One of the best things you can do for your business is to set up a website. A business website used to be the domain of large corporations and bigger companies, but now they’re a necessary part of any business that wants to grow and succeed.

Whether you run a small home-based business or you have a brick-and-mortar store, a website can help you grow your customer base, market to more people, and make your company seem so much more professional. So, here are some ways to make sure you set up your website well the first time.

1.) Branding and Design

You should start thinking about branding your business while you’re still putting things together in the planning stage. Branding is basically your company’s identity. It’s the first thing people think of when they think about your business.

You therefore want a brand that is memorable and easy to connect to your business. The more it sticks in people’s heads, the better. Look at examples by brand experts for inspiration and the kinds of things people are interested in.

So, when it comes to your website, you want this brand to bleed into everything. If possible, get a domain name that’s either your business name or closely related to it. Think about your brand colors and how well they translate onto a website.

The design of your website should evoke your brand, but not to the degree where it’s unpleasant to look at or hard to read. For example, if your brand colors are bright red, black, and green, don’t throw all of those high contrast colors onto a page and expect people to want to look at it. 

Legibility, attractiveness, and relevance all play a part in good website design.

2.) Options When Building Your Website

There are a few different methods you can use to design and build your website. If you’re highly skilled at website design and development, you can tackle it yourself. This is the most difficult option, but it can also save you money and give you the most control over your website as possible. Also, if you design websites for a living, it’s a good advertisement of your skills.

The downside to this is that it is very easy for something to go wrong. Building a website takes time and skill, and you also have to test it to make sure everything works properly. Unless you have those skills, this could backfire.

If you still want a custom website design, but don’t have the time or skill set to tackle it yourself, another option is to hire a professional website designer. You can still enjoy a highly customized website, but without putting in the work. However, as you’d expect, this is an expensive process.

The final and most accessible option is to use a website building tool. For example, you can find free wordpress themes that look attractive and make it incredibly easy to set up your website. If you use these tools, you might also be able to get hosting and other services as part of your package. 

The downside to this approach is that you don’t get the custom website you might want. But you can create an attractive and functional website.

3.) Functionality and UI

Speaking of functionality, one key aspect of good website design is making sure that people can use it. Have you ever used a website that isn’t working properly? In some cases, you can’t even access the website at all. 

In other cases, the website might be live, but it is slow or buggy. This is simply irritating to use. You can’t wait to get away from that website, especially if it’s slowing down your whole device. So you’ll find another website to use and that company will have lost a sale.

Another thing to consider is UI, or the user interface. Your website shouldn’t just work, it should be intuitive. One of the great things about using a template is that your website will look familiar to people. Yes, you want to stand out, but not to the degree that people can’t use your website properly.

Use fonts that are easy to read. Use colors that don’t clash or blend in with each other when you want contrast. Use a navigation system that is easy to work with. Drop down menus are popular for a reason, they work. A search bar can make it even easier for people to find what they want.

Finally, make it easy for people to buy from your website. It seems obvious, but you’d be surprised at the amount of people get annoyed at the final hurdle, abandoning their shopping cart due to lengthy or frustrating payment systems.

4.) Proper Security

Another thing to consider is the security of your website. Keep your security certificate updated. An insecure website won’t inspire confidence from your customers, and it can make people less willing to buy a product. 

In some cases, people have their information and even money stolen due to insecure websites. If they can trace this theft back to your website, that customer will be very unlikely to buy from you again.

Hackers are always looking for ways to steal data and funds, and it’s up to you to use a secure payment system.

5.) Great Content and Links

Finally, think about the content of your website. Blogging isn’t just a hobby. It’s a great way to create more content and market using content marketing and SEO techniques. Make sure you write or film things that are useful to your customers and other visitors.

Use proper spelling and grammar, create a voice when blogging, and use images and backlinks to keep the webpage alive and busy.

Finally, make sure to link your website to your social media accounts. This will make it easier to make a sale and for people to find you across multiple platforms. The more familiar people are with your company, the better it will be for your marketing needs.