So you know you want to start a business of your own, or just want to set up a blog for writing and sharing your knowledge. How do you go about getting a website? What do you need to build something successful? I’ve worked with many start-ups and entrepreneurs to launch their first websites and many who were unsure about how to get started. First, let me say that building a website takes a lot of work. Other than the technical aspects of website building, you will have to put together great content, images, and a clear call to action that will help your visitors understand your business. Let’s walk through the checklist of everything you will need to build a website.
Domain Name
The domain name you choose should be simple and easy to remember. If you can, select a domain that reads like your business name. This is usually the first thing a visitor will enter into their browser when looking for your website. You can purchase a domain name from many different providers. Some examples are GoDaddy, Network Solutions, or even Google.
Hosting
Hosting space is where your website will live on the Internet. There are different options for website hosting to choose from depending on the hosting size and security. Say you are looking to build an eCommerce site, you will need to have an upgraded hosting package that comes with an SSL Certificate. This will allow you to accept payments on your website security. If your website will be simple, or you are just launching a blog, a basic hosting package works great. Some clients also ask me if they should buy their own server to host their website. My answer to this is typically no. Only buy a server if you want to host multiple sites and have the technical knowledge to set it up and maintain it.
Design
Another requirement for building a website is having the design concept. This should include your color scheme, how you want your website to flow, what you want font and center, and what type of website theme/look best represents your brand.
Website Platform
How will you build your website? Picking a website platform that will be easy for your to maintain is crucial. If you are a pro at HTML, Adobe Dreamweaver is a great choice. If your not experienced in code, WordPress is the best option. Although some coding experience would be helpful when first getting your website started, it is not required for regular maintenance. Other popular website platforms are Joomla and Drupal.
Content & Images
This seems like an obvious step, but you would be surprised how many people don’t think this through. In my opinion, building your website content with your customer in mind is the hardest part! Not only do you need great content that describes how you can help your visitor, but you also need high quality images to complement the text. I always tell clients “The more images the better!” Images are by far more captivating to visitors and will help gain interest.
Professional Designer
If you’ve never built a website before, hiring a professional web designer will save you time, stress, and headaches! Designers can also help you build a professional looking site that is optimized for search engines and viewable on mobile phone browsers. Most business savvy start-ups can’t spend gobs of money on a website, so I recommend hiring a freelance designer, as they are more affordable than design agencies and often generate a similar end product.
This covers everything you need to get a website built for your business! This process takes some thought and a clear understanding of your customer in order to be successful. If you’re looking to get started, send me an email and we can discuss your project today!
