I really want to go directly to our main subject of getting into website creation. But boss, if you still don’t have a web platform for your business, it’s a concern for real. It’s 2024 and AI has started sweeping the market. Not having a website today means not having a business at all. Your reach is limited, and your business products are not going to get their due recognition.
With no offense to all the businesses out there without a web who’re doing well on the course, we want more growth for you by winning the online market as well.
Why Creating a Website is Important for MSME businesses?
- Gives your business more credibility in the tech-era.
- It offers greater reach and more traffic.
- Opens more growth opportunities for businesses.
- High ROI for all industries.
- Better customer retention with more purchase.
- Incredible method of creating a brand.
Step-by-step Guide to Build a Business Website:
Building a business web is simple unless you’re a multi-million enterprise, working in 10 different countries. Here is the takeaway- building a 4-5 page website will give you a great boost as well as branding.
- Choosing a Website Platform:
Long gone are the days when codes were used to build websites. There are several website builders today which offer customized websites with drag & drop options, like a video game. Though, you will have a bit of technical understanding of design and website dynamics. Most importantly, these websites are dynamic & easier for updates.
Here are some of the best web platforms available. Check out all of them for a better deal and experience. All these platforms give close competition to each other in terms of ease, user-friendliness, value for money, design, features, and ability to scale.
- WordPress – suitable for all kinds of business; MSME or Enterprise.
- Wix – Offer flexibility to MSME businesses but no-third apps allowed.
- Squarespace – Ideal platform for small-sized businesses.
- Shopify – Excellent for E-commerce businesses.
- Sign up to a Budget-Friendly Plan:
Every platform offers a hosting & domain plan for the website. Understand what your needs are and choose a plan. Make sure you don’t unnecessarily buy but save money.
We have mentioned the best platforms above. Check all of them thoroughly. WordPress and Wix offer free plans which are limited but ideal for starters.
However, as a business owner, I wouldn’t suggest using the free one. Instead, check what’s inside the package and choose the best.
- Choose a Domain Name:
Now, let’s come to the creative segment of starting a website. Your website’s first recognition is its domain name. It is the identity of your website and becomes your brand.
You can choose a free one if you’re just starting out. Generally, businesses start their website with the same name as their business. Here are a few tips to take care of while choosing a domain name.
- Make it short, simple, and quick to remember.
- Avoid numbers in the domain.
- Avoid a dash.
- Choose a domain that offers expansion.
- Check branding and marketing.
- Do a Google search if your domain name is already used.
- Consider SEO ranking factors as well.
- Choose a Design Template:
“Design is that work”.
Steve Jobs
Once you have selected the platform and domain name, it’s time for you to start developing the foundation of your website. Keep in mind that your website is your brand identity. So casually selecting the colors, designs, templates will harm your brand.
Understand the tone & feel of the website template. Choose colors that promote your brand identity or match with your brand motives, ideas, and feelings.
Example-
- A builder’s website must have quality content in its niche. The colors should be ground & solid.
- A gallery website must have creative colors that resemble an artist’s personal style of work.
- A doctor’s website should be filled with content and soothing colors which offer relief when seen.
Here are some points to note.
- Keep the user-experience at the top of your presentation.
- Make it easy for people to scan your website and find their desired pages.
- Less is more in designing.
- Be authentic as much as possible.
- Functionality is any design’s strength.
- Customize Your Design:
Go all-in to the designing part of the website. You can customize the whole website with your idea. Start designing, adding images, sections, buttons, widgets, colors schemes, fonts, layouts etc. Make your website unique in feel.
- Be consistent throughout your website.
- Consider your target audience too.
- Optimize the design for smartphones.
- The design must be easy to function.
- Start Producing Content:
“Content is the King in all digital media”.
Bill Gates.
The best way you can interact with your audience is the content. The first layer is your website landing page content and the second layer is blogs.
Hire a content writer or, if you’re capable, start writing your content on the web.
Take help from AI technologies, several tools like ‘Headline Rewriter’ for creating a professional copy that engages with reader and delivers value.
- Create different font designs for noting different elements.
- Use Heading-2 & Heading-3 most.
- Add internal & external links for stronger credibility.
- Keep SEO in mind.
- Add images for better visual interaction.
- These pages are a must.
- Home Page
- About the company
- 1 page for each service/product.
- Blogs.
- Contact page.
- Create other pages if you want.
- Optimize Your Website for Users & Search Engines:
“A good SEO professional not only understands the searcher but the competitive landscape as well.”
Ryan Jones, SEO Group Director at Razorfish
Optimizing your site for search engines is still a good idea. While I accept that there is nothing better than fulfilling the user’s thirst for answers. But it’s equally important to match the requirements of the search engine – in most of the cases, Google.
Optimize your website with keywords, professional fonts, images, alt text, short URLs, website speed, internal & external linking etc.
- Do a Q&A before Making the Website Live:
Make sure to do a final test before you launch your website. Here is the top trick. Ask your friends to do a detailed review of your website. Their valuable feedback will make your website stronger & more appealing.
Ask them to do an audit on these points.
- Speed.
- Content
- Navigation.
- Mobile Responsiveness
- User-friendliness
An honest review will save you money later.
- Publish Your Website:
All your preparations are done. Now its time to go live and share what you offer to the world. Whether it’s a blog, product, or service; make the world see it.
- Start working on SEO.
- Promote it on social sites and offline.
- Start paid ad campaigns.
- Keep publishing high-quality blogs, with love.
How Picasso Multimedia Can Help You?
If you’re reading this blog till this point, congratulations to you. You now know everything to build a website for your business. Now, the question is why we are writing this section.
Though we have shared everything to start a website, the due action is to create a website. There are technical aspects of it which you may not be familiar with. Being a business owner, we don’t expect you to have much time for learning new skills (though you can, and we would love to see you doing that).
Picasso Multimedia is a one-stop solution for all your digital needs. With exclusive experience of 7+ years, we have command over website designing & development, creating highly engaged graphics, videos, and offering domain & hosting services for clients.
You have two options here.
- Learn about website development yourself and create a website.
- Let us do the technical tasks and focus on creating ideas, strategies, services, and content.
Our team includes skilled digital architects who will blend your ideas, creativity, and technical aspects to bring the best out of your desires.
Want to create stunning websites for yourself? Want to start your career as a professional website designer?
Check out Picasso Multimedia’s exclusive 2024 Website Development Course:
Conclusion:
Not having a website for your business is killing it. You can connect with more people, generate better leads, and create an identity like brands.
This article highlights all the steps you need to create a website. Follow them all and make your business a professional, engaging and user-loving website.
FAQs:
- How much does it cost to develop a website?
The development cost heavily depends on the requirements. The common cost for a MSME business website falls around 15000-20000 INR through agencies.
- Which are the best platforms to create a website?
WordPress rules over the website builder market. However, there are other good players, like WIX, Squarespace, and Shopify.
- Can I update my website after it’s built?
Yes, in fact you must. However, avoid making frequent updates because it may harm your SEO ranking & familiarity among users.
- How many pages should I include on my website?
You must create the necessary pages irrespective of what your business offers. They are Home Page, Contact Us, About the Company, and each page for each service. Beyond these, it’s your choice to create more pages.