Any business that is engaged in selling physical products, software applications, or services must establish a strong online presence through website. Website is a wonderful resource to attract your customers to buy your products or services through online method irrespective of your marketing strategies.
Significance of professional website
Your customers should easily access your website by performing online search. A professionally designed website is your virtual shop in the World Wide Web. It serves as a source of information about your business and product offerings.
You may enrich you website by adding as much information as you please for establishing authority of your business. This helps you build a loyal base of customers in addition to converting visitors into buyers.
Stages of website creation
It is fairly easy to create a website for small business. You can choose a pocket friendly approach of doing it by yourself or engage a Web developer to create your website. The standard process of building a website involves six vital stages as mentioned below:
From the very first stage of establishing your site’s purpose to performing regular maintenance, the six stages are essential for creating a trustworthy and guaranteed online availability of your business.
Choose a purpose for your website
One must appreciate that every websites exists for some or other reason and is designed to accomplish specific objectives. Some websites are built to provide valuable and updated information about particular topics and there are other types of websites that enable customers to buy products online by obviating hassles of spending hours in brick and mortar stores. Whether you are in a business of selling services or products, your website needs support of blogs for attracting relevant clients. A proper and well designed plan is an essential aspect of your website because it will work as a guide for future reference.
Selection of Content Management Software
Content Management Software facilitates website creation by making it sound like a child’s play. These are designed to be intuitive and there are number of options available to choose from. Almost every website you visit is using a Content Management Software.
There are standard charges for use of these applications and one can also find myriad of free and open source CMS applications. Another distinct attribute of these applications is that users can choose these on the basis of their websites. So you can choose a CMS application exclusively for designing an ecommerce website.
Ecommerce can also be included as an added functionality if it happens to be a part of your business or blog. This can be availed in the form of add-on functionality. There many types of add-ons, those are compatible with major content management software solutions including WordPress, ad Joomla.
Joomla requires a steep learning curve and you will need a developer to assist you for building a site with help of this CMS. On the other hand WordPress is designed to have features that are similar to a blog with a plethora of user friendly attributes.
Finalization of a Web host
The next stage, after you decide which CMS to be used for creating your business website, is finalizing a right web host so that your site is up and running. Web host will make sure that your site is visible and accessible to your visitors on internet while storing vital data and software that supports your website.
Ideally, a host should facilitate automatic installation of the content management software selected by you. There are several established hosting service providers offering a single click installation facility.
Selection of template and plugin
Having finalized a host and content management software, it is now time for focusing on important features of your website. Templates are provided for imparting a right appearance and feel to your website.
You can either choose a simplistic design for your website or choose from high end templates for better aesthetics. Many templates are built around themes for creating a distinct and unique website.
Add finishing touches
You need to think about the way your website is going to be used by you and your visitors while adding finishing touches in addition to the way you want the site to be perceived by your visitors. While organizing your website it is imperative to finalize a logo, and the way your website will be navigated by visitors.
An accommodative website design facilitates adding extra pages or information in future. Enrich your website with compelling and engaging content and images so that your visitors will spend more time on your website.
Site maintenance
Website maintenance is vital for its flawless operation. You need to make sure that your website is designed and maintained so as to fulfill your business objectives.