A web presence is paramount in today’s digital-first, data-driven business landscape. Budding entrepreneurs who anticipate an impressive launch will benefit from this quick and easy way to grow their reach, develop their brand, and stay ahead of the competition.
The website setup process can seem daunting for new businesses, and you can feel lost if you don’t have experience. With the right preparation, you can simplify the process and do it all yourself.
This step-by-step guide will share useful information about how to streamline your website setup process.
Select a Domain Name
Choosing a website domain name is theoretically easy, but this crucial first step isn’t to be taken lightly by any means. It is not unlike choosing a name for your company. In fact, the company and the domain name are likely to be identical.
The domain name, which is how people will find your site, plays a critical role in your online identity. It is important for SEO because potential customers can find you via keyword searches. It can also make your site easier to advertise via digital marketing.
Take the time to brainstorm or use a domain name generator to come up with a unique name. Do keyword research and possibly market analysis to find a memorable, impactful name that reflects your product or service. It must also be relevant and integrate commonly searched keywords. Consider using your location directly in the domain name if you’re relying on local customers.
Decide on the Site Layout
Select your website’s layout with research and careful planning, as it will be pivotal in the customer experience. Your website builder of choice can make or break that experience. Most of the builders available feature an array of website templates, reducing your options down to those featuring structures and styles that reflect your vision.
You might consider aspects like appointment scheduling, e-commerce elements, or other functions intrinsic to your platform. WordPress is widely considered the best option for beginners. Check out this WordPress install guide for all the details you need.
Create Supporting Pages
The most effective websites have several key pages – not too few and not too many. Typically, they include a homepage and a few supporting ones – an About page, a Contact page, and a page about the products or services. They need to reflect various aspects of your startup. They are your site’s main building blocks, and you should order and structure them in a way that’s consistent with your intended user journey.
They must also be intuitive and accessible. WordPress offers the option to add, remove, and customize pages.
Test Your Website
Invest some time and effort in testing and tweaking your website now that its key components are in place. User experience is and remains one of the most important indicators of a website’s success, so the interface should be one of your main considerations. You can assess it via technical audits and usability testing.
You can test usability by observing how visitors navigate your site. Consider any confusion or communicated weaknesses along the way. Seek in-depth feedback, which can lead to improved user experience and stronger solutions. The technical audit of your front and back end includes website performance metrics, such as multimedia playback and page speed, and SEO factors, such as functional backlinks, organic keyword mentions, and content optimization.
Take it Live
It’s time to go live and start promoting your site. There are many options when it comes to effective digital marketing. Social media can raise awareness of your website. Many social networks let people link site URLs directly, guide them to different pages, and syndicate site content. Numerous templates feature the option to embed links to social media, which has benefits from an SEO perspective – organic links are directly related to ranking. Google Ads can help you market your products or services via targeted advertising.
