How To Make A Website For Your Brand Or Small Business

Steps to take when making a Website for Business

Businesses are going online to enhance their outreach and send out targeted messages to their audience. According to a web server survey by Netcraft, the number of websites globally was expected to be around 1.197 billion in January 2021. Not only the industry but the small business website builder companies and freelancers are also designing their websites. This article will take you through the steps you must keep in mind when making a website for business.

Select and register the domain name

It is well-known that your domain name can enhance your business’s credibility and help achieve the brand awareness needed to succeed. While you may find it easy to select any name that comes your way, you must be thoughtful about it. It is suggested that you use the business name as part of the domain name. It will help to have consistent branding for your organisation.

You can use the relevant keywords in the domain name. A domain generator can also help but remember to keep the name spell that can be spelt easily. As a best practice, you should avoid hyphenated words, acronyms and abbreviations. Also, do a background check whether it is available before registering it.

Once you have finalised the unique name for your website, you must have it registered. There are several options available. You can also visit one of the domain registrar companies to check the availability of a domain name. You have to adhere to the signup processes and make a payment to register your domain.

Finalising a web host

Once you have finalised the domain name, you must find a partner to host your website. It is where you will store the website files. The web host will provide you with a host of services. You must do adequate research and analyse the pros and cons of each web host. Do check with them whether they will provide you with the SSL certificate too, else you must buy one for the site.

Always look for the quality certificates and do a background check of the web hosts before finalising the agreement with them. Also, check the bandwidth to be provided and the service level agreements detailing the uptime. You must cross-check the backup systems of the web host. 

Installing an SSL certificate

Organisations must ensure the security of the data being stored at the web servers. You must install an SSL certificate that will help to secure the communication between the visitor’s browser and the webserver. The interaction is encrypted, which will prevent any hacker from gaining access to it. It will also avoid any other cyberattack targeted at your website for malicious ends. 

The SSL certificate will also help infuse trust in visitors’ minds as a third-party Certification Authority will authenticate your website. Wildcard certificates will help if your website has several first-level sub-domains, allowing you to save on resources too. You must also know that browsers like Google are marking non-HTTPS sites as “Not Secure”, which may drive visitors away from your site.

Select a CMS or website builder

The use of a Content Management System (CMS) will help create and manage the website for business. There are several options, and all of them have their benefits and drawbacks. These CMSs have their libraries of themes and plug-ins that can help even novices make their websites. An excellent CMS can help manage the website on your own and help to add the necessary pages quickly.

The CMSs are easy to use, and they have an intuitive user interface that helps you make quick changes to your website. When designing your website, you may choose dedicated website builders too. They are easier to use than CMS, and you can also create trendy websites using them. Some of the renowned ones are Squarespace, Weebly and Wix. 

Build the web pages

When you create web pages, there are several factors to keep in mind. The website must be easily navigable, and optimal workflows must provide the information requested by the visitors easily. You must also consider how a visitor will scan your website and place the CTA buttons accordingly. It is also necessary to adhere to your branding guidelines.

The content must be planned such that it appeals to the audience. It is necessary to have an adequate content strategy with proper keyword research to ensure your messaging does not have any ambiguity. Always be informative when writing about your solutions offerings and provide your contact coordinates. Also, ensure that the pages load optimally and are responsive and optimised to be viewed on smartphones.

Optimising for search engines

What is the use of a beautiful website if users are unable to find it online? Your website must rank highly during keyword search that will increase the footprints on your site and increase conversion on your website. It starts with adequate keyword search and competitor analysis. You must write the title tags and meta descriptions such that they can boost search rankings. The web content will be based on these keywords, and you must have KPIs in place to track them.

Apart from publishing fresh content, you must also link your website to social media profiles. Keep social sharing buttons in place, and breadcrumbs across the website can help visitors land on the pages you want. The images must be optimised as well to ensure that the site does not become too heavy. Also, ensure that the robots.txt and sitemap are in place to provide a higher search ranking.

Site maintenance

Once you have published the website, you must monitor it on an ongoing basis. Always keep the applications updated as it can also prevent any data breach by plugging any vulnerabilities in them. Always set up notifications to inform you when an update is available. Also, update the website with new blog content that will appeal to your audience. 

ConclusionAll businesses – big or small, would like to have an online presence. It helps to reach out to a larger audience with high RoI. A well-designed website enhances brand awareness and attracts more visitors. Businesses must also keep in mind the security aspect and install an SSL certificate. If you must secure several sub-domains, you can select one of the wildcard certificates. The article creates a better picture of how you can create a website for business.