Guide to Creating a Minimum Viable Website (MVW)

1. Introduction

A Minimum Viable Website (MVW) is a simple, effective website designed to get your online presence established quickly. The goal is to create a functional site that can be indexed by Google without getting bogged down in complex designs or features.

2. Web Design Principles

2.1 Design for Conversions

• Consider your website as the central hub for your business and traffic
• Focus on ranking on Google, getting traffic, and driving conversions

2.2 Design for Good User Experience

• Ensure proper heading structure
• Use black text on a white background for readability
• Optimize images and page speed
• Avoid bloated designs or unnecessary plugins

2.3 Design for Simplicity

• Avoid flashy designs
• Use pleasing fonts, colors, and layouts
• Aim to keep visitors on the page longer

3. Design Elements

3.1 Fonts

• Use standard fonts like Helvetica, Arial, Roboto, or Poppins
• Use one font for headings and another for paragraph text
• Implement proper font hierarchy (H1, H2, H3, H4)
• Ensure headers are darker or bolder than regular text

3.2 Colors

• Use complementary colors (opposite on the color wheel)
• Limit to two main colors for your site
• Use tools like colors.co to generate complementary color schemes

4. Core Pages of an MVW

4.1 Homepage

• Center focus of your brand
• Include:
• Hero image
• Call to action
• Brief introduction
• Featured content or categories

4.2 Blog Archive Page

• Central hub for all blog posts
• Keep it simple with or without a sidebar
• Consider adding a call to action for email list or products

4.3 Blog Post Page

• Individual blog post content
• Minimize white space
• Ensure featured images don’t distract from content
• Include a clear heading structure and table of contents

4.4 About Me Page

• Share your story and connect with your audience
• Aim for 1,200 to 1,500 words
• Include a call to action for social media profiles

5. Navigation

5.1 Menu

• Start with the four core pages (Easy mode)
• Add categories as you grow (Medium mode)
• Eventually, create a customized header menu (Advanced mode)

5.2 Footer

• Include important links (disclaimers, disclosures)
• Add featured posts or an about me link
• Consider including social media links

6. Key Takeaways

• Don’t overcomplicate your initial design
• Focus on writing good content and building authority
• Start simple and add features as you grow
• Prioritize getting indexed by Google and attracting traffic

Remember, the goal is to create a functional, simple website that can grow with your content and traffic. Don’t get caught up in perfecting the design initially – focus on creating valuable content and establishing your online presence.