In today’s online world having a professional online presence is crucial for small businesses. Whether you’re a local bakery, a financial firm, a local tradesman, your website serves as a 24/7 storefront, showcasing your products, services, and brand to potential customers. But how do you create a small business website and what steps do you need to take?
When I speak to potential customers it can be overwhelming when starting out in creating a new website. There are so many things to consider and there are a few aspects that many people aren’t aware they even need to start a website. That is when using a professional can help to walk you through the website design process.
The decision to create a small business website can feel overwhelming, especially when deciding between hiring a professional or taking the DIY route. This guide will walk you through the entire process, providing you with the knowledge to make an informed decision.
Step 1: Define Your Website’s Purpose
Before diving into the technical aspects, take a moment to define the purpose of your website. Is it to showcase your portfolio, sell products online, generate leads, or simply provide information? Even those who rely on word of mouth can benefit from a small business website. However, knowing the primary goal of your website from the beginning will guide all your subsequent decisions, from design to functionality.
Step 2: Choose and Register a Domain Name
Your domain name is your website’s address on the internet, such as www.yourbusiness.com.au. It’s important to choose a domain that reflects your brand, is easy to remember, and is relevant to your business. Here are some tips:
- Keep it short and simple: Avoid long or complicated names.
- Use correct spelling: Try to avoid using different letters to be creative, you can lose customers this way. Always aim to use the correct spelling of the words in your business.
- Use keywords: If possible, include a keyword related to your business.
- Choose the right extension: Common options are .com.au, .com, or even .au, but there are many others depending on your industry.
Once you’ve settled on a name, use a domain registration service to purchase it. You can register through your website design agency if they offer this service (we offer domain names) or you can use a registry like NameCheap or similar.
Step 3: Select a Website Hosting Provider
Website hosting is where your website files are stored and served to visitors. There are various hosting providers, each offering different types of hosting plans. Here’s what to consider:
- Shared Hosting: Ideal for small businesses on a budget, shared hosting is affordable but may have limited resources.
- VPS Hosting: Virtual Private Server hosting provides more resources and control, suitable for websites with higher traffic.
- Dedicated Hosting: This is the most expensive option, offering a dedicated server for your website, giving you full control and high performance.
Popular hosting providers include Bluehost, SiteGround, and HostGator. Or you can choose to use your website design agency. We offer small business hosting and our clients prefer this over the larger companies as they can talk to a person for support.
When choosing a host, consider factors like customer support, uptime guarantees, and scalability options.
Step 4: Choose a Website Content Management System (CMS)
A Content Management System (CMS) is a platform that allows you to create, manage, and modify content on your website without needing to know code. The most popular CMS platforms for small businesses are:
- WordPress: The most widely used CMS, WordPress is flexible, scalable, and has a large community for support. It’s perfect for almost any type of website.
- Wix: A user-friendly drag-and-drop website builder that’s ideal for beginners who want to design their own site.
- Squarespace: Known for its beautiful templates, Squarespace is great for businesses that need a visually appealing site without much customisation.
- Shopify: If your business is focused on e-commerce, Shopify is a leading platform for building online stores.
We generally use WordPress due to the fact that you own your website and can move it between website hosts if required. With the other platforms, you are using their system and if you wish to move providers you need to redesign your website all over again.
Plus the functionality of WordPress allows your website to grow as your business does. For example, you can add an eCommerce store later on or sell events easily in WordPress.
Step 5: Design Your Small Business Website
Whether you hire a professional web designer or decide to do it yourself, the design phase is where your website starts to take shape. Here’s what to focus on:
- Layout: Your website should be easy to navigate, with a clean and organised layout. Make sure the most important information is easy to find.
- Branding: Your website should reflect your brand’s colours, fonts, and overall aesthetic. Consistency in branding builds trust with your visitors.
- Mobile Optimisation: With more users accessing websites on mobile devices, ensure your site is mobile-friendly and responsive.
