Designing a Website for Your Small Business

You’ve worked hard to develop your small business. Don’t let a quality online presence be an afterthought. A quality website is an investment that reaps long term benefits that are quantifiable. Being found on the web is a necessity as more and more consumers turn to the internet for goods and services. You want to make a great first impression with a professional, intuitive website.

1. Domain and Hosting- The first step is to choose a name for your website. You want to make it easy to remember and on brand. Many people choose to use their business name ‘dot com’. Before you get your heart set on a name, use a search tool to make sure the name is available. Because consumers overwhelmingly use ‘dot com’ suffixes, experiment with a different name before resorting to an alternate suffix. Register your domain name and choose a hosting service. Some services will register your domain for you.
2. Content – You want nice, concise content. Outline your content and determine what page it will reside. Keep things simple. Each page should have one single goal. There are four essential pages you should include on your site and that will require content: homepage, products and services, about and contact. Make sure important business information like phone and address are prominently displayed on every page.
3. Logo – Before jumping into building your site, make sure you have a logo designed and ready. The color, font and style of your logo affect the design of your website. Consistency is key. You can use the same logo you are using in offline marketing. You will need a high-resolution scan for use on your site. If you don’t already have a logo or want to upgrade, consider hiring a professional.
4. Building – Now that you have a plan in place, it is time to take action. There are many online tools available to help. Small business website design is not for the faint at heart. Hiring a professional might be a quicker route to a professional website. It is vital that your website is mobile friendly. With responsive design, this is easy to accomplish. The color and scheme of your website should be in-line with your logo and brand.

Keep in mind you want your site to represent your company and the work you do. Make information on your business easy to find. Each page should have a single goal or action: submission form, “sign-up” button, etc. A well-built site will generate new, quantifiable business. This means you can see what is working and what is not and tweak your tactics for better returns.

A good web design is more affordable than print media and persists long after the initial investment is made. Then, you can use your own website to advertise and promote. Because it is cheaper and easier than ever to build a website, there is no excuse to remain offline. Make a good first impression with an engaging site. Your content should be easy to read and understand, guiding your reader to the appropriate next steps. Get started designing your website today.