A beginner’s guide to creating an education website

Online education has become increasingly relevant. The COVID-19 pandemic forced many schools and universities to move their instruction online, and this trend continued even after the pandemic was over. Additionally, the rise of technology has made it easier to deliver online courses.

Even some of the most prestigious universities in the world also shifted to offering online degree programs, including Harvard University, Yale University, and Stanford University.

Hence, an online presence is more important than ever to stay relevant in the education industry. 

In this article, we’ll discuss the importance of a website for your educational institute and the steps to create one.

Importance of an education website

Education websites are important in today's education. It acts as a digital hub where teachers can share resources, interact with students, and create an engaging learning experience. This platform makes educational content easily available to a wide range of learners, no matter where they are. 

One of the main benefits of an education website is that it helps students feel connected to each other and their teachers. The website can provide spaces for students to discuss topics, chat, and work on group projects. This online interaction helps to mimic the social aspect of traditional classrooms, which can keep students engaged and motivated to learn.

For teachers, education websites can help them see how their students are doing. Teachers can see their students' quiz scores, how often they participate in discussions, and which topics they are struggling with. This information can help teachers adjust their teaching methods and content to better meet the needs of their students.

Common types of education website

Online learning platform

An online learning platform is a website or app that provides students with access to educational content and resources. This content can include lectures, videos, quizzes, assignments, and more. Online learning platforms also typically offer features that allow students to interact with each other and with their teachers, such as discussion forums and chat rooms. This can help students to stay motivated and on track with their studies.

Educational institution’s website

An educational institution's website is a website that is created and maintained by an educational institution, such as a school, college, or university. It provides information about the institution, its programs, admissions, faculty, and resources. These websites often have dedicated sections for students, parents, and alumni.

Educational resource portals

These websites provide a collection of educational materials and resources, such as lesson plans, worksheets, tutorials, and interactive tools. These resources are often targeted at teachers, students, and parents.

Must-have features of an education website

An effective education website should offer a range of features that enhance the learning experience and facilitate easy interaction between educators and learners.

Here are some essential features your education website should have:

Compelling web design

Think of your education website as a showcase of who you are and what your school stands for. It should reflect your identity consistently, while also letting the unique aspects of each department shine.

Using real pictures of your campus, students, facilities, and staff will give potential students a real sense of what being at your college or university is truly like. Also, a clean and stylish design will leave a strong and lasting first impression.

Visual content

A successful college website uses pictures, videos, and moving content to catch people's interest. Humans are visual learners, so show visual elements to better get your message across. Use a mix of pictures, videos, and content that moves as you scroll, not just on the main page but also on other pages, to keep users engaged and interested.

Intuitive search functionality

Especially on educational websites, where visitors are often looking for specific courses, programs, or resources, an intuitive search function simplifies the process. Users can quickly access the information they need without having to spend unnecessary time clicking around the site.

Responsive design

Students today expect eLearning courses to be accessible on multiple devices. This is because students are increasingly using a variety of devices, such as laptops, tablets, and smartphones, to access the internet and learn on the go. 

Responsive design makes a website flexible and adaptable to different screen sizes and devices. This means that your website will look good and be easy to use, regardless of whether a user views it on a desktop computer, laptop, tablet, or smartphone.

Easy-to-use CMS

A content management system (CMS) is a tool that makes it easy to update and manage the content of a website. Your CMS should be simple and easy to use, even for people who are not familiar with web development. It should also allow administrators to control who can see and edit different parts of your website.

When choosing a CMS, it’s important to consider the needs of your institution. Some factors to consider include the size of your institution, the number of people who will be using the CMS, and the level of technical expertise available.

How to create an education website

1. Register a domain name

A domain name is the address of your website on the Internet. It’s what people will type into their browser to visit your website.

When choosing a domain name, it’s important to pick one that’s relevant to education, easy to spell, and short. 

As you brainstorm domain names, consider these tips:

• Include words related to your institution to help your site show up in search results.
• Use simple, easy-to-spell name to avoid confusion.
• Keep your domain name short. They’re easier to remember.
• Steer clear of abbreviations, acronyms, hyphens, and numbers.
• Pick relevant TLDs. Traditional domain endings like .com or .net are trustworthy, but you can also choose one that aligns well with your content, like .edu.
• Make sure your chosen domain isn't already in use. While you can buy an existing one, this can be costly. It might be simpler to find another option or use a different domain ending.

If you're stuck, our AI domain name generator can help you brainstorm ideas. All you need to do is provide words or brief descriptions, and the domain name generator will give a variety of domain name ideas for you.

