A no-hassle, money-saving guide to building your small business website

March 1, 2022

A no-hassle, money-saving guide to building your small business website
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Though setting up a website for your small business is often a daunting proposition, the reality is that when armed with the right tips and tricks the process can be a gratifying – and, ultimately, profitable! – experience.  

The following concise primer will help get you started…

Pick a domain name

Your domain name is the URL at which your site is located and is generally associated with either the name of your company or the product you sell. If you are setting up your first website, you will need to decide the domain name you would like and make sure it is available.  

If you are using a website builder, you may be able to get a free domain name provided by the website builder. Otherwise, you can purchase it via a domain name registrar.  

When choosing a domain name, keep it short, memorable, and applicable.

You want something that relates to your business, is easy for customers to remember, and can be typed into the URL bar quickly.  

Find great imagery

Good imagery on your website does two things: Build trust and help sell your products.  

When a user logs onto a website, if the imagery is low quality or does not fit with the brand, they may worry, consciously or subconsciously, that they are not dealing with a legitimate, professional business.  

In addition, if you are selling ice cream, for example, you want your imagery to make people crave the product. Boring or lifeless photos just won’t sell as well as something interesting or eye-catching.  

Find a website builder that works for you

When it comes to building a website there are generally two options for small businesses:  

First, you can hire either a web developer or website building agency. In short, experts build your small business site to your specifications. You can have bespoke functions on the site and have nearly limitless options for what can be done.  

The downside?

A high price tag.  

The second choice, for budget conscious owners, is a service that allows you to create a website using its platform. These website builder sites generally have templates you can customize and an easy-to-use interface. Pick wisely and you could build a high-quality, intuitive website yourself – at a fraction of the cost.  

Integrate social media

Don’t forget social media!  

Your website may be the center of your online presence, but social media can still be a powerful tool to bring in customers. Where possible, offer the ability to buy through social media. If that is not possible, make sure your social presence funnels people back to your site to make a purchase or request a quote.

Check out the competition

The structure of competitors’ websites can help you refine the look, feel, and functionality of your small business site. Where and how do they communicate the benefits of a product? Is the contact form easy to use?

Don’t aim to merely match these sites – seek to exceed them! Where can you improve on what they’ve done and achieve a competitive advantage?  

Fund your future

Need a bit of a funding assist to get the working capital necessary to build your web presence? A small business loan or business line of credit can help make your vision for tomorrow a reality today: Idea Financial offers up to $250,000 in working capital with a quick, hassle-free application and same-day approval.

If you’d like to continue exploring our ever-expanding library of articles on small business hacks, tips, and optimization stop by our Business Resource Center main page.