Here we discuss the various steps to build your new website. A business is not established in a day. Admittedly, your website won’t be completed in a single day. When you’re excited about starting a new business, the very first thing you think of is creating a website for it.
It is a waste of money, time, and effort to launch a quick website without first laying the groundwork. There are some important plans that must be made in advance. Similar to how a construction company does not construct a building or a house without a blueprint, you should not build a business website without proper planning.
Your website will be planned in two stages: (1) the pre-site setup phase and (2) the website production service phase. Continue reading to learn more about these two phases and the six essential steps you must take before you begin your website
Pre-site setup phase
- Business name, logo, registered trademark
- Domain selection
- SSL certification
- Site map building
Website production service phase
- Determine your needs
- Hire necessary website support service
Pre-site setup phase
The first four steps you’ll take are known as the pre-site setup phase, where you will assemble the components of a new website. A few of these steps can take time, so give yourself enough scope to get the job done moving forward with your planned business of launching the website.
Step 1: Business name, logo & registered trademark
A business name and logo are the core identification of your business and website. Before building a new website make sure that you have chosen and developed a business name and logo. After that, the important thing is to trademark your business name and logo together, but also trademark both business name and logo separately so that you can use the name or logo alone.
Before selecting your business name, search the registered trademark database to see if the name you have in mind is already trademarked or not. If you see that the name you chose has already been taken then you have to choose a different name for your business and register it as well as the logo also. After your application is approved and your trademark is registered now you can use the name and logo to run your business and website.
Step -2. Domain selection phase
Make sure the domain name you want is not already being used or trademarked by someone else. A quick search will find out.
While you’re at it, double-check that it’s not in use on social media. Some companies don’t really bother with websites and instead depend completely on social media for their online presence.
Whatever you choose, take your time to get it right because you’ll be using it a lot and eventually sticking with it for a long time. Even if you’ve chosen a domain name that is available for purchase, just hold on until you get to step six.
Step -3. SSL certification phase
An SSL certificate is a digital certificate that is placed on the server that hosts your website. SSL certificates have two purposes:
- They authenticate the identity of your website and the identity of your business to visitors.
- They “encrypt” or protect any private information that’s exchanged on your site, such as customers’ personal data credit card information, or account numbers.
Of course, you won’t be capable of obtaining SSL certification until your websites are built, but you need to decide what level of SSL certificate you require. There are different kinds of SSL certificates available based on the size of your website and the function it serves. For instance, if you sell products online, you’ll need a different type of SSL certificate than if you don’t, sell products online, you may need to upgrade to a different type of SSL certificate as your monthly volume of transactions increases. Don’t forget to budget for this or discuss with your hosting provider the different types of SL certification available.
Step -4. Site map building phase
An SML site map links to every page on your website. It cannot be built until your site is live. However, creating a visual sitemap in advance helps you organize your entire website in one place.
Creating a sitemap can be as easy as grabbing a pencil and paper. Depending on how you think best, you can organize it as a “mind map,” a flow chart, or an outline.
A sitemap also helps you identify the most important parts of your website, so you can build your site first and add less important information later. With a site map in place, you’ll be working from a plan and have a structure, so new sections, pages, and materials you add will all have a logical flow regardless of how big your website develops.
The more partners your company has, the more useful site maps can be. For example, sitemaps assist you and your partners in understanding site components so that you can decide what you want. You can also present your sitemap to individuals outside of your business, such as consultants, financiers, or mentors, to get their input.
Website production service phase
After completing Phase 1’s steps, you’ll need to locate the best website support provider in order to actually build a website. You’ll need to hire a web designer as well as a writer. Your website storage requirements must be fulfilled by the hosting service you choose. Hire a team to focus on your needs after first evaluating them.
Step 5. Determine your needs phase
What do you hope your website will achieve? If you run a dry cleaning service and want to build a simple, one- to two-page website, your requirements are very different from those of someone who wants to start an online store with thousands of items.
What features of your website are the most essential? Words, images, or goods? Are you require online chat features so you can communicate with clients in real time? Do you want visitors to your website to be able to make their own appointments? are Do you require multiple videos to explain how your product or service functions? Write down your responses to each of these inquiries, then start creating a list of website elements that are appropriate for your small business.
Your website will highlight the uniqueness of your company. In order to have the most successful operations, consider what style of website is most appropriate for you and provide a list of functionalities. At this point it’s time to put everything together.
Step -6. Hire necessary website support service
You can confidently select a support and development team by considering the requirements of your website. Your needs will guide the hiring process for everything from website design to hosting.
You may figure out the requirements for your website using the sitemap you created earlier and your domain research. This research can be given to various website service professionals, or it can be kept on hand for use as a source of information during discussions and when you request estimates from various businesses or people.
Find a web host and/or designer or a website service provider company that has expertise in dealing with clients in your field. For instance, you may know a designer who makes amazing websites for musicians that are filled with videos, sound files, and flashy designs. But if you’re an insurance agent, your website doesn’t need the same elements; instead, it will be focused on providing information, blog posts, testimonials, and ways for visitors to contact you. The insurance agent may focus on hiring a talented writer and getting a basic web designer, for example. Here are a few different elements to remember before deciding on an internet layout company.
Hosting
Website hosting is not a big budget item for most small businesses, because it’s typically very affordable—in some cases, less than 10 dollars a month. However, it’s important to understand the additional costs and fees that can be part of a web hosting agreement. Start by clarifying your needs so that you only pay for what you want. Also look for additional perks you might not know about, such as email storage, SSL certificates, and even domain names! If you haven’t purchased a domain name yet, your hosting company may offer a package deal
The quality of your website’s hosts is extremely important as well. For example, do you want a shared server or a private server? If you expect to have lots of website visitors or surges in traffic, such as an e-commerce site might expect during the holidays, using a private server reduces the chances of your website going down due to server overload.
There’s a lot to think about upfront when creating a website, but there’s a logical flow to it. However, remember that your business is unique and there is no one-size-fits-all approach to building a website. So, write down what you need and hire the right team to get the job done.
Ready to Grow
It’s tempting to jump right into designing your business website. However, by taking the time to complete these six steps before you begin, you’ll be setting your website up for success. Secure your business names and online certifications well in advance as the proof can take months. Then find partners for your website design and hosting. In some cases, domain registration and other parts of the proof are included in service provider packages, so investigate which one fits your budget and business requirements. Don’t worry. Your website will be live in no time and with the right foundation it will be a success! Bonus chip. Be sure to test these things before your website goes live, too.
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