If you’re putting together a business idea, then chances are you’ve already decided that it’s about time you started your own website. Today, starting a business would be almost impossible without some kind of online presence, since online is the first place that most people look when they’re trying to find new brands, products, and services. The good news is that there’s never been as many options to choose from when it comes to putting an attractive website together. With several website builders and other alternative options to choose from, you can have your website up and running as easy as one, two, three. So, read on for our top ten tips for success!
#1. Do Your Research:
With so many different website building tools available to choose from, it’s vital to make sure that you do your research beforehand to pick one that is a good fit for your needs. For example, if you want to use a content management system and website builder that allows you complete control and the option to upload custom themes and plugins, WordPress.org will be a good choice whilst WordPress.com will do more of the management for you. For an intuitive, user-friendly ‘drag and drop’ website building experience, Wix is a good choice. Follow the link for more information on how to make a website using a web building tool.
#2. Be Mobile-Friendly:
Today, it’s important that every website has a responsive design that can be viewed and used well on any mobile device, such as smartphones and tablets. With an increasing number of people turning to their smart devices over their computer or laptop, this will not only boost your reputation with users, but also search engines.
#3. Keep it Minimal:
When most people today visit a website, they don’t want to have to sift through unnecessary clutter to find what they need. Keep your design minimal and to the point with a simple and sleek color scheme. You can add images and videos, however, ensure that they are optimized for mobile use and not slowing your site down.
#4. Web-Friendly Font:
It’s a small decision, but the font that you choose to use for your website can make a big impact on your reputation. Make sure to choose a web-friendly, easy-to-read font that anybody can understand – simple fonts are a far better choice than decorative ones, except for headers and logos. Font size is also important – at least 16pt will ensure that it’s easy to read.
#5. Organization:
Investing some time into organizing your website is important for putting together a professional and sleek finish. Your website should be organized into menus for each category, and ideally should contain a search bar that visitors can use to easily find what they are looking for straight away.
#6. Your Domain Name:
Whilst it’s possible to set up a professional looking business website without a custom domain name, you will eventually want to move on from a sub-domain such as yoursite.wordpress.com. A custom, .com domain will not only add the professional edge that you need to your site, but will also make it easier for SEO and search engine rankings. Your domain name should be short, to the point, and relevant to your site.
#7. Research Competitors:
Another tip that you might like to use is to research your competitors when putting your website together. Under no circumstances should you be copying them, however, it’s good to know what your competitors and peers are doing well so that you can do even better with your site!
#8. Social Integration:
Today, many people spend a huge portion of their time on social media, and social networking sites such as Twitter, Instagram and Facebook are extremely important for promoting your business and building your follower base. Make sure that your site is completely socially integrated with easy-to-find social sharing buttons and links to your brand’s social profiles.
#9. SEO Tools:
Depending on the website builder that you are using to create your site, you may have the option to use a range of tools and plugins for SEO. Whilst some builder tools will provide these as standard, others, such as WordPress, give you the option to choose which ones you would prefer to use. Plugins for Google AdWords, Google Analytics and Facebook Ads Manager are just some examples of options that you may want to use to promote and boost the popularity of your site.
#10. Look and Feel:
Lastly, think about how your website looks and feels for visitors. Ask people to visit your site and give you honest, unbiased feedback regarding what they think, and use this information to make improvements.
If you enjoyed these tips, we’d love to hear from you in the comments!