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Creating a Daycare Website Part 1

Using Webs.com

One of the best advertising strategies that I use is my daycare website.  I include my website address on all of my advertising and constantly change and update my website.  This helps keep the information on my site relevant, fresh and interesting.  It also helps me get a higher ranking when people search for daycare online.  Let's face it, we are in the internet age where consumers turn to the internet first to find and research products and services. Having a website that is informative and accessible creates a lot of leads for potential clients.  

For some that feel they are not savvy or simply don't know where to start I will create a step by step lesson on how to create a simple starter website using the free web page service from Webs.com.  I am most familiar with this web design tool and feel that it is easy for even the least technology literate users.  You can make up to 10 pages for your site for free.  

*I should mention that the web designer works best with Google Chrome so make sure to have it installed and use this browser when creating or making changes to your website.

Getting Started

The first thing you will want to do is go to Webs.com and sign up for your free account.  Once you're signed up and signed in click on Add a New Site.      

Pick a site title relevant to your daycare.  This should be the name of your daycare such as "Valenzuela Family Child Care" or "Helping Hands Childcare", depending on what is on your license.  Now pick your Site Category which should be Education & Children (you'll see child care listed to the right of it).  


Next pick a template theme. Don't worry, you can change it later without disturbing your content if you don't like it or change your mind (I chose Crafty).  


Now choose which pages you want to start off with.  I like to start with nothing and add to it as I go so for now let's just leave the Home page selected and deselect the others.  Don't forget to click the little box at the bottom that says Agree To The Terms of Service and click the Create My Website button.  

This next step is where you pick your domain name.  That's what your website address is going to be.  If you pick something pretty generic you'll probably have to play with it a bit until you get a URL address that's available but if you've stuck with something more unique you'll have better luck.  Whatever name you choose it will have webs.com after it.  Once you're done click the green button to generate your bare bones website.  

Setting Up Your Foundation

Before you can do anything else a screen with a 3-minute tutorial video will pop up.  I recommend you watch it since it talks about different parts of the Webs SiteBuilder.  Click on the X and now you can start creating your website.


Near the bottom of your screen you'll notice boxes, these are your tools called Modules.  I'm not going to spend any time explaining them because they're all pretty much self explanatory.  I will address them as I go and as I need them.  

Next look up near the top of the screen.  Next to Builder is Theme.  Click on that and there you can change the theme, colors & fonts and background.  Any changes here will be applied to your entire website.  Click on the Colors & Fonts tab.  For now the only thing I will change is the font style so click on Body and change your Text and Titles to the font of your liking.  I chose Architects Daughter for the titles and Coming Soon for the text.  When you are done click the green Apply button near the bottom and then Return to Builder.

Learning How to Edit Your Pages

Now that you have your website set up it's time to start adding content.  I personally like my home page looking a little less simple and so I want to change the layout.  Look near the top of the screen and you'll notice a little cog with a tiny arrow under it next to the magnifying glass.  That's your drop down Settings menu.  Click on Change Page Layout.  A pop-up window will open up with  different layouts.  Choose a layout that you like and click Save Layout. 


Okay, so I chose the Banner Sidebar Left layout and now I can really get started.  I like having any openings that I have available to show right on my home page so I will use the left side of the top banner for that.  Just click on the text and start typing to change the content.  


On the right the layout that I chose automatically added a slideshow so I will double click where it says Double Click to Add an Image :P.  Double click again to add an image and you can upload a photo in the My Images tab.  If you have a Photobucket account you can upload a lot more photos there and then click on the Image URL tab and enter your photo's direct URL from Photobucket (this is what I do).  Select your photo and then you can zoom in and out and move the photo around.  Once your photo is just where you like it click on the box with the + in it to add another photo and repeat the steps above until you are satisfied with your slideshow.  Once you are done click the green box with the check mark. 


So now we get to use those Modules near the bottom of the SiteBuilder.  It's all drag and drop so it's pretty easy.  Let's start by adding a brief description to the Home page.  Left click on the Text module and drag it onto any lighted area of your page.  Now you just click on that module and start typing your description.  


Next let's add a title over the description.  Drag and drop a Title module right above the description.  When you hold the new module in this area you will see a blue line.  This line represents where the module will be added.  If the blue line falls on the left of the text box then that is where it will be added, if it appears under it then that is where it be added etc.  Drop it above the text box and type your title.  


Use the other modules to add more content to your page in the same manner.


Creating a New Page

Remember that cog from earlier?  It's that little symbol next to the magnifying glass near the upper right hand of the SiteBuilder.  Click on it and select Create a New Page then select the type of format you want for your new page (I picked Sidebar Left) and type in the title of your new page and click Create a Page. 




And that is pretty much how you use the modules and other SiteBuilder tools to create a website.  Now that you are somewhat familiar with the Webs SiteBuilder you can move on to Part 2.

If there is something in Webs SiteBuilder that you don't understand or don't know how to do please feel free to contact me at HelpingHands@Daycare.com and I will add it to this post.  Thanks!

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