The most important thing is to ensure that lots of white space is used to ensure it isn’t cluttered. Then you want to make your navigation really easy for people to move around your website. You want to guide people through your website and tell them what they need to do in order to use your services or products.
Step 6: Choose and Optimise Images for your website
Images are a crucial part of your website’s design, but it’s important to choose and optimise them wisely:
- Use High-Quality Images: Blurry or pixelated images can make your site look unprofessional. Use high-quality images that are relevant to your content.
- Optimise for Web: Large image files can slow down your website. Use tools like Photoshop or online services like TinyPNG to compress images without losing quality.
- Use Alt Text: Alt text describes images for search engines and screen readers, which is important for SEO and accessibility.
Where possible always use your own images rather than stock photography, it adds so much more credibility to your website and overall brand. Most smart phones allow you to take great photos on your phone of any work you have completed or products.
Quick tip: if you take photos try to use the Portrait focus and ensure lots of natural light where you can.
Step 7: Add Essential Website Pages
Every small business website should include a few key pages to provide essential information to visitors:
- Home Page: This is your visitors’ first impression. Include a clear value proposition, a brief introduction, and a call to action.
- About Page: Share your business’s story, mission, and values. This is where you connect with your audience on a personal level.
- Products/Services Page: Detail what you offer, including descriptions, pricing, and any other relevant information.
- Contact Page: Make it easy for customers to get in touch. Include a contact form, your business email, phone number, and physical address if applicable.
- Blog: If you plan to use content marketing, a blog can help drive traffic to your site and establish your expertise in your industry.
You want to have a page per service ideally to help you target that service in the search engines.
Step 8: Set Up SEO
Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) is the process of optimising your website to rank higher in search engine results, making it easier for potential customers to find you. Here’s how to get started:
- Keyword Research: Identify the keywords your target audience is searching for and incorporate them into your website’s content.
- Meta Tags: Ensure each page has a unique meta title and description that includes your primary keyword.
- Content: Create valuable, relevant content that addresses your audience’s needs and questions.
- Internal Linking: Link to other pages on your site to help search engines understand your site’s structure.
At a minimum, your website should have the above things but there is so much more you can do for small business SEO.
Step 9: Plan for Ongoing Maintenance
Launching your website is just the beginning. Regular maintenance is crucial to ensure your site runs smoothly, remains secure, and continues to provide a good user experience. Key maintenance tasks include:
- Updating Content: Regularly update your website’s content to keep it relevant and accurate.
- Security Checks: Install security plugins and regularly check for vulnerabilities to protect your site from hackers.
- Backups: Regularly back up your website to prevent data loss in case of a server failure or other issues.
- Performance Monitoring: Use tools like Google Analytics to monitor your site’s performance and make improvements as needed.
Depending on what CMS you use and what website design agency you use will depend on the costs of website maintenance. Most website agencies will offer a Website Care Plan to help take care of your website for you, so that you can focus on growing your business in other areas.
Step 10: Decide on DIY vs. Hiring a Professional
After reviewing these steps, you may still be wondering whether to build your website yourself or hire a professional. Here are some considerations:
- Budget: If you have a limited budget, a DIY approach using a platform like WordPress or Wix might be more feasible.
- Time: Building a website takes time, especially if you’re learning as you go. If time is a constraint, hiring a professional may save you stress.
- Customisation Needs: If your business requires specific features or a unique design, a professional web designer can tailor your site to your needs.
- Long-Term Goals: Consider your long-term goals for your website. If you plan to expand or heavily invest in online marketing, a professionally designed site may be a better investment.
Ready to build your small business website?
Creating a small business website is a significant but rewarding project. Whether you choose to go the DIY route or hire a professional, understanding the process will empower you to make informed decisions that best serve your business. By following these steps, you’ll be well on your way to launching a website that not only looks great but also drives growth for your business.
Remember if you have any questions you can contact our team to help guide you in this decision.
