The time has come, and you need a website. Congrats! You’re one step closer to giving your business a platform to market itself. Still, the hardest part is figuring out exactly how to build a website.
Luckily, there are tons of online resources to help you along the way. While it might seem complicated, there are plenty of platforms and web hosting options to help even the technologically illiterate build a beautiful and cohesive website. So, let’s get started.
How to build a website
There are five major steps to building a website. Depending on the options you choose, the process can be seamless or more complicated. First, it’s great to have a vision of what you’re looking for so you can choose the options that work best for you. With your vision in mind, you can begin the process of building a website.
Think about:
- How you want your website to perform?
- What you want your website to look like?
- How you plan to define the success of your website (sales, sign-ups, etc.)?
Choose how you’ll build your website
There are plenty of options out there for how you want to build your website. For instance, maybe you’re interested in hiring someone to do it for you or prefer to do it yourself.
If you choose the latter, some platforms and services simplify the process. For instance, platforms like Wix and Squarespace are designed to make building a website easier than ever. They’re easy to use and provide you the flexibility to grow as your business grows.
Find a hosting service
The next major step is deciding on a hosting service. A host is an online server that houses all your website assets. In some cases, hosting can come alongside the web builder itself, and others (like if you choose to host your website on WordPress) require a host.
The hosting service depends on your goals and vision. You’ll want to keep in mind the flexibility for growth, security, and any features you need to make your website function.
A quick Google search will pull up tons of hosting options. Read through their benefits and choose the one that works best for you.
Register a domain
Generally, you register your domain with the same service provider you choose for your hosting. In that case, those two things can be done at the same time.
You want to choose a domain name that reflects your business, is short and easy to remember, and won’t get confused with anyone else out there.
Start creating your website
Now that you have all the technical aspects of your website setup, it’s time to start building. If you’ve chosen to do it yourself, you’ll begin choosing your brand colors, uploading images and logos, and of course, writing effective copy.
Your website is a reflection of your business. You want it to represent both your brand and your values.
Gather your content
Images, blogs, copy, ads, and even video can make up the bulk of your website. That’s what a site is, after all—a place to house content relevant to your business.
Start filling in the blanks with the content that matters to you. When you’re ready, click the publish button and start sharing the link.
Setting up a website is the easy part. It’s maintaining and marketing your business that isn’t easy. With your website done, you’re one step closer to getting your name out there. If you need help, be sure to contact a digital marketing agency.
For more information that could help grow your business, be sure to check out our other articles on MarketingWit.
