Creating a website for the first time, any tips???

Nathan

When it comes to compression of images, two website I used when I need to change file size quickly are:

http://tinypng.com - good file compression for web-based images
https://bulkresizephotos.com - bulk resizing of images. Great if you are uploading a bunch of images and you want them all to be the same size.

Something a little more advanced, but essential if you have a bunch of images on your site is the use of a Content Delivery Network (CDN).

A content delivery network (CDN) refers to a geographically distributed group of servers which work together to provide fast delivery of Internet content. A CDN allows for the quick transfer of assets needed for loading Internet content including HTML pages, javascript files, stylesheets, images, and videos.

I believe Squarespace has their own CDN options.

For SEO benefits, and also if you are considering an online store in the future, I would install an SSL certificate.

SSL certificates are small data files that encrypt data packets as they are sent through the Internet. SSL is often used to transfer data logins and credit card information online.

It's what makes an HTTPS an HTTPS instead of HTTP

Again, I believe Squarespace offers this as an option.

Lastly, install Google Analytics. This provides data on people who have come to your website and the actions they have taken. This helps measure your personal marketing efforts online and can help you make a decision about what is the most effective use of your time.

Also, regarding watermarking - watermark with your website URL or social media tag (eg I could watermark with @nathan_creates - maybe even include the Instagram icon to make it extra clear). If people do post your stuff online without permission, at least the URL will lead people back to you

Hope that helps

Whitney Simms

@Nathan dude, that’s so much information. But good stuff I have no clue about. I do remember google analytics from my blog a hundred years ago. I’ll check on that again. I saw an SEO (or whatever the acronym is) as a tab on square space. I’ll check into that as well. I know I paid for the business package. I hope that means I got that option. I know I got the option of selling things on the website. I don’t remember seeing CDN, but that could be because I didn’t know what that was either.

This is all extremely helpful information! The goal is to look more professional, but I may end up being professional so I better make sure I have my ducks in a row.

Nathan

@Whitney-Simms No worries. Those are things I always recommend. They aren't essential to get a site up and running. However, later down the track when you get some traction, installing those things when you have site with heaps of images, and multiple pages can be a pain in the arse.

Better to get it in early, set and forget

ThisKateCreates

@Whitney-Simms Congrats on getting the site up! Ship happens. Lol
Lots of good knowledge here too!

Whitney Simms

The website is live! Most of my work is on it. I might have two more collections to add. I even got my friend to edit my “about me” page. Although, I think I still missed a few things in editing.
What do you think? Any glaring eye sores? Or things i could tweak?
www.whitneysimmsstudio.com
link text

NessIllustration

@Whitney-Simms It's SOOOO lovely!! Congrats on your hard work, it really paid off! My favorite part is how after scrolling through one of your lovely collections (which are full of high wuality content so it can take a while to scroll) the collections menu is right there at the bottom so you don't have to go all the way back up or hit the back button to see the other collections! I love this streamlined navigation experience!

Whitney Simms

@NessIllustration thanks for checking it out! I really had no idea what to do about the website. Squarespace had an awesome template. All i really knew was I wanted it crisp and clean. It was funny about the scrolling, I totally wanted to be a click slide show. I was working on it on the computer and scrolling was a pain. Then... on my phone I scrolled and was like “ah ha, that’s why it scrolls.” Is glad you saw how easy it was to continue looking at different collections. Still, not my template, but so stoked they had one that knew what i would want better than I did. Totally worth the money. Now, if I could only learn to write those darn descriptions. I wonder who actually reads those anyways.

NessIllustration

@Whitney-Simms My guess is not many people! I have to admit I skipped them myself because they seem a bit long and mostly emotion-based (I felt like drawing pretty pink blush butterflies, etc.) I myself prefer short and to the point description that give the important info (client if there was one, goal, year made...) and leaves out flowery descriptions. That's just me though, there may be a lot of people who actually like the descriptions? And they can always skip them if they're not into them. To me it just feels like a lot of words without much purpose, but I'm an overly "straight to the point" kind of person haha...

Whitney Simms

@NessIllustration honestly, that makes me feel so much better!!!. I’ve starting listening to a lot of these other “calming voice” surface design podcasts. They sound like yoga instructors. I wish I wasn’t so current with 3 point. I wish I had a back log of their stuff to listen to as I clean. The people are always like “each collection has a story to tell.” Blah. Blah. I think I will try the condensed discription of the literal pieces and color palette. Although. Half of them aren’t even done.

Judy Elizabeth Wilson

@Whitney-Simms Looks brilliant Whitney! Well done.

NessIllustration

@Whitney-Simms Hahaha your comment cracked me up!
I do agree with that: each collection has a story to tell. But ours is a visual medium and I've always thought that if we need to explain for people to get it, we must be doing something wrong! Your collections have a definite feeling to them, an atmosphere you create with the visuals. You're doing it right, so there's no need for words

demotlj

I think the website is very well done. It is clean and easy to access. I did go back and read the description of your butterfly collection to see why you had included your daughters so descriptions can be helpful

djly

@Whitney-Simms - a really nice website. I love that you've chosen a small collection of your best work to feature on the main page. You get an understanding of the work you do but in an easy snapshot kind of way.

Chip Valecek

@Whitney-Simms awesome job! I love the Ocean Friends collection!

Coreyartus

Lovely! Really clean and easy to navigate, puts all your work clearly out there without being overwhelming--seriously, Whitney, good choice!! Congrats!!

Whitney Simms

Thanks guys! @Judy-Elizabeth-Wilson @djly @Coreyartus @Chip-Valecek I was so nervous this wouldn't look professional. I'm not sure how professional it is, but it seems to show my work nicely! Thanks for all your kind words. This has truly been a hurdle that I was just terrified of. @demotlj - I probably should keep a few of the descriptions huh! The inktober collection looks so random if you don't know that one is.

I have a big day tomorrow. I am going to a watercolor workshop with Emily Jeffers. Here work is pretty cool. She is an artist who has been licensed with ANTHROPOLOGIE! seriously. I feel like she knows the gatekeeper. I am super nervous. But I did make a few business cards and printed out samples of stationary as a "gift" for her. Ha, who turns down a gift, even if it's plastered with my artwork. And I added more on the website incase someone wanted to look at it. If she does, or if there is someone from anthropologie there. Not sure how likely that is. But thought I might as well be ready. So, ahhhh and yay at the same time. I win no matter what. A day painting watercolors with random people. Yes please.

JerrySketchyArt

@Whitney-Simms This looks great! I used to own a web design business and moved on precisely because of this. It's amazing what someone with no experience can do with modern tools. Good job!

Whitney Simms

@SketchyArtish oh no! I used the clip art of the web designs. I’m sure you’ve moved on to amazing things.

Chip Valecek

@SketchyArtish that is why I lost so much freelance work. I used to get so many web design jobs until squarespace and wix came along.

Kristin Wauson

I use squarespace and I think images just have to be under 5MB. I don’t resize my images before I upload them unless they are double page spreads because those are usually too big. Squarespace sizes the files correctly for you when you upload.

I do watermark my images with my name and website, because if someone downloads one of my images, I want them to know who made it and how to find me.

I was recently told that you should make your images downloadable because some art directors will move on if they can’t save your images and put them in a file on their computer. Also, have your email address somewhere on your website. As far as organization, keep it clean and simple and let people see your work with as few clicks as possible.