Every business needs a website. It’s like your company’s online spokesperson, answering questions about your products, services, and special offers. If you’re still doing business the old way, you might be missing out on 66% of global business opportunities. There are around 5.3 billion people using the Internet, and 98% of them search online at least once a month. If your business isn’t showing up in search results, it’s harder for those people to find you.
Building a website might feel overwhelming. Maybe you don’t feel tech-savvy, or you’ve never created a website before. Don’t worry! This guide will show you how to make a website for your business.
What You Can Achieve with a Business Website
Stronger Credibility
Before the Internet, businesses just needed a billboard or a TV ad to look credible. But today, that’s not enough.
Without a website, people might doubt if your business is real. A website is like a virtual business card. It helps customers learn about you before they choose to work with you.
Remember, first impressions matter. Your website is often the first thing people see. Make sure it looks good, is up-to-date, and gives the right information.
Brand Voice
Your brand voice is how your business talks to your audience. It shows your values, explains the problems you solve, and how your products or services can help. Your brand voice is what helps potential customers get to know and like your business.
You control how people see your brand. The best way to do that is by telling your own story and sharing your vision and mission through a well-designed website.
Appearance on Search Engines
Once your website is ready, it can show up in search results like Google or Bing. By optimizing your website for search engines, more people will see it. This means more potential customers, and it increases your chances of turning visitors into clients. We’ll cover more on optimizing content later in the article.
Create a Website in 8 Steps
It doesn’t matter if you’re a big company or a small business – having a website is crucial in today’s information-driven world. A good website helps your business look professional and trustworthy. Here are 8 steps to build a high-quality website that’s both visually appealing and functional.
Step 1: Plan Your Digital Strategy
As Benjamin Franklin said, “By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail.” Before diving into the details, take a step back and plan the big picture. Write down your website’s goals and vision.
- Goals: Every visitor comes to your website with expectations. Whether your goal is to provide information, generate leads, build brand awareness, or sell products online, make it clear from the homepage. Everything on your website should support this goal.
- Target Audience: Who is your website for? Knowing your audience helps guide decisions about the design, colors, images, and fonts.
- Competitor Research: Look at your competitors’ websites to see what works and what doesn’t. This will give you insights and help you meet industry standards.
Step 2: Pick & Register a Domain Name
Your domain name is your website’s unique address. For example, “ezteksoftware.com” is a domain name. Here are some tips for choosing a good one:
- Make it professional, easy to remember, and relevant to your business.
- Avoid hyphens, numbers, abbreviations, and acronyms.
- Choose a traditional top-level domain (TLD) like .com or .net. While they might be more expensive, they give your business more credibility.
- If your desired name is taken, you can buy it from the current owner, though it may be costly.
Step 3: Choose a Web Hosting Service
Once you have a domain, you’ll need a web hosting service to store your website’s files, images, and code. Hosting services like Squarespace, Wix, GoDaddy, and WordPress are popular options.
For most small businesses, a web host with pre-made templates is the easiest and most affordable option. Companies like Wix and WordPress offer all-in-one hosting if you don’t have much coding experience. Make sure your hosting service includes technical support and provides an SSL certificate (this adds HTTPS to your URL and secures sensitive information).
Step 4: Build Your Website
Plan Your Website Structure
It’s time to map out the pages for your website. The complexity depends on how much content you have, but most websites include these basic pages:
- Home page
- About us page
- Services page
- Contact us page
You can also add pages like FAQs, resources, and customer testimonials. Here are some extra tips:
- Use multiple pages for different parts of your site if needed.
- Keep each page focused on the main goal of your website.
- Place calls-to-action (CTAs) in strategic locations.
Choose a Website Builder or CMS
There are several ways to build your website. You can use website builders like Wix or WordPress, which are beginner-friendly. There are also free builders like Zoho. If you need more control, consider using a Content Management System (CMS) like Joomla or Drupal. Alternatively, you can hire a professional development team, like EZtek Software, to create a custom site. Your choice depends on your budget, the website’s purpose, and the features you want.
Step 5: Add Content and Images
Once the basic structure of your website is set, it’s time to add engaging content. This is also when you can adjust and add more pages if needed.
Great content is clear, engaging, and valuable to visitors. Your customers should understand what your business does within seconds of landing on your homepage. You should include information about your products or services, contact details, blog posts to show your expertise, and the story behind your business.
When adding images, make sure they match in color and lighting and are relevant to your business. Avoid stock photos as they can make your website feel less authentic.
Step 6: Search Engine Optimization (SEO)
SEO helps your website rank higher on search engines like Google. It’s how people find you online. Good search engine rankings will help grow your customer base and increase organic traffic. Here are some key practices to follow:
- Blog posts are a powerful content marketing tool. Write SEO-friendly posts by doing thorough keyword research and adding internal and external links.
- Use relevant phrases or keywords on your website and blog posts to drive traffic.
- Publish new content regularly and do content audits to ensure it’s performing well on search engines.
- Use tools to improve site speed.
- Optimize your images by adding alt text and compressing their size so they load quickly and don’t slow down your site.
Step 7: Review and Publish Your Website
Congrats! After all your hard work, it’s time to publish your website and welcome your first visitors. But before that, double-check the following:
- Proofread the content to ensure there are no errors.
- Check for broken links.
- Test the website on different browsers like Chrome, Safari, and Firefox. Make sure everything works well on mobile and desktop devices.
Once you’re confident everything is in order, hit publish and share your new website with your friends and customers!
Step 8: Maintain Your Website
A great website is one that’s regularly updated and maintained. This means frequently posting blogs, updating industry news, and making design changes when needed. Also, regularly check your hosting service’s security policies to keep your site safe from threats. Security should always be a priority.
Building a website doesn’t have to be hard. If you need professional help to bring your vision to life, EZtek Software is here to assist. Contact us today, and we’ll help you take your business to the next level!
Related posts: Web App Development Services
