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An attractive, well-functioning website is an essential tool for businesses that are getting started or beginning to gain traction in the marketplace. It shows visitors the value of your products and services and gives people insight into your brand. It lets potential customers know who you are and what you can do for them.
While creating your company site can seem a little intimidating at first, the right information given step by step can help you during the process. Even experts will tell you that developing your online presence is a constant task, it’s not a one and done proposition. But it can be an enjoyable journey as you discover the options you have at your disposal.
What You Will Need to Consider
There are a few preliminary decisions you will need to make before you can begin the process of creating a website. These include:
- Picking a domain name
- Designing the initial brand elements (free logo maker)
- Choosing a hosting service
- Determining how it will need to function.
- Blog
- Sell merchandise
- Explain services: software or accounting
Once you are clear on these elements, you are ready to begin the process.
Pick a Website Name and Check Its Availability
For newcomers learning how to set up a site, you won’t be able to begin until you have an idea or name chosen. Before you get too far in the development process of your website, check the availability of the names you may be considering.
If the site name is already in use or is currently purchased, there is a chance you could buy it from the current owner. However, keep in mind that established businesses or websites are not likely to sell their domains. You may have to be creative.
Once the availability of a name is confirmed, the next stage of research can begin: hosting.
Pick a Website Hosting Service
What is website hosting?
A hosting service provides the servers to house all the content on your pages. Images, HTML, CSS, and any other elements on your site have to be stored somewhere. Essentially, you rent that storage from a hosting service. Many hosting services also offer additional benefits (such as email or website building tools) when you use their business.
Why It Is Important to Choose a Good Hosting Service
Once your business begins building momentum, you want to have processes you can scale. In terms of hosting, that means you want a provider that offers and pre-integrates as many services as possible. That will save time and money in the long run. These include:
- Pricing structure
- Domain name management
- Security
Choose carefully. Once you start your website, switching hosting services can be a tedious exercise, taking up to 60 days. While it is possible to purchase your domain, host your website, and design your pages separately, many hosting companies offer all-in-one solutions.
Decide How You Will Build Your Website
Depending on the hosting service you select, using a content management system (CMS) may be necessary. Content management systems allow you to manage your web content, such as images, blogs, and other pages. Your hosting service may have a CMS available, or there may be plug-in options for different platforms, such as WordPress.
DIY or Outsource Construction
Another consideration is do-it-yourself website design or hiring a designer. Outsourcing site design is an easy way to build a beautiful customized website. If you do not have experience or are not comfortable designing a site, hiring a professional will save you time in the process. You can focus on the website’s content while the designer creates the visual elements.
Identify and Build the Essential Pages
Before you dive into writing blog posts or extra pages for your site, start with the basic pages. Be sure to include ‘About,’ ‘Contact Us,’ and ‘Home’ pages on your new website. These are the first pages a visitor will go to learn about you or your business. Consider launching your website with a Blog set up and a few posts published as well. Blogs give your visitors more places to explore, and keep them on your site longer.
For eCommerce or small businesses, a ‘Products’ or ‘Services’ page is also essential. Providing your website visitors with as much detail about your business as possible will help build trust and establish your site’s authority. The more information you can add, the more likely it is that website visitors will interact with your pages.
Start Sharing Your Website
Generating traffic organically from search engines can take time. Sharing your page on social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or LinkedIn is a great option to drive traffic to your website. Include your website on any business cards, flyers, or other marketing materials. Paid ads are another option to generate traffic, but plan a budget before launching.
More Tips To Keep in Mind When Setting Up Your Website
User Experience
When deciding what tools to use during website setup, keep in mind the experience you want your end customer to have. For example, if you are an eCommerce business, a checkout flow will be necessary. Find a content management system or hosting service that provides customizability for your checkout experience. Understanding how the user will interact with your website early will reduce the need for adjustments later. Building with user experience in mind will save you time, effort, and money before launching your site.
Mobile-Friendly Design
A surprising number of transactions each day take place on mobile devices. Having your site pages easy to navigate on mobile devices is a sound business decision. Added effort in the design of your website could capture significant revenue and encourage visitors to return.
Learn about Search Engine Optimization (SEO)
Understand the basics of SEO to be findable in search. It can help you grow website traffic much faster. Customers turn to search engines to find information or services they need. Leveraging keywords throughout your website tells search engines the value you offer and will help visitors find your website organically (without having to spend money on ads).
Create a Schedule or Cadence for Updates
Once you launch your website, consistent updates are essential. Updating your website, creating new pages, or publishing blogs can help improve your domain authority. Your website visitors will likely expect updates, so make a schedule as soon as possible once you publish your website.
Install Analytics Tracking before Launch
Website analytics tell the story of your site, how visitors arrived at your page, and if you have grown over time. There are free and paid options for analytics tools that allow you to customize your solution.
Key Takeaways
In the end, setting up a website is not as complicated as it sounds.
Organize your preliminaries and begin. Construct your website in steps: decide on a name, find a hosting service, choose how to build your website (WordPress), and create the essential web pages. These will include your homepage, eCommerce category pages (if relevant), and your product or service pages, all reachable via your category bar.
And while prior research and planning are essential, the important thing is to just get started.