The world of website design is diverse, and one that generates a host of new statistics every single year. Take the fact that an estimated 40% of visitors will abandon a page if it takes more than 3 seconds to load, for example, as this is indicative of the standards that online consumers set when browsing.
This is why a growing number of individuals are using the Strikingly tool to develop and build their website. While it is a creation tool that remains fun and exceptionally easy to use, it also enables users to establish reliable and professional looking websites that can serve multiple purposes, such as launching digital resumes, events and start-up projects. The entire start-up process takes little more than 10 minutes, meaning that you can start a website at the same time it takes to enjoy a steaming hot latte!
Strikingly.com is fast becoming one of the most popular for the development of personal websites. With this in mind, here are 5 simple steps to use Strikingly and create your very own personal website:
1. Enter your Personal Information
As innocuous as it may seem, the first step is to enter your personal information on the Strikingly home page. Nothing too intrusive, of course, just your first name, email and the password that you will use to access your site. Once this is done, you can start creating in earnest!
2. Select your Purpose and Website
Less than a minute in, and you are already in a position to confirm the purpose of your website and select a template. By clicking on the ‘personal’ icon, you will be taken to a separate page with relevant templates that can be chosen with a single click. Do not worry too much about the visual appearance of your Strikingly site on smaller media, however, as it is designed to be compatible with mobile devices such tablets and smartphones.
3. Use your Dashboard to Title your Website
Once this is completed, you will be directed to the dashboard icon on the top left of your screen. This includes three clearly defined buttons at the top, which allow you enter the title and custom domain of your site while also affording you an opportunity to experiment with alternative templates. There is also a fourth button that enables you to publish the site once it is complete.
4. Edit your Page Setting and Titles
Immediately beneath this section on the dashboard is a list of separate section and individual page titles, which can be edited to create the framework of your site. They are initially listed as work, experience, photos, contact and leave a message, with an additional icon that enables you to add sections and headings. These are a little formal for a fun and engaging personal website, of course, so they can be amended and shuffled to suit your precise needs.
5. Add Content
While you are unlikely to have finished your coffee at this stage, the structure of your Strikingly website is complete. All that is left is to get creative and add your content, using images and text to convey your personal message. The dashboard allows you to easily copy, paste and shuffle images, while you can also experiment with a number of alternative fonts and input relevant social media contact information. One of my own personal favorite Strikingly sites is owned by art and design enthusiast Gary Sheng, who uses stunning visual imagery to convey his passion and engage visitors.
The Bottom Line for Strikingly Users
While this online resource enables you to create a diverse range of professional and personal websites, its users remain at the heart of its success. They convey the fun and simplistic nature of creating a website through Strikingly.com, which in turn has made web design more accessible to a wider social demographic. No single Strikingly user demonstrates this more than Walter, who created a purposeful and functional site on his iPad despite being completely blind.
So, do you fancy creating your own Strikingly website? If you have 10 minutes to spare and are looking to create a bright and engaging online space, it’s the ideal site-building tool for you!
