Considering the rapid rhythm in which everything changes today, it’s not a wonder. The Internet has the greatest influence on our lives. It has also changed the face of education. People use the Internet in many ways within the education system. One perfect example is creating a school or educational website.
Need some motivation and some good reasons why you should engage in creating an educational website? Here are some of the main benefits that come with this:
It’s less expensive than you’d think. Especially, if you use WordPress. You will need around $60 for a professionally and completely functional site. You will also need $3-$5 for a basic hosting plan, and you have to pay this amount each month.
You can do it yourself. Yes, you read that right. WordPress is one of the easiest to use when it comes to creating websites. You can get a much more precise idea upon this, once you’ve finished reading this article.
It completely changes the way other people perceive the educational establishment for which the site was created. It will grow the reputation among students, parents, and teachers. Additionally, it can help you, as a teacher, to organize your work much better.
If you’re now convinced an educational website is exactly what was missing from your agenda, consider the next steps. Look at the steps to follow in the process of creating such a site. If you want to make education website at the very cheap rate, you should do it with WordPress. We will discuss how to make an education website without any cost. We will provide a proper guideline with WordPress.
Think about what the site should contain
There are some aspects without which a site would never be considered professional. Those are:
The Homepage, which is the front page of the site. It should contain the logo of the school, some relevant photos and relevant information about specific events or programs. In case you have no logo yet, you can utilize some free online logo design tools for instance.
The About page is where you provide more information about the location of the school. You can include the history and certifications, and so on.
The Courses page, where you can present the types of courses available at your school
The Info page, where you can give detailed information about the teachers and other team members of the school
The Contact page, so that everyone interested in learning more about your institution can contact you via phone, email, or come to the specified location
And last but not least, the Registration form page, where students interested in individual courses can register.
Of course, you can adjust this list of elements, depending on the purpose of the educational website you need.
Think of a domain name
Every site has a name, which means yours should have one too. Keep in mind that the name should be unique. It should represent your educational institution or that site. At first, you might think that no name is good enough for your site. However, you’ll have to stick to one. That name is the identity of the brand, so make sure it stands out.
Don’t forget about the hosting plan
Once you’ve chosen a domain name, you’ll have to register and check if it’s not already taken by someone else. In case you’re lucky, and the domain name is available, waste no more time and register it. Make sure you get a hosting plan. This is the only way your site will be visible on the World Wide Web. It’s where the website resides, in fact. Prices may vary based on the features you choose. Seek professional help if this task feels beyond your responsibilities.
Only now you can install WordPress
Observe how you had to go through certain critical steps before you; actually, got to the part you install WordPress? We’ll be honest with you – creating an educational site using WordPress is natural if you pay attention to details. You must follow the right steps. Make sure to avoid the most common site creating mistakes.
Install the right theme
The most significant advantage of WordPress is its variety of pre-made themes. These themes can fit nearly any industry, subject, or idea you might have. You don’t have to spend time thinking about how the site should look like, especially, if you’re in a hurry. You can browse through their list. Pick a theme that would best suit your purpose. In this case, it’s an educational site. Once you’ve found your theme, install it. Start playing with it. Change the layout, the appearance, the colours, the design, and so on.
Bonus tip: look for a theme that is SEO ready. These themes will rank higher in the Google search results’ pages. This means your site will become visible faster. People will learn about it in less time.
Plugins are also important
WordPress provides various plugins that can help the site be more efficient and expand its functionality. Search for school’s plug-ins and see which one matches your interests best. You can choose plug-ins that help you manage courses. You can even create courses using these plug-ins. Some plug-ins allow you to receive payments for your classes.
Relevant content is the key to success
So, you’ve decided upon the domain name, the right WordPress theme, and the most helpful plug-ins. But what do you do with them? How do you make the most out of them? You need the right content on your site. Spend as much time as you need to ensure it is relevant for your students. This content should keep them engaged and enthusiastic about the courses presented there, about the idea of learning something new. According to some studies on “engagement cliff” performed in 2009, nearly 75% of fifth-graders were engaged with school. In comparison, only 32% of 11th-graders were engaged.
Keeping things interesting is the most critical aspect, and the content is the key to success. Some news and events are happening around the school. They present some students’ success stories or some parents’ testimonials. These are only a few examples of ways in which you can keep your audience interested and engaged.
Final thoughts
At first, creating a WordPress site seems too complicated for someone unfamiliar with this type of work. However, it is more straightforward than many might think. The secret is to follow the guidelines and to pay attention to details.
BIO: Mollie Porein is high skilled web content writer. She knows how to write a philosophy paper. She is interested in topics about education, writing, blogging, motivation, etc. Connect with her on LinkedIn and follow her on Twitter.
