A business without a website may as well not exist. Customers expect legitimate companies to have an online presence and offer value through the web. If you’ve never built a website, look to these tips to create an attractive and functional site that gains and retains clients.
Choose a Hosting Service
Find a reliable web hosting provider with stellar customer service. Check reviews to find how companies stack up against each other. Some hosts make building a site yourself simple with drag-and-drop tools for a premium price. Other companies set you up for far less, but you’ll need the skills to build a site or to hire someone who can. Also, consider if the host offers the potential to expand your site beyond a few basic pages and features in the future.
Select an Appropriate Domain Name
Your site pages are based on your web address, and you can set up a business email address for your domain. Pick a good one! The best web addresses:
- Are easy to remember and associate with your company
- Include keywords you want to rank for in web searches
- Are not too similar to another popular site
Use a domain name generator if you’re struggling to find a unique name that hasn’t already been purchased.
Keep Your Site Secure
Hopefully, your site can become a robust pathway for sales and communication with your growing team, customers, and suppliers. Get an SSL certificate immediately when setting up your domain.
What is SSL certificate web technology? You’re probably used to seeing the small padlock symbol in the top left-hand corner of your web browser. This security protocol keeps your connections encrypted, preventing hackers from accessing sensitive data.
Even when not dealing with sales and payments, most consumers relate that they are encouraged by the padlock icon on a web page. Some web surfers may refuse to use sites that are not secured for fear of compromising their data. Remember that some search engines lower the search engine rankings of sites without SSL certificates, dropping your visibility.
Focus on Attractive Design
The first thing visitors notice about your site is if it’s challenging to navigate or ugly. The fees for an experienced web developer can save you many headaches and prevent losing clients. Check out the portfolios of different web designers and choose a person who can capture the essence you want to project.
Enhance Site Features With Plugins
Plugins help you track your site, boost its performance, and offer valuable features for visitors. A capable SEO plugin optimizes your pages for search engines and makes your page more accessible to potential customers. Other plugins allow you to build custom forms for surveys, contact information, and payment. You can use the software to track your traffic and create additional pages.
Remember that plugins can bog down your site. Just like maneuvering through a crowded store, an excess of features can slow down visitors. Stick to the essentials and pay for extensions that add significant value.
Optimize the Site for Mobile Viewing
More visitors come to pages from mobile devices than desktop PCs, so tailor your site to work on small and large screens. Use a responsive design or have your developer create a distinct mobile version. Test the page with online tools that show how user-friendly your website is on mobile.
Keep Accessibility in Mind
Show solidarity with the disability community by making sure your page is fully accessible. Do more than cover the basics. Make your page a pleasure to use for those with auditory, visual, mobility, and cognitive impairments.
A solid website doesn’t have to be intricate or mind-blowing to cover your needs. Start with the basics, test what drives traffic and engagement, and refine your pages over time. With a well-built domain, you can generate more business for your company.