How to Make a Small Business Website in 2023: A Step-by-Step Guide
How to Make a Small Business Website in 2023: A Step-by-Step Guide
Your website is an essential tool for attracting and engaging potential customers. It’s the first thing people see when they search for your business online, and it needs to make a good impression. Creating a website may seem daunting, but with the right approach, it’s easier than you think. In this step-by-step guide, we’ll walk you through the process of making a small business website in 2023.
Pick a Domain Name
Your domain name is the unique address of your website, and it’s crucial to choose a name that reflects your business and is easy to remember. It’s best to select a name that matches your business or professional name. Ensure that the name is short, easy to spell, and doesn’t contain abbreviations, acronyms, hyphens, or numbers. While brainstorming domain names, keep these helpful tips in mind:- Include keywords relevant to your business to boost your visibility in search engines.
- Choose a traditional top-level domain (TLD), such as .com or .net, or one that best relates to you or your business.
- Ensure that no one else is already using it.
- Use a domain name generator as a jumping-off point if you’re having trouble brainstorming.
Register Your Domain and Pick Your Design and Hosting Providers
Once you’ve chosen a domain name, you need to register it with a domain registrar. You can use a website like Vodien.com or Godaddy.com to do this, which may cost between $30 and $80 per year, depending on your TLD. You’ll also need to find another provider to host the URL where you will build your website and potentially use another program to design it. You may choose an all-in-one option like WordPress, Squarespace, or Wix, which offer registration, hosting, and design capabilities. If you choose to use separate companies to manage your web hosting and designing, look for a hosting service that offers perks such as tech support, a free domain name, or a Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) certificate. SSL certificate is a crucial security measure that adds the “S” in HTTPS at the front of a website’s URL, enabling a secure connection and protecting your and your visitors’ data and sensitive information. Search engines and visitors look favorably upon it.Add Engaging Content and Useful Pages
Your website’s content is critical for engaging visitors and encouraging them to work with you. Your site should have a striking homepage that captivates people and tells them exactly what you do and whom you serve. You should also include an enlightening ‘About Us’ page that shares the origin story of your business, highlights your achievements, mission, and values, and introduces any team members.Other essential pages you should include are:
- Booking or shop page to drive more revenue and integrate a third-party online scheduling platform or an e-commerce platform, such as HoneyBook or WooCommerce.
- An accessible contact page that includes social media accounts, emails, phone numbers, addresses, and a contact form.
- Compelling content, including blogs, videos, podcast episodes, case studies, and more, that establishes you as an expert in your industry and helps grow a loyal community for your business. This content may also help boost your ranking in search results and increase site visitors.
- A robust FAQ page that gives answers to common questions and helps build more trust with your brand.
- Testimonials and press coverage that boost your credibility by sharing your successes and positive reviews about your services and any mention of your business in notable media outlets.