As a business, if you do not already know the indispensable importance of the internet and social media then you might be missing out on a lot. The need to have a robust online presence cannot be overemphasized since it is the key to business dominance nowadays. What is even interesting is that some business models are tied to online platforms such as websites. If you do not already have a website for your business then you must invest in getting one. It is not as expensive as some people might think and if you already have one that is in order. In this article, I discuss some of the important things you must know in setting up a website for your business.
First Things First
When developing a website you can either do it yourself or you can get it done for you by web development service providers. To kick start the journey of developing a website, you must know the core purpose of your website. For instance, some might want a website that serves to just inform people on the business’ operations and any important developments. Some might want a website through which people can both order and pay for their goods and services. The primary objective of a website can be any of many possible things so you must know what yours is.
Domain Name Is Paramount
Just to help those that might not know what domain is; I am referring to the uniform resource allocator (URL) or what we can call the web address. For example, startupbiz.co.zw, that is a domain name. You must carefully choose your domain name because it will serve a pivotal role in the discoverability of your website online. The rule of thumb is to make it short and self-explanatory. It is recommended that the domain name include the actual name of your business. You will also have to decide on whether it will be .com or .co.zw and so on. That is why it is important to seek professional service providers because they can comprehensively guide you on which one to pick and why. Do not forget that you will be sharing the URL across social media platforms so make sure aforementioned considerations are made in choosing a domain name.
Web Host Considerations
Your choice of a web host depends on whether you are developing the website on your own or it is being developed by professional web developers. By the way, a web host is the service provider that will store and make your website available online. Usually, if you have engaged a professional service provider they normally have their web hosting. That would mean the choice of a web host is by default not by choice per se. Your choice also depends on your financial standing because the best option is to get dedicated hosting – which can be a bit more costly. Ascertain the performance and track record of your web host. Do they have 24/7 support services? Do they have backup power? These are some of the questions to answer because you would not want your website to at times be unavailable online due to downtime stemming from things like power cuts.
Carefully Choose And Structure Content For The Website
There are infinite ways in which content can be structured or arranged for a website. There are also infinite types of content that can be put up on a website. That will all be informed by your primary objective for the website amongst other things. Anyways, your content must be readable and the site must be easy to navigate. Some of the basic chunks of content to include on a website are homepage (overview of the business and its operations), products/services, about us, contact us and so on.
Responsiveness
This is arguably the most important aspect nowadays when developing websites. By ‘responsiveness’ I am referring to a website being optimized for mobile. Here is what I mean, whether one is accessing the website on a laptop, a desktop, a tablet or a smartphone there should be no adverse effects on the structural integrity of the site. If a website is not optimized for mobile it becomes messy or even unreadable if it is accessed using a mobile device. Most people now access business websites on their mobile devices so do not take this lightly. That is why dealing with professional web developers is the best approach because they know how to optimize websites for mobile. Alternatively, you can use reputable site builders such as WordPress which have in-built responsiveness whenever you develop a site – it is just done automatically.
There is so much we can discuss on setting up websites because it is a vast field. The 5 fundamentals I have discussed herein are central to pointing you in the right direction and knowing which areas to focus on. Always remember that when it comes to anything involving design you must strive for simplicity. Being overly fancy, verbose and graphic might drown the user experience so stick to being simple, concise, precise yet comprehensive. When the website is up and running, take full advantage of Google Analytics to assess the performance of your site so that you can know how to improve it.
