Three Simple Steps to Design a Small Business Website

In an era dominated by technology and social media, a small business must have an online presence. Consumers consult the internet for product research, business location, and operating hours and purchase all sorts of items. A simple, well-designed website gives your business an edge in your field, expands your business, and helps you open up to new markets. Hiring a web designer can be expensive but is no longer necessary. There are many beginner-friendly and budget-friendly website builders perfect for enabling a small business to create a website without experience. Here are three steps to take when designing your business site.

1. Define your fundamental goals and purpose.

It is vital to have a clear idea of your ultimate objectives to implement design elements and tools best suited to achieving your goals. Things to consider will include what information you want to communicate, what actions you want visitors to take, and what products or services you wish to offer on your website. Once you have determined what you want your small business website to accomplish, you can begin the process of designing and building it.

2. Select a domain name and a website building platform.

Choosing the right domain name is crucial to the success of your local business website, which is the URL where current and potential customers go to find out more about your business. Your business website should be descriptive, catchy, and easy to type. The recommended option is to keep it short and try to avoid numbers, abbreviations, and acronyms. The best way for a small business owner to launch a website is using a hosted website builder. This all-in-one solution allows you to purchase your domain name while providing you with hosting services, web page templates, and customizable designs. Costs associated with hosted website builders vary depending on the plan you choose. Some plans are free, but this usually means the company uses other methods, like placing banner ads on your website, to compensate for the free hosting.

3. Determine the theme and architecture of your website.

Decide on a color scheme, overall theme, and what pages you want to include on your website. An excellent place to find inspiration is your company’s logo. Every site needs a home page, and this is where your clients will initially land when they go to your site. It should provide:

• General company information.
• A short overview of your products and services.
• Straightforward navigation to other sections.

Convey what your business does in clear, concise statements so that visitors understand what you do within seconds of landing on your homepage. Pages you may want to add are an about page to share your mission statement or company’s history, a contact page with your business address, phone number, and email address. A blog page where you can update your customers on new products and services.

After completing your website, be sure to preview it before publishing. Read through your content to make sure everything is accurate and easy to understand. Next, let the world know your business has an online presence by announcing it on social media or via email. Staying relevant is essential, so update your website frequently with blog posts, new products, and offers, and company news to keep visitors coming back for more.