How I Built My Website, Set Up Social Media, Created Graphics, and Posted 4 Blogs in 3 Days – While Working a 9-5 Job!
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When I set out to launch my website and get my business rolling, I knew it would be a challenge. Between a full-time job, daily responsibilities, and limited experience with web design, it felt almost impossible. But here’s the thing: if I can do it, you can too. Here’s how I did it with Shopify, Canva, social media, and some serious time management.
Day 1: Setting Up the Website with Shopify
The first step was to secure my domain, which I did directly through Shopify’s app, making it quick and easy. I wanted a professional website that would look polished without needing coding knowledge. Shopify’s templates and drag-and-drop design tools made it possible.
1. Choose a Template: I started by browsing Shopify’s templates and picked one that suited my brand. I went for a clean, minimalistic layout that would let my products stand out.
2. Customize the Look: With Shopify’s customization tools, I adjusted colors, fonts, and layout elements. I spent a few hours on this to make sure everything felt cohesive and on-brand.
3. Add Products and Pages: Next, I created product listings, set up a homepage, and added “About” and “Contact” pages. Shopify’s intuitive setup makes it easy to add quality images and clear descriptions, helping my site look professional right from the start.
4. Set Up Payment and Shipping Options: Lastly, I configured payment methods and shipping settings. Shopify’s step-by-step guide made this a breeze, and within a few hours, I had a live website!
Day 2: Creating Graphics with Canva and Setting Up Social Media
With the website ready, I turned to Canva for branded visuals for social media, the site itself, and my upcoming blog posts.
1. Define Brand Colors and Fonts: I selected a color scheme and fonts for a cohesive look across all visuals. Canva’s brand kit feature was incredibly helpful for quick access to these settings.
2. Create Templates: I set up templates in Canva for Instagram posts, blog headers, and Facebook banners. Canva’s pre-made templates sped up this process significantly, as I could quickly customize them with my brand colors and text.
3. Set Up Social Media Accounts: With graphics ready, I created social media accounts on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter, uploading my newly designed profile and cover images.
4. Schedule Initial Posts: Using Canva, I created some introductory posts to announce the brand, share the website launch, and build excitement. Then, I scheduled these posts to go live using a free social media management tool, allowing me to maintain consistency across platforms.
Day 3: Writing and Posting Four Blog Posts
Now that my website and social media profiles were live, it was time to populate the blog section. Here’s how I managed to write and post four blog posts in just one day.
1. Outline the Topics: I spent about an hour brainstorming and outlining four blog topics relevant to my audience. I focused on subjects I was already familiar with, saving research time and allowing me to write quickly.
2. Set Up Blog Templates in Shopify: Shopify’s blogging feature made it simple to set up a blog section and maintain a cohesive layout. I used a consistent template across posts to save time.
3. Write in Blocks: To maximize efficiency, I worked in sections—writing all introductions first, then moving to body content, and finally conclusions. This approach helped me stay focused and work faster.
4. Design Blog Graphics: For each post, I created quick header images in Canva and a few shareable graphics for social media promotion. Using Unsplash for quality, free stock images also saved time and ensured my visuals looked professional.
5. Proofread and Publish: After a quick proofread, I published the posts directly to Shopify and scheduled social media announcements to drive traffic.
Final Thoughts: If I Can Do It, You Can Too!
Building a website, creating social media graphics, and posting four blogs in three days was intense, but with the right tools and approach, it’s absolutely doable. Here are my top tips:
• Prioritize Essential Tasks: Focus on the essentials to make your site functional and visually appealing, and worry about extra features later.
• Use Templates: Both Shopify and Canva offer templates that save time and give a polished look to your site and social media content.
• Batch Tasks: When writing, focus only on writing; when designing, focus on design. This kind of task batching helps improve efficiency.
• Leverage Tools for Speed: Canva and Unsplash were invaluable for creating professional graphics fast. Additionally, ChatGPT was a great resource for inspiration and drafting content, especially when time was tight.
If you’re considering launching a brand while balancing a full-time job, remember that it doesn’t require extensive experience or tons of time. With tools like Shopify, Canva, and a few strategic moves, anyone can bring their ideas to life. If I can do it, you can too!