07. Websites.

Alright, let’s just bite the bullet and make you a website. It’s an area that people spend a lot of time and money on, but you don’t need to. If you take nothing away from this course, at least you’ve built a website and saved the cost of paying someone else to do it for you --- that’s absolutely worth it. A website is something that you really do need to have for credibility, but it doesn’t need to be complex, you don’t need an elaborate logo – it just needs to be simple, beautiful, and useful. It needs to speak of your house story and direct people to bookings. That really is it.

Technology has evolved so if you can use Facebook, Instagram and basic computer apps, you will be able to put this together. I built mine two years ago in a few hours and haven’t touched it since – really, it doesn’t have to be a big thing.

So let’s talk web.

07. To ponder.

“To create one’s own world takes courage”

- Georgia O’Keefe

07. Lesson: okay, so, let’s make your site.

{ E7.1 – Let’s have a look around ‘Squarespace’ to see what they have available for you to build your website for free. Start by watching this video series }

Steps to follow for building your website.

After you’ve watched the getting started video, it’s time to make a trial account. You will want a ‘Squarespace Version 7’ template, which you can find here, otherwise, this process won’t work. Pick it and start your trial account while you have a play. If you are having any issues setting up a trial account, this ‘how to’ guide will help.
Now let’s look at cover pages, read this article and watch the video guide.
Now it’s time to make your website and we’re making a cover page (which is essentially a very basic one page website). Your cover page has all the functionality you need so there’s no reason to make things more complicated than this.
While you’re making your cover page, use the help guides to get you through anything you don’t know how to do. Make sure you have one image that tells your house story (if you don’t have this, you can use a site like ‘Unsplash’ or ‘Stocksy’); a ‘Book Now’ button that links to your Airbnb listing, and an inquiries form which sends inquiries to your email. To see some examples of other students work, click here.

{ E7.2 – Your challenge is to build a cover page. Explore the tool and use Squarespace’s help tool to figure out anything you don’t know. }

A key part of this class is learning how to learn – I don’t want to ‘step-by-step’ do your website for you. I want you to do it for yourself so you can upskill and completely manage your own property and business without paying anyone else to do it. If you’re really stuck, reach out to ‘Squarespace’ for help because it is completely possible for you to do this. I promise!

For the most barebones of sites and if you might actually rather die than do it, you just need to pull together a few images, your links all in one spot, and find a ‘Squarespace’ designer to do it for you. It will only take them a few hours, but be sure to get a firm quote beforehand.

07. Just so your exercises are all in one spot.

E7.1 – Let’s have a look around ‘Squarespace’ to see what they have available for you to build your website for free. Start by watching these videos.

E7.2 – Your challenge is to build a cover page. Explore the tool and use ‘Squarespace’s help tool to figure out anything you don’t know.

07. Ponder this.

“Websites promote you 24/7: No employee will do that.”

― Paul Cookson

07: Your homework for this module.

Watch this video or search the help tools to buy a domain name and publish your site.
If you’re any type of creative and have an idea for any sort of store in the future, explore the ‘eCommerce’ functionality.

07. Q and A with Sarah Andrews.

Q. Do I even need a website?

Yes! You want such a lovely web presence. All it has to be is somewhere that clearly directs anyone looking for you to go book via Airbnb.

Q. Do you think having a "gallery" section of a website is a good idea? I certainly like seeing photos of where I am booking, and not all just close ups or styling shots, as it can often not represent the scale or space you might be looking for. But I also appreciate that sharing too much could destroy the mystery... ? what tabs or info would you say are the ‘must haves’ or minimum any website should cover?

A gallery is a lovely idea, and very easy to set up in ‘Squarespace’. I would also consider that your Airbnb listing would have the exact same photo gallery. I used to have my website set up with a gallery, but I canned it and now I just have a ‘Gallery & Booking’ tab which just takes people to my Airbnb listing.

In terms of must have or minimums, I’ve tried both, a comprehensive website with photos and abouts and itinerys etc. And, just a lovely landing page with a link to my Airbnb listing, and ultimately I preferred the latter. I think it just comes down to personal preference for you. No right or wrong choices here.

Q. Hi Sarah, I attempted my website through ‘Squarespace’. Initially overwhelmed, but I slowed down, played around and now I am very pleased with the result. I just wanted to get your thoughts on domain registration; our property will be in a country town in Maldon, Victoria, Australia, is it essential to have .au on the end of my domain address, will this help with seo or any further aspects? There is another Maldon in England quite similar.

Hello, I just wanted to say how proud I am of you. This chapter isn’t just a chapter in Websites, its a chapter about learning how to learn, learning how to figure things out you didn’t think you could, and learning how to feel confident in your own decisions, so I applaud you. After this class, you will come up with hard and scary and confusing things all the time, knowing you can slow down, and you can do this — it is very empowering!

Now, onto your question — I would say if there is a geographically similar name or place somewhere else, smack that ‘ .au’ on it to make it clear in an instant to whomever is searching, it will work in your favour.

Q. Could I use some of my own photos on a cover page?

You could, but I’d only recommend using a handful. Be sure they are only ones that tell your story, rather than ones that show your home (like how a real estate listing would).

Q. Hi Sarah, I am currently designing our new website on ‘Squarespace’ and loving it! I have also signed up for a ‘Linktree’ account. I am having difficulties linking our 2 listings on Airbnb to the ‘Linktree’ site. I have gone through the steps that Airbnb recommend - Sharing our 2 listings, clicking on Embed, clicking copy HTML and then pasting the link in the ‘Linktree’ Links Admin page but for some reason Linktree is not recognized on the HTML. Do you have any suggestions? did you have a similar problem.

Hi Everyone, for any tech issues you might be having, please contact ‘Squarespace’ or ‘Linktree’ or whatever app or third party you are using. I am useless at this stuff but I find an email to them will always sort it out (or finding someone around me a bit younger than myself!). Sorry, I wish there was an easy answer to this one, sometimes technology seems to make my life more complicated than without it!

Q. I DID IT!!! I actually made a website on ‘Squarespace’ (haven't paid yet so its not public), we have an existing website already... so I just chose one of our Houses, The Bahama House, which is performing poorly with the corona hit. I shall think about it and decide if I pay / make it public... But I’m just so damn proud of myself for doing it all by myself. Thank you Sarah, I really needed this course...and I’m loving it. Started Chapter 8 this morning... Hope the sun is shining on Captains Rest today. Sharon :)

I never had any doubt: you are all far more powerful and wise than you will ever admit to yourselves. Keep going!

Q. Wonderful masterclass more than I could of hoped for! I am after a little help with the logo for our house which will be on the website and IG page, is there a paid service you use or recommend? Thank you kindly!!

Yes! For anyone looking to get some basic graphic design work done, or even have their squarespace website made for them, I can recommend using “Upwork.” Just make sure you have exactly what you are looking for laid out in references first, so the designers can just execute the work for you! Both of these services should only cost you a few hundred dollars.

07. Community.

I’d love for you to show me around your finished site and I think using stories is the very best way to do so. Record your computer screen or use the screen record feature on your phone to show us your brand new site. Your hashtags this week are #thehostingmasterclass and #thm07 — search the same tags to see other students’ work as well.