s of DIYing your website! Because honestly, a website is one of things that you realllyyyy need to have as a business owner and you shouldn’t wait until you can afford to outsource it!
It really can be something that you DIY and still feel proud of WHEN you do it the right way.
The Dos of DIYing Your Website
✅ Abide by Legal Requirements
When people think of designing a website, they typically think about all of the fun and exciting things that come with it. The words that convey who you are and what you do, the cool design that will wow your website visitors, the fun photoshoot that you get to do so you can have cute pictures to add to your site.
And while all of those things definitely make up the majority of your website, there’s a few important legal aspects that shouldn't be overlooked when DIYing your website, with the top two most important being:
- Privacy Policy – if you collect any visitor information (emails, names, payment details, etc.), most countries and states require you to disclose how you handle that data. The FTC (Federal Trade Commission) and laws like GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation) in Europe set guidelines on what must be included.
- Terms of Use – this sets expectations for users interacting with your website and can help limit your liability
So if you’re DIYing your website, make sure these two things get added to your “website to-do list” and as alwayssss, I’ve made this part of the legal puzzle super easy for you – you can grab this Website Protection Bundle to get both of those contract templates!
✅ Write Authentic Website Copy
If I’m being totally honest, one of the worst parts of the online business world is how easily accessible your content becomes and how susceptible it is to being copied by others in your industry.
Now, there’s nothing wrong with being INSPIRED by someone else, but the moment you start to imitate (or worse, COPY) what they’re doing, it’s a major problem!
Not only is it morally, ethically, and legally wrong, it also doesn’t do you any good. Your website copy should reflect who YOU are and what makes YOUR business unique – and it’s not going to do that when you simply copy what someone else in your industry has said.
When DIYing your website, it’s tempting to mimic the tone of others you admire, but your audience connects best when you sound like yourself.
To do this well, think about how you naturally speak to customers, use words and phrases that align with your brand voice, and ultimately remember that connection and clarity matter more than perfection.
While DIYing your website copy IS possible, you might find that you need some support and guidance along the way – if that’s you, then I can’t recommend Site Series Sprint by Website Girl herself, Sara at BTL Copy.
Site Series Sprint is a self-paced website copywriting course designed to help you finish your website copy draft fast – without sacrificing quality. Instead of spending weeks (or months) agonizing over every word, this course walks you through exactly what to say, where to say it, and how to make your website work for you.
✅ Make Your Website ADA-Compliant
In addition to making your website sound and look good, you also want to ensure that your website is accessible to all users, including those with disabilities. Making your website ADA-compliant isn't just good practice, it’s actually a legal requirement under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
To make your website ADA-compliant, consider:
- Using alt text for images so screen readers can describe visuals to visually impaired users.
- Choosing readable fonts and color contrasts to enhance visibility for those with visual impairments.
- Ensuring keyboard navigation for users who cannot use a mouse.
- Adding captions or transcripts for video and audio content.
- Testing your site with accessibility tools like WAVE or the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG).
Overall, making your website ADA compliant not only helps you reach a wider audience but also protects your business from potential legal issues!
For more on how to create an ADA-compliant website and why it matters, CLICK HERE!
✅ Optimize for Mobile and SEO
Lastly, one of the biggest DO’S when DIYing your website is making sure that you optimize your site for mobile and for SEO (Search Engine Optimization).
It’s important to remember that many people will be viewing your website from their phones, so making sure your site is mobile-friendly is key.
Additionally, while you of course want to write copy that sounds fun and draws your reader in, you also want to make sure that you’re taking SEO into consideration so that your site can be FOUND on Google! This can be done through conducting keyword research and optimizing your website copy accordingly.
And if the whole SEO thing feels foreign to you, again, I’d recommend getting some guidance through Site Series Sprint. The DIY copywriting course has a section dedicated to SEO specifically to ensure that your site not only sounds good, but is also searchable!
The Don’ts of DIYing Your Website
❌ Grab Images from Pinterest or Google
Everyone wants their site to look good and typically that includes adding fun graphics and images, but when you’re DIYing your site this has the potential to go awry if you’re not careful!
It might seem harmless to pull a gorgeous photo from Pinterest, but unless you have explicit permission, you’re violating copyright laws. Instead of risking legal trouble, try these alternatives:
- Dupe Photos for styled stock imagery
- Elevae Visuals for high-quality, curated stock photos
- Unsplash or Pexels for free stock photography with generous licensing
And remember: if you’re using images of people (for testimonial or review content for example!) make sure you have the proper model releases to avoid legal issues down the line.
❌ Copy Someone Else’s Website Copy
Like I mentioned above, when DIYing your website, it’s important that you write website copy that truly sounds like YOU, but even more than that it’s important that your website’s words are truly YOURS – not someone else’s.
Copying someone else’s messaging, whether intentional or not, can lead to copyright infringement issues and damage your credibility.
While it can totally be okay to look to others for inspiration, your final draft needs to be uniquely yours! And if writing isn’t your strong suit, there are tons of copywriting resources out there to help you out – anything of BTL Copy’s is my favorite and Site Series Sprint is an incredible DIY copy course that can guide you along the way.
❌ Overload Your Site with Too Many Elements
When DIYing a website, it’s easy to get carried away with flashy animations, excessive fonts, and too much information. But a cluttered website can overwhelm visitors and slow down load times.
When designing your website, it’s best to:
- Stick to one or two fonts for a clean, cohesive look
- Use white space to make your content more readable
- Focus on clear navigation so users can easily find what they need
And while most of these recommendations help load speed and the overall aesthetic of your website, implementing these can also aid in a better ADA-compliant website, which is a huge plus (and legal requirement) like mentioned above!
❌ Ignore Website Maintenance
Lastly, one of the biggest DIY website mistakes a business owner can make is viewing their website as a website “set it and forget it” type of project.
While it can definitely seem like that type of project at first, after you click “publish,” it’s important that you set reminders and schedule time to update and maintain your website regularly to keep it secure and functioning well.
This type of website maintenance includes:
- Checking for broken links and outdated information (there are lots of tools out there to help you do this!)
- Run regular backups so you don’t lose everything if something goes wrong
- Keep your software, plugins, and themes updated to prevent security vulnerabilities
- Update your copyright notice each year (this should be added to the footer of your website and all digital products!)
Ready to DIY Your Website with Ease?
Overall, you don’t have to wait until you can outsource your website copy to create a website that YOU love and one that resonates with your audience.
There is absolutely a way that you can write your own website copy in a way that connects and converts (even if you’re not a writer by trade). By following these do’s and dont’s, you can DIY your website with ease and be proud when you press publish!
But remember, there’s nothing wrong with getting a little support and guidance along the way – Site Series Sprint is truly the perfect resource to help you through the process!
Here’s to finally clicking “publish” on the website that you’ve been procrastinating. 🎉
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