No matter what your size of business, if you want to attract customers, having a website is imperative. Small businesses often face a number of challenges when setting up a site, such as limited resources or funds, but, with the right know-how, this can be successfully achieved. Here are the key steps to follow.
Know what you want
Before you begin the design process, decide what you want from your website. How do you intend to use your site to attract audiences? Consider if you want to provide information only, or include an eCommerce facility. According to Business.com, when you know the plan behind your website, this will guide you on how to develop it.
Choose your development software
What you want to achieve from your website can shape which type of content management software to choose. You’ve got lots of options to consider. As a small business, you might decide to make use of many of the free resources available for building websites, to keep costs down. Some software is better suited for different purposes, such as if you want to focus on an eCommerce site, or add blog content. Often, you can add extras to your site as you progress.
If you go down the route of designing your own site, never compromise the quality and professionalism by your limited know-how. Your website reflects your brand, and it’s often a wise investment to get expert help at this stage. For instance, if you use Drupal to create your site, consider getting advice and expertise from a Drupal design agency, such as https://www.website-express.co.uk/service/drupal-development-agency.
Decide on web hosting
Web hosting is an essential consideration to make when creating a website, so choose a host facility that offers reliable speeds and support, to enhance the user-experience. If you want to add to your site in the future, choose hosting that can accommodate this.
Organise and maintain your site
How your website looks and how the information will be organised are key elements for attracting audiences and for boosting your search engine optimisation. Your site should be easy to navigate, with information included under relevant menu headings. Adding regular content will keep your site fresh, and lure visitors back to view it. Maintaining the site once it’s up and running is also important, especially for fixing bugs or broken links.