While you may want to hire a website designer or developer down the road, it can be an expensive investment. Whether you are just starting your business, or on a tight budget, DIYing your website is a great solution.
Follow this process to create your small business website.
To Start, Choose Your Website Platform
There are a variety of website platforms to choose from. Each platform serves a different need.
Here are three of the most popular:
1. Squarespace. Squarespace is a website platform known for its user-friendly interface and modern website design templates. Squarespace websites are built through block-style building (you drag and drop blocks into columns and rows). That might limit you if you want to do any out-of-the-box design.
2. Wix. Wix is a platform made for small business owners who want an easy solution. While the website-building process is simple, Wix lacks the functionality and customization you can find on platforms like Squarespace and WordPress.
Choose Wix if you want to get a basic website up quickly.
Custom design and animations are limited.
3. Self-Hosted WordPress. WordPress is more flexible than Squarespace or Wix. You download the WordPress software and install it on your web server. It may require a bit more technical knowledge… but ultimately WordPress allows more flexibility.
Before you choose your website platform, think about your website goals in the short and long term. Do you want an easy-to-update website? Squarespace and Wix might be the best options. Will you want a more customized design down the line? Then WordPress might be the best solution for your business.
Creating Your Website
Once you choose a platform, take these steps to create your website:
1. Decide which pages you want to have on your website. Start by listing the pages you’ll want on your website. You can have a single landing page, or a standard 5-page website.
Home. This page should give visitors a clear idea of what you do and how you can help them.
About. Show your business’s story. Talk about how your company pursues its mission through photos and words.
Services or Products. This page will feature ways that customers can buy from your business!
Blog. A blog can be a place for your business to post news updates, informative articles, or other content for visitors to browse.
Contact. This page informs customers about how to get in touch with you. If you have a physical location, this page should include your address and a map showing your location.
2. Choose a template or theme. The theme or template you use will guide the way your website looks.