There’s nothing new about creating a website for your website; it’s been a necessity for over 20 years, and it still is today. A website gives you an online presence, a digital storefront and, in some cases, a place to sell your products or service without the need for any physical interaction. With more and more people trying their hand at business, the need for websites has increased, if anything.
But how do you go about building a website from scratch with no prior experience? Fortunately, it’s far easier today than it ever has been before. Read on to find out how you can build a website for your business from scratch.
Carry Out Research
Many businesses skip this first step and get straight to the building stage. But as the old saying goes, failing to prepare is preparing to fail, and carrying out prior research is a crucial stage of the planning process.
Use market research to help you plan out your website. Your plan will look different depending on what you offer. Consider if your website needs to be geared towards capturing leads, selling products or providing information. The overall goal of your website will impact the wider layout and style of the site.
It can also be wise to look at competitors’ websites at this stage. Try to identify pain points and UX holes that your website can take advantage of by offering a smoother experience.
Choose a Domain Name
Choosing a domain name is probably the first time where it starts to feel real. You’ll obviously need it to be relevant to your brand name, but it should also be memorable and easy to spell. You will also need to check which domains are available. To do this, there are a number of websites you can use to check the availability of domains, including:
- Godaddy.com
- Namecheap.com
- Name.com
- Wix.com
- Domain.com
Pick a Web Hosting Service
A web hosting service is effectively where your website lives. There are different options for different budgets. For instance, smaller websites with lower budgets may opt for shared hosting services, while those with bigger budgets may utilise dedicated web hosting services.
Dedicated hosting allows websites to benefit from superior speeds, more control and increased security. However, it’s worth pointing out that shared hosting is more than appropriate for most small businesses.
The most popular web hosting providers include:
- GoDaddy
- Bluehost
- SiteGround
- Ionos
- HostGator
- Hostinger
Choose a Website Builder
If you don’t have prior experience building websites, you’ll probably want to take advantage of the many website builders that exist today. In recent years, the emergence of no-code website builders has reduced the need for developers in the web design process.
That’s not to say website developers are redundant, and if you do have the budget, working with a developer is a great option if you’re looking for an all singing and dancing website. However, this is a luxury that most small businesses can’t afford.
Best Website Builders
Wix
Wix is one of the early no-code website builders, and there’s a good chance most people have heard of Wix. It works as a safe middle-ground option offering solid security and strong usability. It also provides some of the strongest AI-generated solutions, which can help if you have limited creative skills.
Shopify
Shopify has become the go-to option for websites that require an online store. In fact, some of the world’s leading e-commerce brands have built their websites with the help of Shopify, including French Connection and Kylie Cosmetics. If you are building an e-commerce business, Shopify’s main selling point is the ease with which you can manage and track product sales.
Webflow
Webflow is one of the modern no-code options when it comes to building websites. It’s seen as a nice middle ground between the simplicity of out-of-the-box websites and the customisation of bespoke websites. Webflow works best if you have some prior design experience, which can be a drawback if you don’t possess this.
Testing
You’ll need to test that everything is working correctly before launching your website. This includes everything from ensuring all pages are linked up correctly to checking for spelling mistakes. If you’re working with a tight budget, you may want to ask friends, colleagues and family members to carry out some basic testing for you. However, for a thorough review, try to enlist the help of those who have expertise in the area of UX.
When it comes to testing, using a variety of people is key. Your testers should possess differing levels of knowledge and experience. What’s obvious to yourself and advanced users may not be obvious to others. On the other hand, your friends and family members may not be able to spot things that a UX professional would check for.
Launch Your Website
You may think that once the testing stage is over, the hard work is done. In reality, this is where the challenge begins. Not only will you need to constantly optimise and update your website, but you’ll also need to promote it and consider areas such as SEO.
This is where you may need to bring in some assistance, particularly if you are trying to grow an e-commerce brand. An e-commerce digital marketing agency can take over the marketing of your website as well as content uploading. This can free you up to focus on areas of the business that you consider more of a strength.
Remember, creating a website may be one of the first steps in developing your own business, but it becomes a waste of time and money if you’re not prepared to take the necessary steps to maintain it. This includes identifying opportunities for new pages, ensuring content is optimised and being quick to respond to any technical glitches.