In this digital age, a website is essential for any business. Having an online presence is the number one way to give your business credibility. Customers turn to the internet for everything nowadays, whether it be contact information, product lines or opening hours. A website gives them the information they are looking for immediately.
A website can reach a far bigger audience than traditional marketing alone and can be accessed from anywhere in the world and at any time.
Combined with the 2020 pandemic, more and more things have moved online making a website the number one place to connect with your audience.
Anyone can build a successful business website if they have a plan. But where do you start? Here are some practical tips.
Research
First, you need to identify your marketing strategy. This could include market research within your chosen field to determine:
– Who your target audience is?
– Who your competitors are?
– The demand for your service.
Once you understand these areas you can then develop your content and marketing around them. Marketing trends and strategies move at an alarming rate and so you must stay ahead of the game to stand out. For some current tips check out these 2022 B2B marketing strategies.
Domain
Often overlooked your domain name is crucial for both ease of use and Search Engine Optimisation (SEO).
For example, it should be short and easy to spell. People are more likely to mistype it when it’s complicated or includes unnecessary jargon.
Keep the name relevant to your business but broad enough to allow for further growth. In the future, you may want to branch out more and this way you won’t have to change everything.
Ensure your URL is SEO optimised, include relevant keywords but keep it short.
Hosting
To view a website online you must choose a hosting provider. This external server is where all your website data is stored. Ensure you pick a reliable one with full support if your budget permits. There are many things to consider including:
– Reliability
– Speed
– Storage
– Bandwidth
Do your research and make the right decision for your type of business. Base this on the amount of traffic you expect to your site. Typically, an e-commerce site can expect high volumes of traffic compared to a corporate website.
Of course, this choice will also be determined by budget. A budget-friendly option is shared web hosting. This is ideal for smaller budgets as you will share the server with other sites, but it can slow your site down. Individual hosting dedicated to your site alone will cost significantly more however you would benefit from faster load times.
Another factor to invest some time in is website navigation. It’s important to be clear about what your business does and what it can offer your audience. To keep them engaged dedicate each page into helpful topics. The menu titles should be clear and easily accessible from every page. This allows them to navigate your content quickly and effectively. Your aim is to keep them on your site for longer.
Brand Identity and Content
Create a brand that’s both visual and representative of your business. Imprint this branding across your website and social media channels. Do you offer a product? Use it across the packaging too. There’s nothing worse than a poorly designed website. It needs to be easy on the eye and clear.
This is your first impression so make it count.
It should be easy now you know your target audience. Branding should be consistent across all avenues from your logo to your voice. So, if your business is aimed at teenagers, you would pick the correct language and style to suit them. You might use trendy bright colours and logos to get their attention and let them know you are not for boring oldies.
Again, this is something you can pick up from market research and social media channels.
Forum websites are also an incredible resource into current topics and trends your target audience may be discussing, so check out some popular online forums to find the best one for you. This can help you to create content you know they are looking for on your website and drive traffic to your business. The end goal here is to create a brand that is recognisable to you.
In summary
Now you have your website optimised and ready for 2022 just be sure to keep it updated and relevant. Keep an eye on the trends and be consistent with your content. Your website is your most powerful marketing tool, nurture it and you will continue to reach larger audiences. Keeping it fresh and up to date will only help your business to grow.
Starting A Business Website In 2022? Here’s How to Get It Off to A Great Start
