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Andrew M McCall

How To Create A Website For Your Online Business: Small Business Website Guide

Why Do You Need A Business Website?

A business website is one of the most important tools you can have for promoting your company online. It is a cost-effective way to reach out to potential customers and clients, and it can help you build a strong online presence.

It can be used to showcase your products and services, provide information about your company, and even sell products and services online. If you are not sure where to start, there are many website builders and platforms that can help you build a professional website quickly and easily as well as a few DIY options.

In this article, we will explore some of the the elements needed and ways you can create a website for your online business.

Start With A Website Builder For Your Small Business Website

A website builder is a tool that allows you to create a website without having to code or design it yourself. There are many advantages to using a website builder, especially if you are a small business owner.

One of the biggest advantages is that it is much easier to use than traditional methods. You don’t need any coding or design skills – all you need to do is select a template and start adding your content.

Another big advantage is that most website builders include website design. This means that you don’t have to worry about hiring a separate designer or learning how to code.

Finally, most website builders are very affordable – and some are even free. If you’re looking for an easy, affordable, and professional way to create a small business website, then a website builder is the perfect solution.

Website builders are an area where you get what you pay for. Services like webpack are feature-rich while free solutions are often very limited. For example. no custom coding, no code-embedding features which you may need later down to get more out of your templated website.

Although there are many free website builder solutions for small business, I prefer to recommend services such as Squarespace or Shopify which are paid solutions. Their costs are generally small to get started and many small businesses find that paying a bit extra goes a long way in terms of features you get for your business website.

Squarespace

Squarespace is a website builder and hosting platform that allows users to create and customize professional-looking websites with no programming or design experience required. With Squarespace, users can create blogs, e-commerce stores, and portfolio sites with ease. The platform also includes features like analytics, SEO tools, and 24/7 customer support.

Shopify

Shopify is a great platform for building a business website for a few key reasons. First, it is very user-friendly and easy to use, even for those with no prior experience in website design or development. Second, Shopify provides a wide range of templates and themes that can be used to create a professional-looking website without the need to hire a separate web designer. Finally, Shopify offers a number of features and tools that can help streamline the process of running an online business, from managing inventory and orders to processing payments and shipping products. In sum, Shopify is an excellent choice for those looking to build a comprehensive and successful business website.

Webflow

Low code website building is a method of creating websites using visual drag-and-drop tools, rather than traditional coding languages. This approach makes website creation more accessible to non-programmers, and can speed up the development process.

Webflow is one of the leading low code website solutions, with an easy-to-use interface and a wide range of features. It’s used by major brands such as Nike, Samsung, and Sony, and has been voted the best low code platform by G2 Crowd.

Elementor

There are many reasons why Elementor is a popular choice for WordPress-based website builders. One reason is that it is very user-friendly and easy to use, even for beginners. It also has a wide range of features and plugins that can be used to create almost any type of website. Elementor also has a very active community of users and developers who are always creating new plugins and add-ons to help make website building even easier.

DIVI

Divi by Elegant Themes is a popular Wordpress site builder because it’s flexible, easy to use and it comes with a lot of features.

One of the best things about Divi is that it’s constantly being updated with new features, which makes it one of the most popular site builders on the market.

However, one of the downsides of Divi is that it can be quite expensive. If you’re looking for a more affordable alternative to Divi, then you should check out Beaver Builder.

Beaver Builder is a WordPress site builder that’s just as powerful as Divi but at a fraction of the price. It comes with all the same features as Divi, plus some extra ones that make it even easier to use.

Plus, Beaver Builder has a very active community behind it so you can always find help if you need it.

WP Bakery

The WPBakery Page Builder WordPress plugin gives you complete control over your website. With its intuitive drag-and-drop builder, you can create any layout you can imagine without needing any programming knowledge.

Choose Your Domain Name Carefully For Your Business Website

Your domain name is your small business’s home on the internet. It’s how your customers find you online and it’s a key part of your branding. So choosing the right domain name for your small business website is essential.

