In this three-part course, web designer Jennifer Merritt will walk you through the steps of building a website from scratch. Take all three parts, or just one or two. Participants should have a basic understanding of browsers, commonly used software applications, an active email address, a laptop, and be able to resize and crop photos.

Part 1 (Meets twice) -- Developing your Website’s Brand: Gathering and organizing content before building your website is essential to maintaining a consistent and effective message. Develop your brand and prepare your content and decide on essential branding elements such as logos, colors, and fonts.

Part 2 (Meets four times) -- Build Your Website: This class is perfect for DIYers, small business owners, and anyone looking to create a portfolio or blog. You’ll build a website in a supportive group setting, learning the essentials of web design and navigation through a user-friendly website editor.

Part 3 (Meets twice) -- Search Engine Optimization (SEO) for Small Businesses: Learn key concepts in local SEO, traditional SEO, and image SEO and gain practical skills in setting up your website for long-term growth. Develop a deeper understanding of how search engines find websites, and advance quickly with the resources and check-lists while planning your SEO strategy.

When:  Tuesdays, 9/10 and 9/17 (Part 1), 9/24 to 10/15 (Part 2) and/or 10/22 and 10/29 (Part 3)