Running your own business means there’s always something new you have to learn or implement into your workflow. Creating an online presence is one of those things, but it can be tricky knowing where to start.
Having a website is almost a requirement these days when you want to run a successful business. Websites allow you to create an interactive experience that connects with others and provides them information and/or calls to action (CTAs).
Business owners spend hours every day working on their companies, so why not make some effort to develop an audience and get some engagement? That is what this article will help you do!
We are going to take a close look at the steps needed to launch your first web site for business. This way you can feel more prepared and able to go after your dreams.
Here we will talk about how to make a simple website for business, what tools to use, and important considerations before getting started.
A site with lots of flashy features or large images is usually designed to appeal more to your eye rather than help you accomplish anything. These types of sites are great to admire, but they may not be the best way to run your business online.
It’s important to remember that when it comes down to it, your website should facilitate doing business. You will spend much less time marketing if you use free websites like Shopify or Squarespace.
These sites already have all of the tools needed to launch and market a product so you can just include yourself in their user community.
Now that you have chosen an appropriate domain name and installed WordPress, it’s time to start thinking about what kind of content and features you would like to include on your site.
You will want to make sure your site has at least an About page with contact information and details about who you are as a person or business, and possibly some products or services.
This can be done through adding pages in WordPress or via other software such as Google Sites or Word Press Themes. You should also have an index, search, categories and tags function so users can easily find what they are looking for.
Additional settings and functions can be found in the Settings area of your WordPress dashboard. These include email notification options and redirect URLs (the address of the web server your website is hosted on).
Your browser will also show you how to install additional plugins which add new features to your website. Some free plugins that can help take care of certain things are totally legit, while others may offer more advanced functionality.
Be careful where you download files from, especially plugin ones. There could be malicious code inside meant to steal money or personal info.
Writing is a powerful way to connect with others, build trust, and influence behavior. Writers create stories that inspire action or change by linking ideas with emotions.
Writing an article about how to make a simple website for business is an example of storytelling. It’s like reading a book where the story takes you through different scenes, events, and narratives until it arrives at a conclusion.
In this case, the conclusion is to help other people learn how to make a basic web site.
Your readers will be interested in what you have to say because they are looking to learn or improve their own skills. You can even use the lessons you read here as teaching materials if you choose to become self-employed later on.
You don’t need any experience when you start off making websites, but having some knowledge is always helpful. That’s why there are so many ways to gain expertise beyond just learning HTML directly.
If you have an idea that you want to make into a website, then it’s time to buy your domain name.
Most people start by going to Namecheap or Google and finding free domains. These are great resources but they may not be the best choice for you.
A domain is like the address of your site. It uses a web browser protocol to connect to websites (for example, google.com).
The price of a domain can add up quickly if you are planning on running a business from it so I would recommend buying yours through a source that offers premium services.
If you have an idea or want to create a business, then creating a website is one of the most important things you can do. A web presence is just like having a regular storefront with all of your products and services displayed to the world!
Having a web site allows you to offer potential customers access to who you are as a person and what you have to offer them. It also gives you a way to promote yourself and your company by putting up relevant content and links to other sites and resources related to yours.
There are many ways to develop your online persona and brand. You can use free websites to launch your own, such as WordPress or Squarespace, or you can pay a low cost to start with a pre-packaged template.
The key thing to remember about investing in a website is that it will probably take time to get going. Don’t rush into it if you aren’t sure you will be able to maintain it consistently. Doing so could end in frustration.
Now that you have chosen an appropriate domain name and installed WordPress, it’s time to start designing your website!
The first thing you will need is a web hosting account. A good place to get started is with Amazon Web Services (AWS) as they are one of the most popular options. You can choose their basic plan which starts at around $5 per month, or go all-in with their higher end plans.
You don’t want to be high budget though because this is supposed to be a cheap way to begin building your site so keep it modest unless you know what advanced features cost.
The second part of designing your site is picking your theme. This is the skin you will use to create the look and feel of your site. There are many free themes available but if you wanted more customization there are premium ones as well.
Some people prefer buying a pre-made template than going through the process of finding a theme and then editing it to match their style.
If you have an idea for your business, then it is time to start building your online presence! Starting from the easiest way to launch, making a free WordPress site or using one of the many free web hosting sites out there, it is best to begin with that before investing in a paid domain name and a custom website design.
That way, you can focus on developing your business while also having an accessible outlet to do so. You will be able to experiment with different marketing strategies as well as run your business like a boss without needing expensive software or tools to backtrack.
By starting small, you’ll feel more confident when it comes to designing your own site or picking a domain and platform that are ready for bigger things. Either option is totally fine, but just make sure you know what settings and features each one has before jumping into the next step.
There are plenty of ways to develop your business even further, such as creating a Facebook page, doing targeted ads, and establishing yourself as an expert in your field – all of which require more advanced software and/or equipment.
A simple website is one that you create using free web hosting sites or ones that are paid for, but you can easily customize to match your business and marketing needs!
As we mentioned before, there’s no need to spend lots of money on fancy software or additional tools to make your site look professional. Most people use websites that are built with HTML, CSS, and some form of content management system (CMS) like WordPress or Blogger.
By adding pictures, changing colors, and including supporting documents and receipts, you will give your website an aura of professionalism. You may even want to add links to your social media profiles and/or products so visitors can connect more closely with you.