No Business Can Afford To Be Without A Website – Here’s How To Build One!

If you run a small business, and even if you’re a one-man-band, you need an online presence. If you haven’t got your website together then you need to act quickly. You are missing out on valuable custom and they’re all going to your competitors. Times are hard for businesses now, especially small ones. If you want yours to weather the storm then you are going to have to start pushing harder for business. You may be putting a website off because you just don’t have the budget to pay somebody to do it for you. The good news is that it is perfectly possible to do it yourself. All you need is some basic computer knowledge, and if you don’t have that then we’ll bet you have a friend who can help you. Here’s how to get started:

Register a Domain Name

First of all you need to get a domain name – this is your web address, or URL, that people will visit (for example, www.yourbusinessname.au). Try and choose a domain name that is relevant to your business – many are taken already so you may have to keep looking for a while. Make sure the address is easy to both remember and spell, so that your customers can find you easily enough.

Then You’ll Need Hosting

The next step is to get hosting. This is provided by a hosting company and it is basically what gets your website live onto the internet. When you are choosing your domain name you will often be offered hosting from the same company – this could save you money so at least consider it. Once you have your domain name and your hosting sorted it’s time to move to the next step.

Design Your Website

Search for an online tool that lets you design your website within a template. There are plenty of companies out there that offer it but try to go with one that someone you know has recommended. The tool will talk you through how to choose your design and colour, and it will also walk you through each page of your website. You’ll need to put in the information yourself, but many of the design elements will be done for you. You’ll be able to add Twitter and Facebook feeds (this is a good idea as it links all your social media together).

Write Carefully

Populate the website with all the information that your customers will need, but be wary of writing too much. You may know all the finer details of your company but that doesn’t mean your customers need to. Your website should be easy to read and easy to navigate. Flick over to the demo mode from time to time while you are designing it so that you can see how it looks from a visitor’s point of view.

When you’re done, look at the website and ask yourself, ‘is it clear what I do?’ Don’t get so bogged down in the detail that your customers miss the point. When you’re ready, upload it onto the internet and start spreading the word about your new website!

Author Bio: This article is authored by Jenny Wadlow. She is a technophile and has recently written an article on internet providers in Australia. You can contact her on Twitter @JennyWadlow.