Building your own website is one of the best ways to grow your small business, but it can also be quite intimidating when you don’t know where to start or what to do with it once you do. However, creating a website can actually be really easy with the right tools and help. Here’s how to create your own website for your small business in eight simple steps.
1. What you need to know before you create your site
If you’re looking for affordable website design packages, there are plenty of options out there. But before you start the planning process, make sure that you do your research and know what to expect. You’ll need to find a web designer or developer who’s willing to work with your budget and needs. You’ll also need to think about what type of website layout you want – do you want it simple or flashy? Finally, once your site is up and running, be prepared that it may take some time before it ranks well on search engines like Google.
2. Select the platform
The best way to build your website is by choosing a platform. There are different types of platforms that you can use, from WordPress and Squarespace, to Weebly and Wix. Different platforms offer different features, so it’s important to choose the one that will fit your needs the best. For example, if you’re looking for an affordable website design package then Weebly might be the best option for you. It’s an easy-to-use drag-and-drop builder that can help you create anything from a simple blog post or e-commerce site.
3. Generate content ideas
Content marketing is an affordable and proven way of driving traffic to your website. The strategy involves creating content about your products or services, publishing it on websites such as blogs, magazines, newspapers and social media channels like Facebook and Twitter, and then promoting it through search engine optimization (SEO) techniques.
There are many ways you can create content for your small business. One option is to write articles about the benefits of hiring you or what makes you different from competitors in your industry. Another option is to produce video tutorials teaching customers how they can use your products or services. You can also include blog posts that offer tips on how your customers should maintain their purchase after they’ve made their purchase decision.
4. Set up platforms
The first step is setting up the platforms you want your website on. If you want it on a website building platform, then you need to set up an account with them and install the software. Once that’s done, you can start designing your site. You should also make sure there are no extra costs when designing your site with any website builder. The best way to do this is by taking a look at their affordable website design packages before signing up with them.
5. Choose colors, fonts, and icons
Start by deciding the general look of your site. Is it colorful and text heavy? Is it minimalistic? Once you’ve made a decision on your site’s theme, you can go about picking out colors and fonts that complement your brand assets, like your logo and color scheme (checkout this article on brand identity). You might be asking yourself how do I find out what color my brand assets are? A good place to start is by looking at the website for your business where those things will most likely be displayed.
Once you have chosen a font that matches your branding and have decided what colors to use for different areas of the site (navigation, contact information), add these elements into an online builder like Squarespace or WordPress as templates for your website design.
6. Test the site
Before you launch your site, take a step back and make sure that you test it. Check the pages on your website one at a time and make sure they’re loading properly. You should also try changing your browser’s compatibility view settings to see how the site looks. If there are any errors, fix them now before you officially launch so that you don’t have any technical difficulties once people start coming to your site.
7. Launch your site
Now it’s time to make your website go live. Even if it’s not completely polished, launching your site will let you start promoting it and connecting with customers. Don’t forget to include a blog on your site, which can help you build traffic and generate leads.
8. Promote your site
If you want your small business website to be successful, you need a way to get the word out. The best way to promote your website is through social media channels.
Start with the following:
if you have an Instagram account, you can schedule your posts in advance by using a social media calendar (checkout this article on how to use one). By maintaining a constant presence on the app, followers will know to check your profile frequently. On Facebook, post valuable information such as research findings and inspirational quotes, as well as images and videos that relate to your business, such as cooking classes or selling clothes.
A visionary, entrepreneur, business leader with several years in the Technology, Design & Management space.
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