Step 4: Replace the examples

Your site came with a few example entries. They are on your live website now, so this is the step that matters most.

The rule for every one of them: make your own entry first, then move the example to the Trash.

Why not just type over it

Because of the address. The example service lives at yoursite.com/services/example-service, and typing your own name into it does not move it. You would be handing customers a link with the word example in it.

A new entry gets a clean address built from the name you type.

Warning

On a new entry the Slug fills itself in from the name. That is the last part of the web address, and it should be set once, while the entry is new.

Change it later and every link to that page stops working. Saving and publishing has the full warning.

The checklist

1. Services

Two example services are published. Open Services.

• Click Add New and write up one real job you do.
• Give it a Short summary, a photo and a Price from if you have one.
• Click Publish.
• Repeat until every job you want work for is listed.
• Move both EXAMPLE services to the Trash.

Three or four services read better than ten. Put the money-makers first with Sort order.

2. Testimonials

One example quote is published. Open Testimonials.

Warning

Only put up reviews a real customer really gave you, and ask them first. Made up praise is against the law in most places, and it reads as fake to everybody else.

• Add the real quotes you have, one entry each.
• A first name and a last initial is plenty.
• Move the EXAMPLE quote to the Trash.

No real reviews yet? Move the example one to the Trash and come back when you have one. An empty section is better than a fake one.

3. Service Area

The list of towns in your footer. It holds two example rows. Open Service Area.

• Type your own towns over the example rows.
• Add a row for each town you cover.
• Click Publish.

This is a list, not a set of pages, so typing over a row is fine here.

4. Town pages

One example town page is published, and it has an address of its own. Open Service Area Pages.

• Add a page for a town worth a real push, if you want one.
• Move the EXAMPLE town page to the Trash.

Most businesses need one or two of these, and some need none. Moving the example one to the Trash and stopping there is a fine answer.

5. Food menus

Skip this unless Menus (Food) is in your menu.

Your site starts with one example menu and one example section. Open Menus (Food) and Menu Sections (Food).

• Rename the menu, or add your own and trash the example.
• Add a section for each part of your menu, with your dishes in it.
• Type prices the way you want them read, such as $4.50.
• Move anything named EXAMPLE to the Trash.

What done looks like

Open each of those lists and look down the All tab. Not one row starts with EXAMPLE.

Then click View Site and read your Services page. It should read like your business and nobody else’s.

Important

Move to Trash takes an entry off your website but keeps it. Nothing is lost, and you can get it back from the Trash tab. See Saving and publishing.

Next: Step 5: Read every page.