Any new business venture must start with your online presence. Having a website is the best way to get clients, retain those clients, and spread your services through word of mouth. Here’s a quick 10-step checklist for creating your own website from scratch.
Step 1: Set Some Goals
Create a budget and determine how much you can spend on your new website. Also, work out how much you want to make within the first month, the month after that, and so on. You want to create a scalable list of goals for growing your website (and, with it, your company) so that you have something to work towards.
Step 2: Determine and Announce Your Unique Skill Set
It goes without saying that any website runs on good content. Avoid robotic AI-generated content and consider writing it yourself or hiring a content professional who can highlight your skills in an enticing way. Your home page should immediately showcase what it is you have to offer and how it’s superior to your competitors. Whether it’s a product or a unique set of skills, be sure to set yourself apart from others in an engaging and trustworthy manner.
Step 3: Consider the Theme of Your Site
Colors, a great logo design, and great images can make your site a pleasant place to visit. Select colors that speak to your brand, and consider using a template to design your logo if you can’t afford a professional graphic designer. Learn important skills like how to change frame rate in DaVinci Resolve to fine-tune your images. Each of these elements works together to create a brand experience for your potential customers.
Step 4: Select the Appropriate Hosting
While you can opt for free hosting, this is not a good idea if you want your website to stand out. A unique domain name is also essential for search engine optimizations (SEO) to help Google users find you easier. Hosting is not expensive, so source a good host provider, choose your website domain name, and get ready to build your site.
Step 5: Opt for a Template to Start Building
There are countless website templates out there that match your vision for your site. Find the right one to give you a framework of design that speaks to your brand identity. Using a website template speeds up the website-building process, and these are easy to source, upload, and edit to your liking.
Step 6: Create at Least 5 Pages
Page creation should follow some basic formats. First you want to provide a Home page that welcomes users, invites them to stay longer, and answers any pressing questions they may have. Then create a Services/Products page showcasing your offerings. Next you should create an About Us page which tells the user a bit more about your company and what distinguishes you from the competition.
A blog page is also a good idea since this gives you the opportunity to develop your SEO strategy later, answer user questions, and educate your audience about your industry. Finally, create a user-friendly Contact Us page that helps your users to connect with you easily. This could include a phone number, email address, Google map with directions, and/or a Call-to-Action button.
Step 7: Optimize for SEO
Make sure the content you’ve written has an appropriate number of keywords that direct users to your pages. Also, write a blog or two to get started. Name each page according to what information it provides, and add captions for any images you’ve used. All of these elements help you to optimize your site for SEO.
Step 8: Add a Paygate
Allow customers to easily pay you by adding a paygate to your site. If they prefer ordering your services or products online, this is a great way to add convenience and ensure repeat business. A paygate is also a good way to showcase the legitimacy of your business.
Step 9: Try Some Good Plug-Ins
Plug-Ins can help your site measure SEO levels, add design elements, and share your content on social media. There are thousands of different plug-ins to choose from, so choose ones that fit well with your website goals.
Step 10: Maintain Your Site Regularly
Regular maintenance of your site is a sure way to increase the search optimization of your site. Blog on a weekly basis, add an FAQ section, and keep adding images & videos to your site to give Google the signal that you’re actively engaging with your users.
David Prior
David Prior is the editor of Today News, responsible for the overall editorial strategy. He is an NCTJ-qualified journalist with over 20 years’ experience, and is also editor of the award-winning hyperlocal news title Altrincham Today. His LinkedIn profile is here.
