In an era dominated by technology and social media, a local small business website 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. You no longer need to hire an expensive web designer. Many beginner-friendly and budget-friendly website builders empower small businesses to create websites without any prior experience. Follow these three steps to design your business site effectively.
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 for your local small business website.
Choosing the right domain name extension 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 lets you purchase your domain name and provides hosting services, web page templates, and customizable designs. The cost of hosted website builders depends on the plan you select. Some plans are free, but they often compensate by placing banner ads on your website to cover the hosting costs.
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.
Clearly state what your business does so visitors can quickly understand within seconds of landing on your homepage. To provide more context, consider adding an about page to share your mission or company history. Additionally, include a contact page with your address, phone number, and email. Furthermore, you might want to create a blog page to update customers on new products and services.
After completing your website, make sure to preview it carefully before publishing. First, read through your content to ensure everything is accurate and easy to understand. Then, let the world know about your business’s online presence by announcing it on social media or via email. Finally, to stay relevant, update your website frequently with blog posts, new products, offers, and company news. This will encourage visitors to return for more.