In this modern world, it is no longer realistic to run a business without an online presence. Without a website, you will fall behind competitors and lose out on revenue. Building a website is not as complicated as it appears to be. By following the guidelines of a few steps, you will be able to create a website and get it up and running in no time at all.
Importance of Having a Website
First, let’s delve into the importance of creating a website in the first place. One of the most important reasons is that it allows you to easily connect with your client base. For example, if a client wanted to know your hours of operation, all they would have to do is check your website. Otherwise, they would consider it to be too much of a hassle, and they would go somewhere else. Another reason for having a website is that it can be available to customers 24/7, even if your physical store is not open. Clients can place orders on your site at 3 am if they want, which will make them happy that they don’t have to wait.
Step 1 – Determine the Website’s Purpose
At a minimum, a website should convey basic information about a company. This could include prices, locations, hours, and services available. If you want to make it a little more complex, you could add a section of your website for customers to shop. If you choose to do so, you will need to keep in mind that you will need an external source to accept payments.
Step 2 – Pick Your Domain Name
Your domain name will be the web address that customers type into the search bar to find you. You will want it to align with your business and also to be memorable to customers. However, do not make it too complicated for people to easily access. Once you have chosen your domain name, you will need to register it with an accredited source.
Step 3 – Choose Your Website Platform
If this is your first time creating a website, you should start simple. WordPress is a good option for small business websites because it is very user-friendly. WordPress is also free, which may help in terms of finding an economical option. WordPress makes it easy for you to add and customize multiple pages of your site, making it an interesting experience for the customer to visit.
Step 4 – Find a Web Hosting Provider
To make your site go live, you will need a web hosting provider. They will be providing the server space to store the files of your site. There are a wide variety of providers and hosting plans, so you should conduct some research before making a final decision. As a first-time user, you will likely just need a shared hosting plan, which is one of the most basic options.
Step 5 – Design Your Website
Now comes the fun part. You will be able to set your website up to look exactly as you like it. This includes adding a theme, photos, and text. As a general rule of thumb, you should have five different web pages for your site, homepage, products, about us, contact us, and blog section. These pages should have a good amount of text but not be overpowering. You are looking to entice customers and not overwhelm them by the amount of content on the page. If you are having trouble with this step, try hiring a web designer to work with you. They will be able to smooth out the content and make it more pleasing to the eye.
Step 6 – Test Your Website
Finally, it is time to test your website and see if it works. Before you publish it, you will want to make sure that all your text is visible, your photos align properly, and all of your links work. Go through the site, page by page, and take note of anything that you need to fix. After that, you are good to make your site go live!
