2 Create a Website or Not With the Help of Lisa Irby

5 May

Even Lisa Irby will tell you that she is not a web designer but that didn’t stop her from creating a website about it. She created her first website back in 1998 and there were not many tutorials online at that time. She has injected her passion for the web into her site and it shows but more importantly she has created a number of video blog posts about it.

If you are on SpicyWebDesigners.com and are looking for a web designer then you’ve come to the right place and Lisa’s site can help you for the “Do-It-Yourselfers” out there looking to save money and learn a thing or two. Both Lisa’s and my goal in running SpicyWebDesigners.com are on the same path, helping people make decisions about web design which is why I thought her site and video blog posts were so valuable.

I thought that I would get in touch with her about the site, her experiences in web design and how it all started for her by asking her a few questions.

1. Why did you start 2createawebsite?

When I first learned how to create a website in 1998, there were not many tutorials for beginners and I became very frustrated while trying to piece together the info I found from various websites. So I created 2 Create a Website to provide a knowledge base of information for people who want to learn how to build and market their websites. Back then, most of the sites on this topic had a very cold, impersonal feel. So I wanted to inject some personality and style to my tutorials to help beginners feel more connected and inspired.

2. One of the things that your site does well is explains websites in a simple and straight forward way that make it easy for people to understand and use the technology that’s out there. What is it that people request from you when they email?

Most of the emails I receive are questions regarding the different ways people can make money online and choosing a topic. I also get a lot of “how long will it take to make money” questions. The feedback has definitely evolved. When my site was newer, most of the questions were about the technical tasks of creating a website. As the awareness of making money online has grown, most of the questions relate to this topic.

3. Do you do web design in your day job, if so, how has building 2createawebsite.com helped you? If not, what do you do for a living?

I do not do web design. I provide free tutorials on my site so people can learn to build websites on their own, and then I monetize the content by recommending related products and services through my site. All of my site’s income comes from affiliate marketing, sponsor ads, and contextual ad programs like Google AdSense.

The design for 2 Create a Website came from dreamweaver-templates.net. Then I used PhotoShop and Dreamweaver to customize the template to my liking.

4. What are some tips you can give to people looking to have a website built for their business?

The best advice I can give to people who want to build a website for their business is to learn the basics of web design. Even if you are going to outsource your design, it is important that you have a foundation for CSS and HTML so you can continue to manage your site going forward.

I would also tell people to define their goals clearly and educate themselves before getting started. So many people have great ideas for what they want their site to do (end result), but they don’t take the time to plan and research what it will take to reach their goals. Building a website is only half the battle. People often underestimate the importance of targeted marketing and promotion. People don’t just stumble upon a website and start buying, interacting, etc.

5. How long have you been messing around with web technologies and web design in general?

I have been dabbling in web development since 1998 (11 years).

6. Any plans that you have for the site in the near future that you care to share?

For the past 2 years, my main goal has been to produce more video. People seem to enjoy it and it allows me to connect with my audience in ways other web development sites do not. So my immediate goal is to continue adding more videos to my site to enhance my existing tutorials. My long-term and ongoing goals have always been to become the most comprehensive, user-friendly tutorial site for beginners who want to build a website.

Lisa Irby has been running 2createawebsite.com for the past 7 years (since February of 2002) and it is definitely a valuable resource for those of you looking to learn about web design especially if you don’t know much about web technologies and want to learn for business or personal interests. Check it out today!