Web design is an art form that requires creativity, technical skills, and business savvy. It’s also a competitive field where many people will try to take advantage of you. That’s why we’ve put together this guide of 4 web solutions for small business for those looking to build a successful online presence.
Think before you jump
If you’re thinking about getting a new website, there are several things you should consider before diving into the process.
First, you’ll want to choose a domain name that accurately reflects what you offer. Domain names are often referred to as URLs, which stands for Uniform Resource Locator. A URL is basically a phone number for your website. You can buy a domain name from a company like GoDaddy for around $25 per year.
Second, you’ll want to decide whether you want to use a service such as WordPress.com or Squarespace. Just know that if you cancel your subscription, your site is marked for deletion in 30 days. Or you can have a web developer create a site for you that once it’s created, you own it forever.
Finally, you’ll want to think about who you want to target with your website. Do you want to reach potential customers? Or do you want to focus on building relationships with existing clients?
1. Create an Online Store or website
If you’re thinking about starting an online store, here are three things you should consider before jumping into the deep end.
First, decide what kind of product you want to sell. Do you plan to offer physical products? Or services that they can purchase online but delivered at your location? Or are you selling virtual products such as digital downloads or saas (software as service)?
Next, think about who your target audience is. Are you selling to consumers or businesses?
And finally, determine whether you want to create a brochure style site, an ecommerce site or a paid subscription service.
Once you know what type of business you want to launch, you’ll be able to choose from a variety of different platforms. You can use WordPress.com, Shopify, Wix, Weebly, Squarespace, or have a web developer create a custom website to get started.
2. Set up Social Media Marketing
You’ll want to set up social media accounts for your business so that customers can follow you on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, Pinterest, and more. This will allow them to see when you post new products, services, promotions, and other updates. It also helps you build relationships with potential clients and customers.
3. Grow Your Email List
If you’re not using email marketing to promote your business, then you’re leaving money on the table. In fact, according to HubSpot, email marketing generates an average of $40 per subscriber every year. That’s why it’s critical to make sure you have a strategy to capture email addresses and that your email campaigns are relevant, interesting, and easy to read.
4. Find Customers Through Search Engine Optimization (SEO)
You should also use search engine optimization (SEO) to find customers through organic searches. This means that people will type in certain words into Google or another search engine, and your site will appear in the results once your site has been optimized. Just know that SEO is an ongoing endeavour and you need to keep up with search engine algorithm changes along with creating backlinks and content to get found online.
It’s a wrap
This is an oversimplification of what’s involved in each step but it’s a guide to what you need to consider when you are ready to create a web solution specifically for your small business. If you want more details on websites or creating an online store; getting social media working for you; developing an email marketing strategy to turn visitors into clients, or optimize your site with SEO so you can be found on search engines, please reach out via phone, text or email.
Owner of takecareofmysite.com, Patti Muldoon helps small business succeed online with digital marketing strategies, including website design, SEO, email marketing and social media.