Not having a website isn’t an option in today’s technology-focused world. Failing to create a website to pair with your business means losing out on a lot of potential customers and revenue. Of course, today it’s not just a case of having a website designed, it’s about ensuring that your site is up to scratch – aka that it is smart and professional, stands out for all the right reasons, and creates a good first impression.
Perfecting your business’s website is no easy task, which is why you may be struggling with the process. If you are finding it hard to get your business website designed and up and running, don’t worry because you are not alone – a lot of entrepreneurs struggle with this aspect of launching a business. However, it doesn’t have to be this way – there are a few steps that you can take to make the process of designing and launching a business website a little easier.
- Decide on a domain & hosting option
The very first step that comes with creating a website is choosing a domain name and checking that it’s available, before selecting the hosting option that’s right for you. Picking a domain name isn’t always an easy task, especially as you need it to incorporate the name of your brand into it. As for choosing the right hosting option, this will depend on how much traffic you predict your website will get. As a startup, choosing to use cloud-based shared hosting is probably your best option, both in terms of price and practicality.
- Utilize research
Before beginning to focus on the design of your website, it’s important to utilize consumer data to determine what design methods tend to be the most effective. The fact is that if you want your website to get a high stream of traffic and appeal to your customer demographic, it pays to utilize consumer research. Look at consumer habits – what types of websites do consumers tend to visit and use to shop on most? The more you can learn about your potential customers, the better.
- Plan your website layout & design
To begin planning your website design and layout, team up with a web design specialist. Unless you are a skilled and experienced web designer, don’t make the mistake of attempting to design your website yourself. For a site that is smart and professional, as well as easy to use and navigate, it’s best to work with a professional web designer, even if doing so comes at a cost.
- Put your ideas to the test
Before deciding on any ideas for definite, it pays to put them to the test with AB testing. Wondering what is AB Testing? It’s simple really – AB testing is a form of consumer research that allows your website design to be viewed by objective consumers so that they can provide feedback on it, such as whether it’s easy enough to use and if the color scheme is appealing. Before having your website completed, it’s worth doing some research into the design and layout to ensure that it’s a good fit for your customer base and will create the right first impression.
- Get your content spot on
A big part of any website is the content that goes on it. That’s why it’s so important to be clear about the type of content that you want. It’s also important to work with a professional content marketing specialist, to ensure that your website’s content is not only informative and well-written but also properly SEO optimized.
There you have it, a guide to perfecting your business website in five easy steps.
