2. Getting Started
To get started, I first created an account with Wix. This was quick and easy,
so I was able to begin creating my website straight away. I went for a blank
template so I could have as much freedom as possible.
3. Initially I added the band logo to the
top of the page. Underneath I decided
to put my navigation bar. Using the
‘Add Page’ button I could add each
page, one at a time and choose the
layout or theme of the page. This
meant, for example, I could choose that
the Bio page would include an image
and text.
5. The ‘Add’ option brought up a menu full of page components that you could add.
Each option then had it’s own menu with different styles. For example, below, the
different styles of galleries were shown. Clicking on one would insert it onto the
current page. To add photos you clicked on the gallery and chose the ‘Manage
Photos’ option in order to upload the images. Wix could then automatically input
them into the gallery or you could choose an order.
6. I wanted to add a
background to my
website, but could not find a
way to upload my own
background. However, there
was a HUGE choice of
backgrounds chosen by Wix
that I could look through.
I wanted a slightly ‘grungey’
theme to keep with the
conventions of alternative
rock band websites that I had
already seen. I also decided
to stick with black and white
as adding colours would
make the page look much
more complicated when I
added text and images.
7. Uploading images to the
website was really quick
and easy. Once I had
uploaded images, they
stayed on my account.
This was really great
because I could access
them on my own
computer and on the
school computers. I
could also upload
multiple images which
was a lot easier than
doing it individually. Not
only could I upload my
own images, but I could
choose from clipart too.
The Wix clipart included
social networking icons
which was brilliant.
8. I was also able to add my music video track onto the website! You can create a
whole playlist and choose the design of the player. As I only had the one song
though, I was only able to add one song to the playlist.
9. I added icons to
represent other social
media pages for the
band. I actually created
a real Facebook page
which I could link to the
Facebook icon. If I
wanted to create a real
Twitter page however, I
would have had to
create a new e-mail
address. This means
that the RRS and
Twitter icons do not
have links.
10. The Facebook Page
My Facebook page for the band
included; status updates about
gigs, information about the
band, a link to the real Wix
website and a profile picture of
the band’s logo.
11. I found that trying to fit photos to the top of the page was very difficult and it looked
much too plain with just the logo and no images. Each time I tried to resize or crop and
images it would crop too much of it or just warp it. Therefore I decided to make my
own header for the website in Photoshop. I chose an image of the band, which I
cropped to size. I then faded the left side to black so I could put the logo here.
However, because the logo was black on white, I needed to invert the colours so that
the writing was in white. I then uploaded this to my website and placed it at the top of
the page, above the navigation bar.
12. Merchandise
To make my website look more authentic, I also added a Merchandise store
page. In Photoshop, I was able to create two fake t-shirt designs featuring
the band logo. I got both the male and female t-shirt images from custom
clothing websites. Wix enables you to create an online ‘store’ with your
products and prices on show.
13. I was able to add product descriptions and prices using the Manage Products
tool. I was also able to select different colours that the products came in.
14. Wix also has a feature where you can choose frames for images. I particularly
liked the ‘Tape’ frames which really suited the grunge theme of the website.
15. When I created the gigs page I did wonder how I would add the information for how to
buy tickets. I then realised that rather than my band having their own tour, they could be
supporting a bigger band. This meant that I could link my ticketing information to the
real band’s touring page! I chose You Me At Six because they are of a similar genre to my
band. I asked people who heard my track what other bands they liked and sounded
similar and You Me At Six were mentioned several times.
16. The last page to complete was the Contact page. Wix had a number of contact box designs. I
decided to go for a more basic design so I could change the colours myself. I also decided to
put an image behind it and change the opacity slightly.
17. I was able to upload multiple photographs into the gallery at the same time and choose
which order I wanted them to appear in. There were many different gallery styles to choose
from too!
18. Video Page
The video page was the quickest to put together. Once my music video
was completely I simply embedded the video from YouTube, chose the
design and wrote my description.
19. Conclusion
I am really pleased with the final results of my website!
Throughout the process, I continually referred to my
example websites so that I could keep within the
conventions of Alternative Rock band websites.
Wix was a really useful website, however at times it
was challenging as there are so many templates and set
designs. I managed to work with these and create
something that I felt was also my own by adding my
own images and designs.