How To Build a Website for Your Business 

According to a study from Business Dasher, small businesses typically see a 15–50% revenue increase when they use their websites to connect with customers. This shows the immense potential of having a website for your business.

But what if you don’t have one? Creating a website doesn’t require you to be a tech expert.  

In this article, we’ll walk you through the process of creating a business website easily. You’ll have a better understanding of website creation and a helpful guide to get started.   

Let’s get into it! 

8 Steps for Building a Website for Your Business 

1. Define Your Website’s Purpose and Audience 
2. Get a Domain Name 
3. Choose the Right Website Platform 
4. Pick a Business Website Template 
5. Build Your Website Pages 
6. Optimize for Search Engines 
7. Ensure Website Security 
8. Test and Launch Your Website 

1. Define Your Website’s Purpose and Audience 

Before you build a business website, you need to have a clear plan in place. Start by thinking about what your website is actually for and who your target audience is.  

This will give you a tailored idea of what your website should look like. And also, the more you understand your audience, the easier it is to create a website that speaks to them.  

Here are some questions to better understand your target audience and the purpose of your website:  

• Do you want to provide information about your business? 
• Are you trying to sell products directly to customers?  
• Do you want to use it to generate leads?  
• What are visitors looking for when they come to your site
• What kind of information do they need?  
• What problems are they trying to solve?  

2. Get a Domain Name 

Your domain name is your website’s address on the internet. It’s what people will type into their browsers to find your site. That is why it’s important to choose a domain name that’s easy to remember and reflects your brand or business. 

Here are a few tips for picking a great domain name: 

• Keep it short and simple: Long, complicated domain names are hard to remember and easy to mistype. 
• Use your business name (if possible): If your business name is available as a domain, snap it up. It will make it easier for people to find you online. 
• Include keywords related to your business: If your business name isn’t available, try including keywords that describe what you do, like “landscaping” or “coffee shop.” 
• Target your location: If you’re a local business, consider including your city or state in your domain name to help you rank local search queries. 
• Avoid numbers and hyphens: They make your domain harder to remember and type correctly. 

Once you’ve come up with a few options, check if they’re available using a domain search tool. If the domain is taken, choose an alternative extension like .net or .biz. But .com is still the most popular and trustworthy choice, so try to stick with that if you can. 

Then, if it’s ready, register your domain name so you can have exclusive rights to it. Domain names get snatched up quickly, so if you hesitate, others will grab it. After registering your domain, it is ready to connect to your website.  

3. Choose the Right Website Platform  

Now with a domain name ready, figure out how you’re going to build your website. The platform you choose will shape everything — from how easy it is to build your site, how it looks to how it performs. 

You have two easy options: 

• DIY website builders: These are user-friendly platforms that don’t require coding skills. 
• Custom development: For those with specific needs or larger budgets, hiring a developer to build a site from scratch might be the way to go. 

A DIY builder is faster, easier, and more cost-effective for small businesses. Custom development is ideal for complex or highly customized websites but comes with a higher price tag and longer development time. 

Comparison Table: DIY Website Builder Vs. Custom Development 

To help you decide which option is best for your business, here’s a side-by-side comparison of DIY website builders and custom development, covering their pros, cons, and ideal use cases. 

Option	Pros	Cons	Best For
DIY Website Builders	– User-friendly, no coding skills required.  – Affordable with predictable pricing plans.   – Quick setup with pre-designed templates.   – Built-in tools for SEO, analytics, and hosting.	– Limited customization and flexibility.   – Dependent on platform limitations and updates.   – May not handle complex or large-scale projects well.	– Small to medium businesses on a budget. – Individuals or startups needing a quick online presence.
Custom Development	– Fully customizable to meet specific needs.   – Scalable for future growth and complex features.   – Unique design tailored to your brand. – Greater control over functionality and integration.	– High upfront and maintenance costs.   – Requires hiring and managing a developer or team.   – Longer development time.	– Businesses with unique needs or large-scale operations.   – Companies prioritizing brand uniqueness and scalability.

Which Platform Is Better? 

To pick the best platform, consider the following: 

• Your budget: Website builders often charge a monthly fee, while custom development can run into thousands of dollars upfront. 
• Your skill level: If you’re not tech-savvy, choose a platform with a drag-and-drop interface. 
• Your business type: Are you building an eCommerce or service-based business?  
• Scalability: Think long-term. Will your platform grow with your business? 

