A Brief Guide to Setting Up a Website

Having a website is no longer optional, especially if you have a business. And when customers come across your website you want it to stand out from your competitors. Without an online presence, that is impossible. A website is a page created by accumulation of data uploaded onto the Internet using a computer. A website starts with the domain “www” which stands for World Wide Web. It is possible for anyone to create a website and it can be done easily with minimum cost. 

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When setting up your company website, you’ll need a domain and a web host. Ideally, the domain should be named after your company. This approach allows you to maintain brand consistency. If your company’s name is long, you may seek a shorter alternative. You can opt for the initials of your company and abbreviate a specific portion of the name. You may encounter challenges using the initials of your company especially if there are other businesses with the same initials. Even if the initials are not in use by other companies and you can gain free exposure to your website, it’s still important that you do your research before making the decision to use those initials. Taking this extra precaution may save you the embarrassment of being associated with an explicit site. Once you’ve selected a domain, find a reliable web host. There are several web hosting providers available. Some of the top web hosting providers include HostGator, Bluehost, and iPage. Now that you’ve gotten your domain and web host, you’ll have to decide whether you’ll be using a website template or custom-designed website. If you’re working with a small budget, you may opt for a website template. On the other hand, if you have a larger budget and would like to have a specific design, a custom-designed template would be an ideal choice. In addition to paying for the custom-designed website, you may have to pay monthly maintenance fees if you’re unable to maintain the website on your own.

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Your website should offer information about your business, what to expect from you, pricing information, and much more.

The good news is, creating a website is no longer the challenging task it once was. You can even do it for free! Here’s how to get started.

Think About What Type of Website You Want

Start by brainstorming stylistic and functionality features of your new website. Will it be mobile friendly? (it ought to be). Will it be a one-pager with basic information and a contact form? Maybe you want a brochure like website. Maybe you want to add a blog to engage with your audience regularly. Then you’ll need a content management system.

A dynamic website design is another option. Dynamic sites are easily editable. They also provide direct communication with your audience on a one-on-one level.

Or maybe you’re looking for an e-commerce style website. This type of website allows customers to buy your items directly from your website. It’s a great place to help your audience share information, ask questions, and make a purchase.

Whatever type of website you want, they can be created within free templates.

Create a Consumer Profile

Ultimately, what type of website you create should be based on the needs and desires of your customers. Your goal is to design a website that attracts your consumers and benefits them. Discuss factors such as:

-Age

-Gender

-Location

-Pain Points

With your web designer or team to see what type of website would best fit them.

Decide On a Website Provider

Another factor you need to consider is your website provider. Fortunately, you don’t have to spend thousands of dollars to get this done. Instead, check out website providers that provide free support for setting up your website.

When building your site, bear in mind that it needs to be accessible, it needs to be easy to use, so think about how users are going to navigate it, how they are going to find what they want, and how you are going to advertise it. Once you’ve settled on a design, color scheme, layout and graphics, such as fonts, images and even videos, then look at your site and pretend to be a user, a potential customer. 
With a bit of research, you can set your business or personal website up for success for little to no investment!