If you’re wondering what to build first with ESTAGE, start with the people you want your hub to serve.
A useful starting point is to decide who your hub is for and what you want them to be able to do there. Then choose one small piece that supports that purpose. You don’t need to plan every page, feature, or future offer before you begin.
ESTAGE documentation explains that you can create a project, describe what you want to build to Genesis, review the live preview, and refine it. The project dashboard also asks what you’re building so you can choose a project type. Those instructions help with getting started in the builder. The decision about what would be useful for your people comes from your business.
1. What to build first with ESTAGE: start with the people your hub will serve
Write down one group of people you want to help. Keep it specific enough that you can picture their situation.
For example, “small business owners” is broad. “Independent consultants who need a clear way for prospective clients to understand their services and get in touch” gives you more to work with. The second description suggests what a visitor may need to find and do.
If you serve several groups, choose one to focus on for your first pass. You can revisit the choice as you learn more.
Try this: Complete the sentence, “This hub is for people who ______.” Then write down one question or task those people bring to you.
2. Choose one useful action
Now consider what you want someone from that group to be able to do when they visit.
They might want to understand your service, compare a few options, read a useful guide, contact you, join a community, or see what happens next. Pick one action to focus on first.
This choice helps you avoid starting with a feature list. A page, form, article, or community area is useful when it supports a real purpose. The right starting piece depends on what your business offers and what your audience needs to do; there isn’t one universal first page for every hub.
Try this: Write, “After visiting my hub, I want people to be able to ______.” If the answer is “everything,” narrow it to one action you can explain in a sentence.
3. Pick the smallest piece that supports that action
Once you know the audience and the action, choose a first build that can help make it possible.
If people need to understand your service, a clear service page may be a useful starting point. If they need to contact you, a contact page or enquiry form may matter more. If they need to learn before they decide, a short guide or a helpful article could be a better first piece. These are examples to help you think; check your own offer and audience before choosing.
The goal is not to build the smallest hub possible forever. It’s to make a clear first choice, review it, and learn what the next useful piece should be.
Try this: Finish the sentence, “The first useful thing I want to build is ______ because it will help ______ do ______.”
4. Describe the job to Genesis
After you’ve chosen the first piece, explain it to Genesis in plain language. Include the people it is for, what they need to do, and the content or sections you want the page or feature to contain.
For example:
> Build a service page for independent consultants who are considering working with me. Help them understand what I offer, who it is for, and how to enquire. Include a clear heading, a short explanation of the service, the next steps, and a contact form.
Treat this as a starting description, not the final plan. ESTAGE FAQ says Genesis plans and builds from a plain-language description, then you can refine through chat or the visual editor while reviewing a live preview.
Before you send your description, check that it says:
- Who the page or feature is for.
- What you want them to understand or do.
- What content or sections are needed.
- Any details Genesis should leave out or keep unchanged.
A focused request gives you something concrete to review. If the first version needs changes, that is part of the build process: check the preview against your original purpose and explain what needs adjusting.
5. Review the first build against its purpose
When the preview is ready, read it as if you were the person you chose to serve. Can they tell what the page is about? Can they find the action you intended? Is anything confusing, missing, or unnecessary?
Write down the changes you want before asking Genesis to refine the page. For example: “Make the next step clearer,” or “Move the enquiry form closer to the service details.” Keep each request tied to the purpose you chose.
You can also ask someone who represents your intended audience to review the page and tell you what they understand. Treat their feedback as one person’s perspective, then look for patterns before drawing broad conclusions.
A simple first-build plan
Before you open Genesis, write down:
1. Who the hub is for: one group to focus on first.
2. What they need: one question, problem, or task to address.
3. What they should do: one useful action.
4. What to build first: one page or feature that supports that action.
5. How you’ll review it: what you’ll check in the preview.
This plan does not need to settle your whole business or map every future feature. It gives your first build a reason to exist and gives you something clear to review.
As your business and audience become clearer, you can decide what to add next. HubSteady’s approach is to help you decide what to build, work through the Genesis request, and choose a useful improvement afterward.
Continue your HubSteady Lite path in the HubSteady Community The course continues from audience research into alternatives, voice, and positioning.
FAQs
What should I build first with ESTAGE?
Start by deciding who your hub is for and what you want them to do. Then choose one page or feature that supports that action. The right first build depends on your audience and offer.
Do I need to plan my whole hub before using Genesis?
The suggested approach here is to choose one useful starting piece, build it, and review it before planning every later addition.
How do I ask Genesis to build it?
Describe who the page is for, what they need to do, and the sections or content you want. Review the preview and refine it. ESTAGE documents building from a plain-language description and then refining in chat or the visual editor.
