Pages + Website Structure
Luke 14:28
“For which of you, wanting to build a tower, doesn’t first sit down and calculate the cost to see if he has enough to complete it?” (HCSB)
Build a Plan Before You Build a Website
Imagine trying to build a house without deciding where the bedrooms, kitchen, or bathrooms will go. You could start building, but you might end up with a confusing mess!
Websites work the same way.
Before we design our website, we need to decide what pages our website needs and how those pages will be organized.
This is called website structure.
Luke 14:28 teaches us an important principle: plan before you build. Yeshua used the example of someone planning before building a tower. We can use that same wisdom when building our websites.
Today, you will plan your website structure and then create your main pages in WordPress.
The 4 Main Pages
1. Home Page
Your Home page is usually the first page visitors see.
It should quickly answer:
What is this website about?
Who is it for?
What should the visitor do next?
Your Home page might include:
- Your website name
- A headline
- A short introduction
- Photos or graphics
- Your most important information
- Buttons leading visitors to other pages
Your goal is to make someone want to keep exploring!
2. About Page
Your About page tells visitors more about you, your organization, your hobby, or your business.
Depending on your website, you might include:
- Your name
- Your story
- Why you created the website
- Your interests
- Your experience
- Your mission or purpose
- A photo
Remember: You do not have to share private information online. Never include information such as your home address, personal phone number, school schedule, or other information that should remain private.
3. Services Page
The Services page explains what you offer.
If you are creating a business website, this might include your products or services.
If your website is not a business, you can change this page to something that fits your website.
For example:
Photography website → Portfolio
Recipe website → Recipes
Sports website → Teams
Art website → Gallery
Book website → Reviews
Gaming website → Games
You do not have to call the page “Services.” Choose a page that makes sense for your website.
4. Contact Page
The Contact page gives visitors a way to communicate with the website owner.
A Contact page might include:
- A contact form
- Business email
- Social media links
- Business hours
- General location, if appropriate
For our class websites, do not post your personal phone number, home address, or private information.
What Is a Sitemap?
Before we create everything, we are going to make a sitemap.
A sitemap is a simple visual plan showing the pages of your website and how they connect.
It might look like this:
HOME
↳ About
↳ Services
↳ Contact
Today we will use Octopus.do to create our sitemap.
Octopus.do:
https://octopus.do
Octopus.do allows you to create boxes for each page and organize them into a clear website structure.
Class Activity
Build Your Sitemap
Step 1: Open GlooMaps
Go to:
Step 2: Start With Your Home Page
Your first box should be:
HOME
This is the main page of your website.
Step 3: Add Your Main Pages
Under Home, add:
ABOUT
SERVICES
CONTACT
If “Services” does not fit your website idea, rename it.
Step 4: Think About Additional Pages
Does your website need anything else?
You might eventually add:
- Gallery
- Portfolio
- Blog
- Shop
- FAQ
- Testimonials
- Recipes
- Projects
- Events
Do not add pages just because you can. Every page should have a purpose.
Step 5: Look at Your Sitemap
Ask yourself:
Does my website make sense?
Will visitors know where to find information?
Does every page have a purpose?
Is anything missing?
Remember our Scripture: plan before you build!
Now Let's Create the Pages in WordPress
Once your sitemap is planned, we can create the pages.
From your WordPress Dashboard:
- Find Pages in the left menu.
- Click Add New Page.
- Enter the name of your page.
- Click Publish.
- Repeat until you have created your four main pages.
Today, you are only creating the pages. You do not have to completely design them yet.
By the end of class, you should have at least:
☐ Home
☐ About
☐ Services or your replacement page
☐ Contact
Homework
Submit Your Sitemap
Before you finish, make sure your Octopus.do sitemap is complete.
Submit your sitemap for homework.
Your sitemap should show:
- Your Home page
- Your main pages
- How your pages connect
- Any additional pages you decided to add
Also keep your page ideas—you will use them when we continue building your website.
Before You Finish
Ask yourself:
What is the purpose of my website?
What pages will help me accomplish that purpose?
Can someone easily understand how my website is organized?
A great website does not begin with colors, pictures, or cool effects.
A great website begins with a plan.
“Count the cost before building.”
Luke 14:28