If you don’t have a website by now, you’re already behind the times. By not having a website, you’re basically a company without a storefront. It doesn’t matter how high quality your product is, people simply won’t buy it if they don’t have anywhere to go to buy it from.
You don’t even need to know how to create a website for a small business, now. You don’t need to code like the back of your hand to set up a website, now. There are a variety of platforms that will let you build one quickly and easily.
Having a website isn’t just a way for people to browse your virtual wares, though. It’s also an invaluable tool to enable you to use effective marketing strategies. By driving traffic to your website through tricks like an SEO strategy or an overall campaign, people will do more than just buy products.
They will learn about you, your company, and it will put you on the digital map. So you have no excuse for not having one. Keep reading below for tips on creating a website for your small business.
1. Know How to Create a Website for a Small Business by Contacting Professionals
The best way to get started creating a website is to reach out to professionals. Even if you don’t intend to purchase their services, you can ask them basic questions about designing a website. With just a few quick emails and Google searches, you can have a working knowledge of color palettes and basic design.
With that knowledge, you can outline the website you want to make. You can then try to build an actual website from your blueprint. Or, you could hire developers and use the outline to describe what you’re looking for.
For inspiration, you can view websites of other similar business. For example, if you’re a plumber, a quick Google search of “plumbing website design” will net you enough results to inspire your own website.
2. Squarespace Covers Every Step of Website Development
If you’re an entrepreneur, chances are you want to build your website yourself. It does more than provide a sense of accomplishment — it puts you in full control of your virtual storefront. And Squarespace is designed to give you control, especially if you don’t understand web development.
The platform gives you access to an easily-understood page hierarchy which lets you visualize how web pages are laid out. It also has a variety of tools that let you drag-and-drop text, pictures, buttons, and much more.
As long as you know how to use a mouse and keyboard, you can build a website with Squarespace.
Unfortunately, it can also be a pricy option in the long term. Hosting a website with them can cost you upwards of a few hundred dollars per year.
3. WordPress Helps You Press Out A Website
WordPress is one of the most popular options for people who want a website. The basic platform offers users more than enough tools to create a functional website. However, WordPress shines when you start looking at additional tools.
The WordPress community has developed too many tools to count, all of which can improve the website’s performance. You can include tools to protect against hackers or view deeper analytics. The only problem is that WordPress isn’t as user-friendly as other web development platforms.
If you choose to use WordPress, be sure to have at least a working knowledge of web development beforehand.
4. Wix Will Fix Any Website Issues You May Have
One of the more affordable options people use to build their websites is Wix. The platform costs less than Squarespace, yet still manages to make web development simple. All you need to do is answer a few quick questions about what you’re website will be used for.
Wix then starts you off with a professional template, which you can customize to your liking. Just like with Squarespace, you can drag and drop different elements and fill in your own content. And it costs a little less than Squarespace.
5. Choose The Right Hosting Service For You
If you develop a web page without a web development platform, you will need to select a host. These are the services which actually put your website on the web. A host will take the HTML and CSS documents you create to make it so anyone can find them.
You want to go with one that’s well known and has certain features. The first feature you should look for in a web host is a reliable support system. If your website goes down for any reason, you should be able to call your host to see if there is something wrong on their end.
The second feature you should look for is a backup system. The internet is a wild place, and hackers may be able to access parts of your website they shouldn’t. If that happens, you want to make sure you can bring everything back online easily.
6. Finally — Drive Traffic To Your Website
A website will not pay off if nobody visits it. The advantage of having a virtual storefront instead of a physical one is that you can move your location. All you need to do is create a marketing strategy.
Driving traffic to your website through a marketing strategy is easier than it sounds. Any marketer will be able to help you rise in the ranks of Google through an SEO strategy. They may also help you manage your brand and connect with customers on a deeper level.
It’s good to have a website. It’s worthless if you don’t do anything with it, though.
A Small Website Can Only Help Your Small Business
You don’t need all the bells and whistles in your website that some industry titans have. Just by having a contact page, a page listing your services and products, as well as other basic details — you’re taking a crucial first step. Just by appearing on the internet, you’re creating legitimacy and customer trust.
People rely on the internet for almost every part of their lives. If you’re not on it with them, you’re not where they are. And when a business isn’t where its customers are, it’s going to find it hard to make sales.
Luckily, a variety of new platforms have made it easy to create a website. Professionals are also always at the ready to help you develop a website that will drive your company’s growth.
Knowing how to create a website for a small business is as easy as using a computer. The tools are there, you just need to use them.
Treat your website like the rest of your company, and you’ll succeed in every part of your business. And for tips on how to best use your website, keep reading here.
