Website Design for Small Businesses
- Level(s) of Study: Professional / Short course
- Course Fee:
This course is available at no cost to eligible participants.
- Start Date(s): 17 April 2024
- Duration: 17 April - 29 May 2024, Wednesdays 6-8.30pm, seven weeks
- Study Mode(s): Short course
- Campus:
- Entry Requirements:
More information
Introduction:
Please note: This course is delivered through the Enterprising Ashfield project, which is funded by the Government's Towns Fund. Nottingham Trent University (NTU) is pleased to offer free (fully funded) places on this course to support individuals and employees of businesses that are based in the towns of Kirkby-in-Ashfield and Sutton-in-Ashfield.
The standard fee would normally be £435.
This is not a one-size-fits-all course in website design.
This course will establish what content you really need to include and what is most appropriate for your business strategy, so that you can successfully drive traffic to your website to attract your target audience.
It's for small business owners, start-up companies and freelancers that wish to create and launch a professional website using widely available, low-cost or free resources.
It's not necessary to purchase a web hosting service as you achieve great results using zero to low-cost options; you'll explore what options are best for your different business models and requirements.
With a limited number of places on the course, you'll have the one-to-one attention you need to ensure you leave with the skills to continue developing your skills at home or work.
Here's what our previous attendees said:
"Before the course I was overwhelmed with no idea where to start , and now I have a clear plan to create a decent website. I enjoyed seeing my ideas come to life, there was a good balance of practical sessions and teaching the theory. I enjoyed it and learnt so much that I will do another course with Enterprising Ashfield, I'd even love to re-do this course again, it was very good."
"Thank you Victoria for a lovely and interesting course. I have learnt a lot and feel more confident I won’t break things!"
"From doing this course I now know so much more about building my brand, and what building a website entails. I got to develop my camera skills and have some great tips on using square space. This was a great course - thank you!"
"It was great to meet people with other small businesses in the area, it was really good to network. This was a really great course to get you started on web design."
"I have just set up a new business and this course was really helpful! I’ve taken away everything that was described in the course, the tutor was amazing and I enjoyed all of it!"
What you’ll study
On this course you will learn how to plan, create and maintain a living website and discover how to grow and nurture your visibility online.
You'll look at key topics, including:
- Why does your business need a website?
- Mood boards, research and analysing your competitors
- What platform should I use? The world of web hosting
- Building your content library
- Designing your website
- SEO and best practices
- Launching and maintenance
It’s a practical, hands-on course with clear actionable steps that you can implement during the course, with plenty of opportunities for feedback.
During this course you will:
- create an elevator pitch to introduce your business and think like a copywriter
- consider how visitors should interact with your website
- understand your brand identity and how this can translate to your website design
- learn industry terminology and how websites are hosted
- explore the different website platforms available and consider which is best for you
- be introduced to what a domain is and how to get one
- breakdown the different types of content, from text and images to graphics and video
- receive a crash-course in user experience and making a mock-up site
- understand what SEO and Analytics are, so your audience can find you.
You’ll plan a checklist for launching your website and consider how to maintain it once live, so that you feel confident to get your website published.
What will you gain?
By the end of this course, you will have built or be well on your way to building your own website.
You’ll leave with the confidence to critically analyse your business and make informed decisions on what your website should look like, and what platforms to use.
How you’re taught
This course will be based at the Summit Centre in Kirkby-in-Ashfield.
Contact hours
17 April - 29 May 2024, Wednesdays 6-8.30pm, seven weeks
The course will also run on the following dates:
7 August - 18 September 2024, Wednesdays 6-8.30pm, seven weeks
16 October - 27 November 2024, Wednesdays 6-8.30pm, seven weeks
Entry requirements
No previous qualifications or experience is required but you must be confident using basic computer functions.
To be eligible for a place, you must live or work in the towns of Kirkby-in-Ashfield or Sutton-in-Ashfield. To check if your home or work postcode is eligible visit the Enterprising Ashfield postcode checker page.
Getting in touch
If you need more help or information, get in touch through our enquiry form
Fees and funding
This course is available at no cost to eligible participants.
How to apply
Click to here apply
If you have any questions about this course, you can email EnterprisingAshfield@ntu.ac.uk or call us at +44 (0)115 848 2813.
