Before launching your website, follow these 7 essential steps!
A successful website launch begins with several essential steps. Your small business deserves a great website, regardless of whether you're a photographer, real estate agent, fitness expert, or anything else!
During the past several months, we have worked hard to develop our skills to build awesome websites that wow and attract, as well as educated ourselves about what it really takes to create engaging and effective business websites.
From setting up hosting to testing the site, these seven steps will help you create an impressive online presence.
Choose a Domain Name
Your domain name is the first step to creating a great website. Be sure to pick a unique, memorable name that reflects your brand. For instance, if you're starting a blog about dogs, you might choose a domain name like "pawsomepups.com" or "woofwoofblog.com."
Set up Web Hosting
After you've chosen a domain name, you'll need to find reliable web hosting. Look for features such as unlimited storage space, malware protection, and customer support. For instance, some web hosting companies offer free SSL certificates, which help secure your website and can improve your search engine ranking.
Install a Content Management System (CMS)
A CMS will provide you with the tools you need to manage your website. For example, Squarespace (our FAVE) has an extensive library of plugins and themes that allow you to customize the look and feel of your website, as well as additional features like forms, maps, social media integration, and so much more.
Design Your Site
You can hire a designer to create a custom website or use a template to create a site quickly and easily. This makes it easy to create a website that looks professional and has all the features you need. For example, if you are an artist looking to showcase your work, you can use a template to quickly create a website with a portfolio page and an online store.
You can also get help during the design and setup process if you get stuck with Squarespace's helpful customer support, or we're always happy to assist!
Add Content
Once you've designed the site, it's time to add content. This can include text, images, videos, and links. For instance, add a photo to a page to show off a product or service or add a video to a page to demonstrate how to use a product.
Make sure your website is tested before it goes live
All forms should function correctly, including checking for broken links, ensuring pages load quickly, and ensuring all links are working correctly. For example, you should test the checkout process on an e-commerce site to ensure that customers can purchase without issues.
Launch Your Site
Finally, it's time to launch your website. Be sure to let your customers and friends know that your site is live and ready for business! A good couple of ways to let the world know is by sending out a newsletter or posting on social media to announce the launch of your website!
If you follow these seven steps, you'll be on your way to creating a fantastic website that will make you stand out from your competitors. I'm sure you'll do great! For help setting up your site, or if you need advice or edits, send us an email asking to speak with Destinee, our website strategist, and expert!
Cheers to creating and building your online presence!
