The Secret of Successful Small Business Website

Running a small business implies that you may not have the budget to outsource a particular task. For example, hiring a web designer can be costly when setting up an online presence. However, it tends to be hard to create a small business website.

When creating a website, there is no one-size-fits-all solution. Before you start, you need to consider your goals so that you can execute the best design elements and tools to accomplish them.

For example, a dental office needs a website that is different from an architectural firm. The fact that you want your visitors to know about your real business or sell online can also have a significant effect on your site’s performance.

When you start the process of creating a small business website, ask yourself the following questions:

What information do I need to convey to my site visitors?

What action do you want your visitors to take after viewing your site (for example, buying a product online, going to a physical store, requesting a quote, etc.)?

How do you view products and services?

Do you need an online portfolio of previous jobs to prove your value to potential clients or clients?

What activity do you need your guests to take after reviewing your website (for instance, purchasing an item internet, going to an actual store, mentioning a statement, and so forth)?

How would you see items and administrations?

You also need to think about the expected traffic to your small business website. If you’re attempting to sell a product online, you can get far more attention than a local company that relies on personal sales. Needs in this area influence which host provider and platform are suitable for your site.

 

How to make a small business website (in 7 easy steps)

Once you have a clear direction for what you want to achieve on your website, you can start digging into the design and development process. The following are seven significant stages to assist you with beginning your business presence online.

 

Step 1: Choose your website building platform

Preferably, you ought to pick a simple to-utilize arrangement that will assist you with making your site with practically no coding knowledge. Here are a few suggestions for SMEs:

WordPress. There are two versions of WordPress. Focus on WordPress.org, which gives you the best features and full control over your small business website. You will need to organize your hosting individually (more on this later).

Hosted website builders. If you like all-in-one solutions, we recommend that you consider a reputable website builder like Squarespace or Wix. These platforms provide a complete, ready-to-use website layout that you can customize with drag-and-drop tools. You don’t have to outsource your presentation to another company, but it gives you less design adaptability.

The expense of hosting a small business website builder depends on the plan you choose. For instance, picking the Squarespace Business Package costs $ 18 every month.

This tutorial centers essentially around WordPress.org as we believe WordPress.org is the best solution for most small businesses. Here are some of the reasons we suggest WordPress:

WordPress software is free

It’s extremely flexible, allowing you to easily change the look of your small business website or add new features.

With over 37% of all websites on the Internet using WordPress, small business websites are in good shape.

You don’t need to be a designer or specialist to make a site.

 

Step 2: Pick your domain name

Preferably, your domain name will match your company name. If you don’t have the foggiest idea about the name, choose, there are several web-based generators that can inspire you, like DomainWheel.

The DomainWheel domain name generator.

Here are some tips to take into account when deciding on your small business website address:

Make sure it is simple to spell.

Keep it as short as possible.

Include keywords that are pertinent to your business.

Don’t worry about buying a domain name yet. You will be able to register your domain name (in the next step) when you register for hosting. Alternatively, if you use tools such as Squarespace or Wix, you can also purchase domain names from these tools.

 

Step 3: Find your hosting provider

If you decide to pick an all-in-one small business website builder, you can skip this step. WordPress users need to keep reading.

 

The Bluehost homepage

The cheapest base plan starts at just $ 2.75 per month. This package is generally adequate for small websites, but it can be easily updated as your business grows.

 

Go to Bluehost

Bluehost has an intuitive control panel and a one-click WordPress installation. We suggest that you follow the detailed tutorial on creating a WordPress site. This tutorial will guide you through the process of signing up for a hosting plant.

 

 

Step 4: Select a theme or template

WordPress and Squarespace offer a huge number of designs (or themes) that you can run comfortably. You can also use many.

In WordPress, you can access free theme options from your dashboard by navigating to Appearance > Themes:

Viewing free themes in the WordPress dashboard.

Once you have installed and activated the selected theme, you can customize it. On the other hand, you can consider a premium WordPress business theme. These products often include features such as pre-designed wallets, e-commerce pages, and page builder integration.

Squarespace, on the other hand, lists all templates directly on the website. You can preview each one and click Start with This Design as soon as you are satisfied with your selection.

Creating a small business website on Squarespace begins with choosing a template.

You go directly to the editing area where you can customize almost every element of your website.

 

Step 5: Add your content

When you customize your site, you will probably want to add content almost immediately. Before that, it is wise to keep the rough structure in mind.

Most business websites will need the following:

Homepage: This is the first thing many visitors see when they visit your small business website. You should provide a brief description of the service and include clear navigation to other departments.

Product, service, or portfolio page: Here’s an introduction to your work and what you offer to your clients or clients.

About the page: In this section, you’ll include stories and share information about your team.

Inquiry page: Ideally, encourage customers to contact their questions, including a contact form.

Blog: It’s a must-have for many businesses today and is a great content marketing tool.

WordPress and famous web designers, for example, Squarespace and Wix all empower you to handily make pages and add blog entries.

 

Step 6: Optimize your small business website for search engines

You need to be able to find your content even after it’s available online. Search engine optimization (SEO) is a strategy that can help.

SEO is a way to improve your content so that it is more likely to be ranked high on search engine results pages (SERPs). Here are some significant practices to keep in mind:

Use the right keywords in posts and pages

Optimize your website speed

Choose a responsive layout so that your content works on all your devices

Including internal and external links all through your site

Using post names in their permalinks

 

Step 7: Publish your website

Many small business website builders allow you to keep your site private while you make it and disclose it when it’s available to your visitors. With WordPress, the website is open to the public when you install the WordPress software on your host account.

Preview what your small business website will look like on your mobile device to make sure it’s easy to read.

Read it and make sure everything is correct.

Removes filler content from the theme or template.

To start attracting traffic to your new site, consider contacting your existing customers to let them know that you are currently online.

You can also advertise on social media and email.

 

Conclusion

Online presence is very important if you want to reach a larger audience. If you are a small business owner, outsourced web developers may not be within your budget. Fortunately, with beginner platforms like WordPress, Squarespace, Wix, you can quickly build your website and save some money in the process.