Here are a few tips to help you choose a great domain name for your small business:

  1. Keep it short and sweet. A short domain name is easier for your customers to remember.
  2. Make it relevant to your business. A domain name that’s relevant to your business will help you build brand recognition.
  3. Avoid using hyphens. Hyphens can make it harder for people to find your website [Funny because this website uses hyphens].
  4. Get creative. A creative domain name can help you stand out from the competition.
  5. Use a .com extension. A .com domain is the most recognizable and most trusted and much better than many free domain names.
  6. Think of how people search for your product or business. Do they search for “hair salon in Chicago?” Sometimes it is a good strategy to build keyword relevancy right into the domain name. For example, “hairsalonchicago.com.”

Domain Wheel

Free Short Website name generator, with the help of AI, for instant ideas. Search, find, and register a domain with the help of an AI powered domain name picker.

Namecheap

Namecheap often has discount codes for new buyers and sales on first year domain names. No frills and comes with decent DNS record management.

Free Website Templates Are A Great Place To Start

When you are first starting your small business, you may not have the time or money to invest in a custom website design. However, this does not mean that your website has to look lackluster. There are many great website templates available that can give your website a professional look without breaking the bank.

In addition to being cost-effective, website templates are also easy to use. Even if you have no experience with web design, you should be able to find a template that meets your needs and fairly easily edit it to create a great looking website for your business.

If you are technical, or have someone on your team who is tech savvy, a template (such as an html template or wordpress template) can be an excellent option. Templates are generally more flexible than website builders since you can directly edit the template files as needed.

So if you are starting a small business and need to get a website up and running quickly and cheaply, consider using a website template and hiring a value-oriented web develop. It could be just what you need to get your business off the ground.

A note on purchasing website templates: When you purchase a website template, you must agree to the terms of use set forth by the template creator. These terms of use vary depending on the template, but usually include restrictions on how you can modify and distribute the template. Some creators also require that you give them credit for the design, while others allow you to use the template for free as long as you don’t redistribute it. Be sure to read the terms of use before purchasing or using a website template.

A few services to get templates from:

Gumroad

There are a few reasons why someone might choose to purchase website templates from Gumroad. First, Gumroad offers a wide selection of high-quality templates. second, the templates on Gumroad are typically very easy to customize, meaning that you can quickly and easily change the look and feel of your website without having to hire a developer. Finally, Gumroad’s prices are very reasonable, making it a great option for those on a budget.

Themeforest

What is themeforest marketplace and is it a good place to get free website templates?

Themeforest is a marketplace where you can buy and sell website templates. It is not a good place to find free website templates, but they have a large offering of paid ones. There is a wide selection of templates available, so you should be able to find one that suits your needs and helps eliminate the need for special website design.

Hugo Themes

Hugo is a fantastic open-source static website generator and comes with a variety of free website themes. Although this requires a bit more effort to setup, they are easily customizable and extendable beyond their original form. Follow my complete Hugo website building tutorial to learn more about Hugo.

Content Planning Is Key For Your Small Business Website

The first step in building any website: write your content first! When it comes to building a website, many people put the cart before the horse by first designing their site and then filling it with content. But if you want your website to be successful, it’s important to do things in the right order. That means writing your content first and then designing your website around that content.

There are a few reasons why this is the best approach. First, it ensures that your content is the main focus of your site. After all, that’s what your visitors are coming to your site for - to read your content and view your products. Second, it allows you to see how much content you need to write before you start designing your site. This is important because you don’t want to end up with a design that’s too cramped or too sparse. And third, it gives you a chance to plan out your website’s navigation and structure which is helpful for user experience and page experience.

Creately can help you with planning your website content.

Moz Content Strategy Template

Having a winning content strategy is important for the success of your website. Moz has a fantastic tool to help you create a success content strategy. Their template will help you coordinate your onsite content, blog, and offsite content to reinforce your brand message to visitors and social followers. For advanced content creators, it can help organize your personas, competitor analysis, and track gaps in your content.

Notion Content Calendar template

Content calendars are a great way to keep your content organised and on track. By having a content calendar, you can easily see what content needs to be created, when it needs to be published, and who is responsible for creating it. This helps to ensure that your content is high quality and timely, and that it meets your audience’s needs.

