A website is a key marketing tool for your business. Whether you are providing in-person or online service, opening an effective website can have a great positive effect on your business. On the contrary, a sloppy, hastily thrown together site can tarnish your image and hurt your bottom line. The same level of commitment and care that you put into starting and running your business should be put into your companys website.
Instructions
- 1
Register a domain name. This is the address that will appear on your advertisements and correspondence that will allow clients to go directly to your website. There are numerous websites where you can purchase domain names for as little as $10. Ideally, you will want the name of your company (for example, www.mybusiness.com). If that name is not available than you will want to name it something that is relevant to the nature of your business. For example, if your company is called Steves Plumbing, but there is already a stevesplumbing.com, try stevesqualityplumbing.com or stevesplumbingservice.com. Dont deviate from what you do or you will confuse the customer. Most domain name vendors have a search option that will allow you to see if your desired name is available.
2Sign up for a web hosting account. A website needs a location just like a building site. Think of the website as your office and the server as the building you are renting to house that office. Many domain name vendors also offer web hosting or, at the very least, are partnered with hosting sites and will often offer discounts to customers who purchase packages. Look into several different hosting sites and compare prices, length of term and customer reviews before making a final decision.
3Design your website. Research which design program is right for you. The important thing is that, however you choose to set up your site, you tailor it to your customers and how your business will benefit them. Dont just list your services and how long youve been in business. List your services and what sets them apart from other businesses. A customer wont choose you because youve been in business for 12 years. A customer will choose you because your 12 years of experience will allow you to get the job done faster and less expensive than your competitors.
4Optimize your website for search engines. If potential customers see an ad for your site in the paper, or on TV or on a business card, they are already looking for your site. However, you also want to generate business from customers who may have never heard of you. The way to do this is by targeting keywords, the words and phrases a customer will type into a search engine. The key is optimizing your site so it appears on the first page or two of search results because it is highly unlikely a person will go beyond those first few results. Scatter your keyword phrase (For example, low cost plumbing) throughout your website, typically once every 100 words. Also be sure to use similar keywords to strengthen your main phrase. In the case of low cost plumbing, other keywords could be affordable plumbing, quality plumbing or reasonably priced plumbing.
5Test your website. Open a web browser on your computer, type in the URL in the address bar and press Enter. Make sure the site loads up properly, any images are clear and visible and all the links work. You want to make sure that, after all your hard work, your site is functional.