If you’re new to website building, we recommend starting with an easy-to-use builder like Web.com. 

Take your time to evaluate your needs and pick the platform that aligns with your goals. Once you’ve decided, you’re ready for the next step: designing your website. 

4. Pick a Business Website Template 

After choosing a website platform, pick a website template that suits your needs. Templates are a great option because it’s one of the quickest ways to set up a website for your business. You don’t have to worry about designing every element yourself; you can choose a design that aligns with your business goals and customize it along the way.  

To choose a business website template, start by looking at examples to get ideas. When it comes to professional business website templates, our partner Web.com offers many customizable templates designed for different industries, like tech, food, or retail. 

These Web.com templates are great starting points. Each one has the right structure for your business needs: 

As you pick a template, think about what you want your website to do. Do you need a blog? A big photo or video on your homepage? Make sure the template fits the story you want to tell.  

It’s also important to choose a design that matches your business’s look and feel. For example, if you’re in the creative field, you might want a bold and modern template. On the other hand, a law firm might choose something neater and more formal. 
 
Once you’ve chosen a template, customize it according to your brand colors, logo, and content.

5. Build Your Website Pages 

When you’re building a website for your business, it’s important to think about what pages you need. Do you want a website with a single-page or multiple pages? 

If you opt to create multiple pages, make sure that you organize your content structure for easy navigation, so your visitors easily get the information they’re looking for.  

Here are the essential pages you should include: 

• Homepage: Your homepage is like the front door of your business. It should immediately tell visitors who you are, what you do, and what makes your business special. Make sure your homepage is uncluttered, easy to navigate, and has a clear call to action, like “Learn More” or “Get Started.” 
• About page: People want to know who they’re doing business with. Use the About page to share your story, mission, and values. This is also a great place to introduce your team and explain what sets your business apart from others. 
• Contact page: This page should make it easy for visitors to get in touch with you. Include your phone number, email address, business address (if relevant), and links to your social networks. You can also add a contact form so people can reach out directly through your website. This can also help generate valuable leads.  
• Services or product pages: These pages showcase what your business offers. Whether you’re selling products or services, make it clear what you provide, how it benefits your customers, and how they can get it. If you have a menu, a list of services, or product categories, this is where they should go.  
• Booking or appointment page (if applicable): Add a booking page if your business offers services like consultations or therapy. This allows customers to book and pay for appointments directly on your site, saving you time and offering convenience. 
• Blog or resources page: Share helpful content with your audience. A blog or resource page is a great way to keep your site fresh and improve your search engine rankings. You can write about industry news, business updates, or tips that your customers would find useful. 
• Legal pages: As a business owner, you need to protect yourself and your customers. These pages include: 
  • Privacy policy: Explains how you collect, use, and protect customer information. 
  • Terms & conditions: Outlines the rules for using your website. 
  • Disclaimer: Protects you from legal liability for certain situations. 
  • Cookie policy: Explains how your site uses cookies to track visitors. Make sure these pages are easy to find, usually in the footer of your website. 
• FAQ page: A frequently asked questions page can help answer common queries about your business. This is a great place to explain shipping, returns, product details, or any other information your customers need. 
• Press or reviews page (optional): If your business has been featured in the media or has great customer reviews, highlight them on this page. This builds trust and credibility with new customers. 

Take note: Your business website is always a work in progress. You don’t need to have all these pages in one go. Start with the basics, but don’t be afraid to add more pages and features as your business grows. Keep your content simple, clear, and focused on your audience’s needs. Each page should have a clear purpose and guide your visitors to act; whether that’s making a purchase, booking a service, or contacting you for more information. 

6. Optimize for Search Engines 

Search engine optimization (SEO) is important for making your website easy to find. When you optimize your site for search engines like Google, you help ensure that people who are searching for products or services like yours can discover your business. Think of SEO as putting your business on the map so people can easily find you.  