2. Find a website host

Now that you have a domain name, it’s time to pick a website host. 

A website host is a company that stores your website's files and makes them accessible to visitors. Look for one that's reliable, easy to use, and provides good support. Consider factors like how much space you need, how many people will visit your site, and if you want to use specific tools or software.

We've got some tips on how to choose the best website host:

• Understand your website needs. Think about the features you need, like the ability to upload videos, have discussion forums, or run quizzes. Make sure your host offers what you're looking for.
• Think about the size of your website. If you have a small website, you can get away with a shared hosting plan. However, if you have a large website or expect a lot of traffic, you will need a dedicated or VPS hosting plan.
• Make sure your host has good speed and uptime records. A fast website that's always online is important. 
• Think about the future. If your website becomes more popular, will your host be able to handle the increased traffic?
• Website hosting can range in price from a few dollars per month to hundreds of dollars per month. Choose a plan that fits your budget and your needs. 
• Before you choose a website host, read reviews from other users. This will help you get an idea of the company's reliability and customer service.
• Look for dedicated support. If you run into problems, you'll want quick and helpful customer support. 

3. Pick a website design template

The right design template can make a big difference in the look and feel of your website, as well as its functionality. Web.com offers various website templates that are tailored to different styles and purposes.

When selecting a template, consider the following:

• Layout. Choose a layout that suits the educational content you plan to provide. Some templates might be more suitable for blogs, while others might be better for showcasing online courses or tutoring services.
• Color scheme. Select colors that resonate with your educational brand and create a visually appealing atmosphere for your visitors.
• Navigation. Ensure that the template has clear and intuitive navigation menus to help users find the information they need easily.

4. Create informative and engaging content

Next, focus on creating content that's both interesting and informative. This could include writing articles, making videos, or sharing information about your educational services. The key is to provide valuable resources that engage your audience and showcase your expertise. For instance, if you offer courses, develop detailed course descriptions and engaging material that helps students understand what they'll learn.

5. Launch your website

With your content in place, it's time to launch your website. Set up your domain and hosting settings, test your website thoroughly on various devices and browsers to ensure it looks and functions correctly, and optimize it for search engines using appropriate keywords and descriptions. 

6. Promote your website

Promotion is important for anyone who wants to attract visitors to their website. There are many ways to promote a website, but some of the most effective methods include:

• Social media. Social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn are a great way to connect with potential students and their families. By creating profiles on relevant platforms and sharing your content, you can reach a wider audience and drive traffic to your website.
• Online advertising. Online advertising can be a very effective way to target your desired audience. Platforms like Google Ads allow you to show your ads to people who are searching for specific keywords or phrases. This can help you reach people who are actively interested in learning more about your school.
• Email marketing. Email marketing is a great way to stay in touch with potential students and their families. By collecting email addresses, you can send regular updates about your school, its programs, and events. This can help you keep your school top of mind and encourage people to visit your website.

7. Keep your website up to date

Your online journey doesn’t end the moment your website goes live. It’s important to regularly update your website using secure web practices and personalized web design to maintain its relevance. Continuously refresh your content, removing outdated information and adding new resources to keep your visitors engaged. 

3 important education website design tips

Prioritize user-centered design

Tailor your website's layout, features, and content to cater to the needs and preferences of your target audience – students, parents, teachers, or other stakeholders. Consider the user journey and make sure that essential information is easily accessible. For instance, prominently feature course offerings, enrollment details, and contact information.

By placing the user at the forefront of your design decisions, you create an engaging and intuitive experience that encourages visitors to explore your website further.

Simplify navigation and organization 

Simplicity in navigation and organization is key to ensuring that visitors can easily find the information they're looking for. Use clear and concise menu labels that accurately represent different sections of your website, such as "Courses," "About Us," and "Contact." Arrange content logically, grouping related items together and using submenus if necessary. Avoid clutter by prioritizing essential information and using a clean layout.

Consider readability and visual appeal

Choose fonts that are easy to read and maintain a consistent font size throughout the site. Incorporate images, videos, and graphics that are relevant to your educational offerings and visually enhance the content. Visual elements should not only be aesthetically pleasing but also reinforce the educational message you want to convey. By maintaining a harmonious blend of readability and appealing visuals, you create an engaging and informative platform that captures visitors' attention and encourages them to explore further.

Ready to build your website?

Making a website can be challenging. It needs careful planning and testing to make sure it works well. Luckily, with easy website builders like Web.com’s DIY Builder, you can now create an education website that looks modern and does what it’s supposed to do, even if you're not a tech expert. You can choose from a wide variety of professionally made templates that you can easily customize as your own.