Build A Business Website With Professional Images To Suit Your Website Design

Your website is one of your most important marketing tools. It’s often the first place potential customers will go to learn more about your business. And in today’s visual world, high-quality photos are essential for making a good first impression.

Investing in professional photography is a smart way to make sure your website looks its best. Professional photographers can help you capture the right images to show off your products, facilities, and team. And good photos can make a big difference in the overall look and feel of your website.

If you’re considering investing in professional photography for your website, here are a few things to keep in mind:

  1. Professional photographers have the experience and expertise to capture high-quality photos that will make your website look its best.
  2. High-quality photos can help you stand out from your competition and make a great and lasting first impression.

Fiverr

Fiverr is a website where you can find freelancers to do various tasks for you, including marketing tasks. You can use fiverr to help with your small business in a number of ways. For example, you can use it to find someone to create a logo for your business, or to help with social media marketing. Fiverr is a great resource for small businesses because it is affordable and there are many talented freelancers available. This is an excellent resource to hire a photographer to help give your website high quality, professional photos.

Upwork

There are many reasons why Upwork is an excellent solution for hiring a photographer. First, it is a very user-friendly platform that makes it easy to find and contact potential candidates. Second, Upwork provides a great way to get an overview of a photographer’s work before making a hiring decision. Finally, the fees associated with using Upwork are very reasonable, making it a cost-effective option for businesses of all sizes.

Unsplash

Unsplash offers a great selection of high-quality photos that you can use for your website or blog, free of charge. If you can’t afford to hire a professional photographer, Unsplash is a great alternative. The photos on Unsplash are of excellent quality, and there is a wide variety of subjects to choose from. You’re sure to find the perfect photo for your needs on Unsplash.

Search Engine Optimization [SEO]: Something Every Small Business Needs

In recent years, Search Engine Optimization (SEO) has become an increasingly important tool for businesses to reach their target audiences. As the world becomes more digital, people are using search engines like Google and Bing to find the products and services they need. If your business doesn’t rank high in search engine results, you’re missing out on potential customers.

SEO is the process of optimizing your website to rank higher in search engine results. This can be accomplished through a variety of methods, such as using the right keywords, improving your website’s design and user experience, and creating high-quality content.

Investing in SEO can be a great way to improve your visibility online and attract more customers to your business. If you’re not sure where to start, contact a reputable SEO agency to help you get started.

If you want to learn how to do SEO for your local small business, I have a handy guide and a free SEO Template here.

Google Keyword Planner

Google Keyword Planner is a free keyword research tool that helps you find relevant keywords for your SEO strategy. You can use it to find new keywords and get ideas for your website or blog. It can also help you improve your existing SEO strategy by giving you insights into how people are searching for your site.

Uber Suggest

Neil Patel’s Uber Suggest tool is a great way to find new keywords and phrases to target in your SEO campaigns. It’s a simple, yet powerful tool that can help you uncover new opportunities for driving traffic to your website.

Free Backlink Checker

Backlinks are links from other websites to your website. They are an important part of Search Engine Optimization (SEO) because they help search engines find and index your website. The more backlinks your website has, the higher chance it will rank in search results.

Backlinks can also be a signal of the quality of your content. If an article is sharable, chances are it is a higher quality article.

Cookieless Site Analytics

Using Google Analytics requires a robust privacy policy and is actually illegal in some countries. Why not use a privacy-first analytics company? Why do you need website analytics for you business website?

There are many reasons why website analytics are important for businesses.

First, website analytics can help business owners track how well their website is performing in terms of attracting visitors and generating leads or sales. This information is important in order to gauge whether or not the website is effective and if changes need to be made in order to improve its performance.

Additionally, website analytics can provide insights into who the website’s visitors are, where they come from, and what they do on the site. This information can be used to better target marketing efforts and improve the overall user experience on the site. Lastly, website analytics can help identify any technical issues that may be impacting the website’s performance or causing visitor frustration. By tracking and analyzing this data, businesses can quickly address any problems and ensure that their website is running smoothly.