Here are some simple steps to improve your website’s SEO: 

• Use the right keywords: Keywords are the terms people use when searching online. For instance, if you sell cupcakes, you might use keywords like “best cupcakes in [your city].” Use tools like Google Keyword Planner to find the best keywords for your business. Then, include these keywords in your website’s headings, page titles, and text so search engines can easily understand what your site is about. 
• Optimize images: Descriptive image names and alt text help search engines understand your visuals. Instead of using file names like “IMG1234.jpg,” name your images like “red-velvet-cake.jpg.” Additionally, add alt text that describes the image for both search engines and visually impaired users. This helps your site rank better and makes it more accessible. 
• Create helpful content: Content that answers questions or solves problems will keep visitors engaged and improve your SEO. For example, if you run a flower shop, you could write a blog about how to care for fresh flowers. When your content is helpful and relevant, search engines rank your site higher to show it to more people. 
• List your business on Google My Business: Google My Business is important for local SEO. It allows you to display your business’s location, hours, and contact information right in search results. This makes it easier for nearby customers to find and contact you. Don’t forget to encourage reviews, as they can improve your search ranking and help build trust. 
• Boost your website performance: Website speed plays a major role in SEO. A website that loads quickly provides a better user experience, and search engines reward faster sites with higher rankings. Aim for your pages to load within one to two seconds on both desktop and mobile devices. To improve speed, use the correct image sizes (JPEGs load faster than PNGs) and avoid adding too much content to each page. 

Optimizing your website for search engines helps you rank higher and makes your site more user-friendly. The easier your site is to find and navigate, the better the experience for visitors, which in turn helps attract more customers. 

7. Ensure Website Security 

Visitors won’t stay on a site that’s not trustworthy, and it won’t rank in search engines either. That’s why you need security measures before launching your website. 

Start by getting an SSL certificate to protect data shared on your website. SSL encrypts the connection between your site and its visitors, keeping sensitive information secure and building trust with your audience. 

SSL is also a ranking factor. Websites with SSL display “https” in the URL and a padlock icon in the browser. Beyond security, SSL also helps improve your site’s rankings on Google, making it an essential step in preparing your website. 

With this, your site is safe and would deliver a seamless experience for visitors. And now, you’re ready to launch your website with confidence. 

8. Test and Launch Your Website 

Launching your website is an exciting step, but before you go live, it’s important to make sure everything works perfectly. Here’s how to get your website ready for visitors. 

• Check for broken links: Click on all the links throughout your website to make sure they work. Broken links can frustrate visitors and harm your site’s search engine ranking. 
• Ensure fast load times: Use tools like Google PageSpeed Insights to test how quickly your pages load. Aim for your site to load in two seconds or less to keep visitors engaged. 
• Test forms and features: Fill out all forms (like contact or subscription forms) to ensure they’re working correctly. Test buttons, interactive elements, and any special features to confirm they function properly. 
• Proofread your content: Read through all the text on your site to check for spelling, grammar, and punctuation errors. Clear and accurate writing helps build trust with your audience. 
• Review site navigation: Navigate your website as if you were a visitor. Make sure it’s easy to find information and that menus and links are organized logically. 
• Test on different devices: View your website on computers, tablets, and smartphones to ensure it looks good and works well on all screen sizes. 
• Set-up backups: Establish a system to regularly back up your website. This way, you can restore your site quickly if something goes wrong. 
• Enable social media integration: Check that your social media buttons link to the correct profiles. This makes it easy for visitors to connect with you on different platforms. 

After Your Website Goes Live 

Once your website is launched, there are steps you can take to help it succeed: 

• Set-up Google analytics: Use this free tool to track how many people visit your site, which pages they view, and how they find you. This information helps you understand what’s working and where you can improve. 
• Use Google search console: This tool helps you see how your site appears in Google search results and alerts you to any problems. 
• Check your website’s uptime: Use services like UptimeRobot to get notified if your site goes down, so you can fix issues quickly. 
• Promote your website: Post about your new website on platforms like Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, or any site your audience uses. 
• Security and regular maintenance: Don’t overlook regular updates and maintenance. Keep your website secure by updating software, plugins, and themes regularly. Use strong passwords, add a security plugin, and back up your site daily to quickly recover if something goes wrong. 

Get Your Website Ready 

Starting a website might feel like a big task. Each step—from deciding on a domain to designing and launching your site—becomes manageable when you use tools that simplify the process. Daunting, isn’t it? If you don’t want to take a risk of building a website on your own, you can always find a reliable website builder and professionals to help you begin. 
 
Web.com, our dependable partner when it comes to website building, offers an easy-to-use website builder to make this process even easier.  It’s an all-in-one solution designed to help you get online quickly and confidently. 

What’s more, Web.com’s AI tools help streamline your work, saving time and effort so you can focus on what matters most—your business. 

If you’re ready to create a website, the best time is today! 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)