To create an effective website, here are five questions that can guide you.

1. Message: what do you want to say?
2. Audience: who do you want to reach? How do you want  your audience to react?
3. Content creation and updating: How do you plan to create and update the web content?
   
4. Style: Are there design aspects of other websites that you like and wish incorporate in your own presentation.

Ultimately, a website is simply a vessel to tell your story.  Your story, the content and a practical updating strategy are key.  Technical design simply enhances the story.