Website Hosting: Online Store Business Needs

There are many factors to consider when choosing a web hosting provider for your online business. The most important factors include reliability, features, price, and customer support.

Reliability is vital for an online business because your website needs to be accessible to your customers at all times. Look for a web hosting provider that offers uptime guarantees and backup services.

Features are important because they determine what your website will be able to do. For example, if you want to sell products on your website, you need a hosting provider that offers e-commerce features.

Price is a important factor, but it’s not the only factor. Sometimes, it’s worth paying a bit more for a better service. But don’t sacrifice reliability or features for a cheaper price.

Finally, customer support is important because you want to be able to get help when there are issues or your site goes down and you are not sure why.

Promote The Business Website On Social Media

If you’re like most business owners, you probably already know that promoting your website on social media can lead to new customers and organic traffic. But what you might not know is how to go about promoting your website on social media in a way that will actually lead to results.

Here are a few tips:

  1. Make sure your website is optimized for SEO before you start promoting it on social media. This will help you get higher search engine rankings, which will in turn lead to more traffic.
  2. Use social media ads to target potential customers who are most likely to be interested in your products or services.
  3. Create social media content that is engaging and informative, and make sure to include links back to your website.
  4. Use social media analytics to track your progress and adjust your strategy as needed.

Sprout Social

Sprout Social is a social media management tool that helps businesses grow their social media presence. With Sprout, you can publish content, track your audience, and measure your results. Sprout also provides tools to help you listen to your customers and followers, so you can better understand what they want and need. In short, Sprout Social can help you promote your business on social media by making it easier to manage your account, publish great content, and track your success.

Write Content To Help Your Potential Clients

Content is one of the most important aspects of any website. It is the driving force behind why people visit websites and what keeps them coming back for more. Good content can help a website rank higher in search engines, attract more visitors, and convert more leads. Simply put, without good content, a website is nothing more than an empty shell.

There are many different types of content, but all of it should be helpful and informative for website visitors. That means writing content that is interesting, well-written, and relevant to your audience. It also means ensuring that your content is easy to find and navigate.

Creating helpful content takes time and effort, but it is worth it. By writing helpful content, you will ensure that your website is successful and that your visitors have a positive experience.

Hire A Professional Website Developer To Build A Website For Your Business

There are many benefits to having a professional web developer create and manage your business website. Here are 5 of the most important ones:

  1. A professional web developer can ensure that your website is accessible to everyone, including those with disabilities.

  2. A professional web developer can help you create a website that is responsive and looks great on all devices.

  3. A professional web developer can help you optimize your website for search engines, which will improve your website’s visibility and help you attract more visitors.

  4. A professional web developer can create a custom website for your business that is tailored to your specific needs and goals.

  5. A professional web developer can provide ongoing maintenance and support for your website, so you can focus on running your business.

Frequently Asked Questions

What’s the best website builder for a small business?

If you are planning to sell products, I would recommend Shopify over WooCommerce. If you are looking for an information site that has some event capabilites I would recommend Squarespace. Wordpress has several site builder options include WPBakery, Elementor, and DIVI Themes.

Can i build my own website from scratch for a small business?

Yes you can. The question is: are you willing to make that a priority. Many business owners find they want to focus on strategy and day-to-day operations of their business. Updating the website frequently can take away from this higher-level thinking.

That being said, of course you can. There are many tools out there that can help assist with this. You can also learn how to code and get pretty far on your own.

How to start online business without money?

There are several services that allow you to host a website with no upfront costs. That being said, your domain name won’t be very good and the quality of the hosting will be poor. NeoCities.org is a place you can start with a free website. Also, you can use Carrd.co to create beautiful landing pages for free.

Online Business Website Checklist

In conclusion, planning a website is a complex process that is vital to your online business success. It doesn’t have to be complex, though. With proper planning, designing, building, and creating content for your website can be smooth and attract new customers to your business.

Want help? I am an experienced digital marketer with 6 years of experience. Give me 30 minutes of your time and I will show you how to plan your website and walk you through every step necessary to have a great one! Message me today for a free consultation!

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