How to build a website on hubspot cms?

 

My step by step process of how to build a website on HubSpot CMS.

My existing website builder tool was holding me back from implementing a content marketing strategy and promoting my business. Hence, I decided to replace my existing website builder tool with a new Content Management System (CMS). I chose HubSpot CMS hub.

1. Why did I replace my CMS?

2. Creating a website in HubSpot CMS

3. Time taken to create a website

4. Eight ways to promote your business online  

Why did I replace my existing Content Management System (CMS)?

The website builder tool I was using didn’t have capabilities to create landing pages. The blogging software didn’t address my SEO needs. I also quickly hit my page limit in my website builder tool. I didn’t realise that the website builder tool had a page limit at the time of buying it.

\There was no easy way of upgrading my existing website builder to a higher version with a higher page limit. My only choice was to create my business website using another CMS platform. Check out my earlier blog on how I went about re-evaluating different tools prior to finalising HubSpot CMS.

My step by step process of creating a website in HubSpot CMS

Select a Theme

Once you sign up for the HubSpot CMS, you are able to choose from many different themes that are available in the HubSpot CMS themes library. These themes have been created and contributed by different agencies and developers. Some themes are free and some are paid.

You can choose from themes that are appropriate to the industry that you work in. I shortlisted two to three themes. I tried out two themes and I picked one. My criteria for selecting a theme was based on the industry I was in and the number of page templates available in the theme.

Plan the type of pages that your website needs

Its quite important to have an understanding of the pages that you need (e.g. Home page, About us, Services etc.), prior to building out your website in HubSpot CMS.

Planning this out is dependent on pre-work which includes what problem are you solving for your target audience; an understanding of what business you are in; what is the goal of your website - is your website going to help you with achieving your marketing goals? If yes, what are those goals?

Answering these questions will give you clarity on the pages that your website needs. Book in a free consultation, if you need some assistance creating marketing goals, digital marketing strategy and planning your website build.

Create page templates

Although, the themes comes with pre-designed page templates, you can still change the look and feel of your page template by configuring the different components on the page template. Decide how many page templates you need. For example: You could potentially use one page template for showcasing your different services, with content varying between them. 

Prepare page content

Write content for your website pages, as you create different page templates. This will give you an idea on how your page will look. It also provides a trigger for topics including - if you need to make your page more visual or if your page needs more content.

Publish your pages

Ask your colleagues or someone you know, to review the pages that you just created using HubSpot CMS. They may pick up things that you may have missed. You could also create a review criteria for them to use while reviewing your pages, depending on what goals you want your website to achieve.

Connect your domain

Do you have a domain already? In my case, I had an existing domain from my previous website. I just connected my domain to the new website that I created using HubSpot CMS. And the website was up and running.

Time taken to create a website in HubSpot CMS

It really depends on a few key things - the amount of clarity you have regarding your value proposition to your customer, the time taken to familiarise yourself with HubSpot CMS tool, the time taken to design/configure page templates and the time taken to create content for your website.