Technology

The Basics of Creating a Company Website

If you’re like other business owners, you probably have a long list of things you’d want to do and can’t get to right now. It would be best if you acquired various new abilities to get your business up and running. It’s a lot of work to start a business from scratch, what with developing a business strategy, keeping the books balanced, and learning how to promote your product or service.

It’s understandable if creating a website to represent your company online fills you with dread, but be assured that it’s not impossible. A company website is essential in today’s market. The number of people conducting business online is increasing. A web presence is crucial, even if you don’t plan to sell anything directly to customers. Individuals increasingly turn to the Internet as a quick and easy resource for finding local businesses and their required services. An effective marketing tool is a website that provides information about your company, its location, contact details, an appealing design, and an accurate reflection of your company’s values.

The question then becomes, where do you begin? At this point, the majority of individuals give up. If you’re a small business owner, you probably don’t have much money to throw at creating a website or a lot of time to waste searching aimlessly. You could pay someone to help you, but chances are they’ll be expensive, and you won’t understand what they’re doing. If you wish to create a website, these instructions are for you but insist on retaining complete editorial control over your site.

Identifying the purpose of your site is the first step. Is your website primarily an “online business card,” or do you also offer products or services online? Do you have a mental picture of how you want it to turn out and the details you plan to include? You can still move forward with the project even if you don’t have the answers to these questions. You might wait for inspiration to strike, or you could consult a web developer specializing in working with small businesses; they’d likely be happy to offer advice and guide you as you build your site.

The next step is to choose a domain name and a web host. To find you online, type “http://www.yourbusinessnamehere.com” as your domain name. Once you’ve claimed this address as your own, nobody else can use it. You need to join up with a registrar to register a domain name. You can write a domain name on hundreds or thousands of available websites. I suggest you check out GoDaddy.com. It’s only ten dollars a year for a valuable service.

Alternatively, you may dig and discover another registrar if you’d like; a simple Google search for “domain names” will make many more companies eager to make a sale. Look for a reasonable price (the industry standard is $10 per year) and a quality website (Yahoo.com and Register.com are two additional well-established registrars with quality service) when choosing a registrar for your domain name.

You’ll require the services of a web host. The host is the server that stores your website so that people who type in your domain can access it. If a domain name is an address, a host is the “house” where that address may be found. You have arrived at your allotted online location. Godadd’s hosting service is highly recommended again due to its low cost (as little as $4/month) and high quality of customer support. Getting your domain name and web hosting from the same company streamlines the process by requiring just one set of login credentials and a single monthly payment.

It’s best to go with the bare bones of hosting plans to get started. However, a more robust program may be necessary if your website is extensive (hundreds of pages, thousands of monthly visits, etc.). However, if you’re starting, it’s probably best to stick with the basics and upgrade later.

After securing a domain name and web hosting, you may move on to creating your site’s content. Here’s where it would be a good idea to bring in the pros, and you should do your research before settling on anyone. The cost of a website can be kept low. A high-quality, professionally-built website is available for under $1,000. Look for a web developer willing to work with small businesses, has competitive pricing, is experienced, and can answer your questions. You can discuss your website with your developer without knowing any coding language. Since it is your website, you should have as much say as you’d want in how it’s made. Keep your cool, demand progress reports, and inspect the finished goods to ensure your satisfaction.

It would be best to consider whether your site will require regular updates or maintenance and whether you want to tackle these tasks on your own or hire a developer. If you decide to have your developer handle it, you should bring it up early.

Creating and maintaining your website is one for another essay, but by all means, dive in if you have the time and the flair for design.

Getting your small business online doesn’t have to be an impossible challenge. Do not be reluctant to ask for assistance or to engage a professional to guide you. Finding the appropriate one can ensure that your small business’s internet presence is money well spent.

Spideys Web Design is a web development company run by Jess Webb, who also serves as the company’s lead designer. Visit if you need help with your company’s website.

linda