Basic Checklist for Newbies: Setting Up A Business Website
If you are entirely new to the website arena, don’t worry! It can be overwhelming to consider the whole monster at one time, but the process really does break down into some very simple steps, and there are plenty of resources out there to help you navigate them.
Below you will find a very basic checklist of steps to move through in order to make your business website up and running.
Set Up Web Hosting
This is the beginning point for getting started with your website. When you build a site, you must have a location where that page lives so that it can be served up to your internet visitors. Do a search on web hosting and sign up for an account on the company you decide to employ. Many hosting companies will offer tutorials and sometimes even free websites that will help you get started.
Get a Domain Name / URL
Getting a domain name will help visitors find you and your content. You can often purchase domain names through your web hosting service. If not, you will eventually need to contact your web host to learn how to connect your domain name and your website.When purchasing a domain name, you will want to get your main brand name as well as any abbreviated or misspelled versions that come easily to mind.
Do Your Planning
Go back and look at your business goals. If you are designing your own website, you’ll want to start to sketch out how you want your site to look and function before you dive in to the active build. Consider how your color scheme, navigation, layout, and font selection will support your business goals. If you are working with a designer, communicate those goals and make sure you are matching design with goals at every step.
Find a Website Builder, Template, or Website Service
A few internet searches will turn up plenty of people, companies, and services that will help you build your site. Depending on your level of comfort with site implementation, you might outsource the entire process, or just the parts you prefer not to do. There are lots of free websites available, but consider carefully what kind of image you’re creating before you decide to park your new business on another company’s URL.
Test Your Site
This is an often-overlooked step in website design. Once you have the basic site designed and uploaded to your host, you want to test it in all the major browsers – Internet Explorer, Firefox, Opera, Safari, and Chrome. Sites like BrowserShots (http://browsershots.org/) will help you do this with one easy click. You can also make sure your site code is up to standard with a free validator service like the one at W3C Markup Validation Service (http://validator.w3.org/). Make sure you deal with any compatibility or code issues before going live with your site.
Connect Your Analytics
You’ll have access to analytics on your website via your host, but you may also like the simplicity and flexibility of some of the analytics services available for your new site. Google Analytics is a great place to begin, and it’s absolutely free.
INSIDER TIP: Consider Implementing a Business Blog. Not every business needs a blog, but if you already have a website a blog gives you a powerful way to do content marketing so that your brand and expertise are constantly out there drawing new potential clients into your pipeline. Don’t wait until your business has been up and running before you add your blog; launch it at the start and write regularly about things your target market will find compelling.
Need help? Calvert Creative helps companies develop leads and sales through online marketing, all while working within your budget and timeline. From designing logos and building brands to driving traffic to your website, we can help you get started. Contact us today for a free consult!
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