How to create a personal website with Dotcom?

Are you looking to streamline your online presence today? However, are you facing a disadvantage due to lack of coding expertise? Dotcom has got you covered! Change the way you build websites with a no-code drag-and-drop web builder.

Dotcom lets you build websites of any type with our powerful and interactive drag-and-drop builder. In this series of “How to build a website with Dotcom?”, we’ll walk you through how to build websites of any category with Dotcom. So, if you are confused about where to start, you are at the right place.

In this article, we’ll help you with creating a personal website with Dotcom. A personal website is a website that is created and maintained by an individual to present their personal identity, interests, skills, accomplishments, and experiences. It serves as a digital platform where individuals can present themselves, their work, and other details to a wider audience, such as potential employers, clients, or personal connections.

Dotcom lets you give life to your ideas and build a professional-looking personal website without writing a single line of code. Isn’t it exciting? Let’s have a look at the simplest process of building websites - Only with Dotcom.

What Does A Personal Website Include?

Before going through the actual technicalities, let’s see what a personal website typically contains. The design and structure of a personal website can vary widely depending on the individual's preferences and the purpose of the site. Some people go for simple and minimalist designs, while others may incorporate more elaborate layouts, visual elements, and interactive features.

With a personal website, you can achieve a number of benefits.

It can serve as an all-in-one hub for personal branding and can be an effective tool for personal and professional growth in various fields.

The web pages in a personal website should basically include the individual’s name, contact details, and an “About Me” section. They may also feature sections dedicated to displaying their resume, projects, portfolio, blog posts, and any other relevant content that highlights their skills, expertise, or personal interests.

Steps To Create A Personal Website

To be more specific, let’s create a personal website for an individual who has an interest in photography and wants to showcase the skills to a wider audience.

Creating a theme with Dotcom

The first step in the process of building a website is creating a theme. In Dotcom, it is completely hassle-free. Unlike the traditional approach where you have to start writing codes, Dotcom lets you create a layout with an interactive drag-and-drop builder.

Log into your Dotcom account and click Themes from the left navigation panel.

On the Themes page, select Create Theme.

Add a name for your theme in the Create New Theme window. Select Create.

A new theme is created and is listed under the My Themes section. Hover over the three dots and click the Edit option to start designing your website.

Designing the theme with Dotcom

To design a web page, Dotcom offers you a drag-and-drop editor along with engaging components that are listed under two tabs.

You can leverage the components available in these two tabs to create your ideal website.

Theme Style Settings

Let’s start designing by configuring the Theme Style of your website. Switch to this tab.

If you are wondering why we recommend starting with this tab, it is because it sets the stage for your entire website. Using this section, you can customize the style of your fonts, buttons, and colors. It will be the default pattern for all the web pages within your Dotcom website.

This will also save you time by preventing double work in each section of your web page. Imagine needing to check the font style every time, isn’t that a trouble? ???? Instead, you can simply customize it at the beginning.

Theme Style focuses on the following parameters:

Elements And Widgets Customization

Before proceeding with the design, let’s decode what each section does.

Elements - It consists of pre-defined components using which you can design your web pages.

Widgets - It contains the design for your header and footer.

Steps To Add A Header

Start by dragging and dropping a suitable Header widget from the Widgets tab to the design area. Here, you can alter the logo, menu list, and sign-up button.

And the best part? Each of these elements is wrapped in individual boxes called Containers. The perk of having a container is they help to organize the element they surround neatly.

So, in each element, you get to do two types of customizations.

By clicking the edit icon of the element or container, you can adjust its content, style, and advanced settings. This facility is available in both elements and containers.

Now, in the Header, upload your website’s logo - It can be an image (Max 5MB) or text.

Next, alter the menu list in the Menu column. Here, you can rename the menu item and link it to a page, external URL, file, email, or phone number.

Finally, you can customize the button where you can rename it, link it, and incorporate icons.

Steps To Design The Body Section

As it is a photography website, it's important for the homepage to showcase the talent and create an engaging experience for visitors. So, here we are going to design the following sections:

Hero Section

This is the main section that appears at the top of the page and grabs the viewer's attention. It can feature a stunning photograph that represents the photographer's style or a captivating slideshow of their best work.

In Dotcom, you can use the Image element or Slider element to create this section. Just drag and drop the preferred element and add the images of the appropriate size.

After adding it, click the edit icon to adjust the content, style, and advanced settings of the element and the container.

About Me

In this section, you can provide a brief introduction to the photographer, including their name, background, and a personal statement about their passion for photography. This section helps visitors connect with the photographer on a personal level.

You can start by adding the Heading element to name the section. After that, drag and drop the Paragraph element to give a brief introduction about the individual.

Now, select the edit icon to adjust the content, style, and advanced settings of the element and the container.

Portfolio

This section is essential as it showcases a selection of the photographer's best work. Include a variety of subjects and styles to highlight the photographer's versatility.

Drag and drop the Slider element to the layout and upload the best photographs into the slider. Customize the style and advanced settings of the element and the container.

Services

If the photographer offers professional services, such as event photography, portrait sessions, or prints for sale, create a section that outlines these offerings. Include clear descriptions, pricing details, and contact information for inquiries.

You can start by adding the Heading element to name the section. After that, drag and drop the Paragraph element to explain your services along with the contact details.

To customize it further, you can also use the Tabs Element to show different services in multiple tabs.

Awards & Recognitions

If the photographer has received any notable awards, honors, or recognition, create a section to highlight these achievements. This helps to establish their credibility and expertise in the field.

Add the Column element to the design layout. Adjust the number of columns you need depending on the number of awards and recognitions.

Next, add the Image element in each column and upload the images individually along with the essential customizations.

Contact Information

Help your visitors to get in touch with the photographer by providing contact details such as an email address, phone number, and social media handles. You can also include a contact form for inquiries or booking requests.

Add a Heading element to the layout and name it. Next, add the Paragraph element and add the contact information. If you want to include the physical address, add the Google Maps element and link it with the address.

Also, remember to customize the content, style, and advanced settings for each element.

Call-To-Action

Add a prominent call-to-action button or section, such as "Book a Session" or "Explore the Portfolio." This encourages visitors to take action and engage further with the photographer's services or work.

Drag and drop the Form element to the design and customize them according to your preferred call-to-action.

Steps To Add A Footer

Drag and drop a Footer widget from the Widgets tab to the design area. Here, you can alter the logo, menu list, and social media handles depending on your requirements. Customize each section to meet your design requirements.

That ends our design of the Home page. Wasn’t that easy? ???? Likewise, you can design other pages for your website with a click of a button.

Wrapping Up

Be it creating new pages or altering the smallest detail associated with your web page - Dotcom has also sorted it out. The main advantage of this web builder is it is carefully designed after thorough research of different industries. The components available are here to serve the purpose. So, why wait? Stop your research now and create an account today with Dotcom - The best drag-and-drop builder for your personal website.