5 Things to Consider Before Building Your Website

What to Think About Before Building Your Website

August 28, 2023 11:30am Robyn Rivera

Every business needs a website, but before you start building yours, there are a few things you’ll need to consider.

For businesses of all sizes and in all industries, having a website is non-negotiable these days. It’s easy to see how businesses in retail can benefit from having an online presence, but even local businesses can’t survive without a website nowadays.

Instead of asking a friend or a neighbor to recommend the right painting contractor or carpet cleaner, most people will do a quick Google search. And, instead of relying on personal referrals to help them decide which company to go with, they’ll read the business's online reviews.

The bottom line is that these days, if your business isn’t visible online, you’re not going to grow because people won’t know where to look for you and aren’t going to be able to find you.

However, before you dive in and start building your own website, there are a few things you’ll want to think about.

5 things to consider before building your website

#1. What is the goal of your website?

There are all kinds of different websites out there, and each one is designed to meet a specific goal. Before you put a bunch of time and energy into building a website for your business, it’s imperative to know what the goal of the site is. Not only will this help you achieve the result you’re looking for, but it can help you make better, more informed decisions while building your website.

It’s all too common for people to end up with websites that don’t meet their end goal. For instance, you could end up with a beautiful blog when you were really hoping for a fully functional website that can accept orders and process payments.

If you’re hoping to build an e-commerce website, the goal of your site may be obvious, but for local, service-based businesses, it may take some thought. Is your goal to inform potential customers of what you do? Do you want to entice them to reach out for an estimate or sign up for your monthly newsletters?

#2. Who is your target audience?

Every aspect of building your website should be based on your target audience. Who your audience is will affect almost every aspect of the website-building process, from the colors you choose to the navigation of the website. But first, you need to know who your target audience is.

Take a few minutes to think about who your current customers are and what kind of people will be most likely to use your services or buy your products. Is what you have to offer more geared to either men or women? Is there a specific age group that might be most interested in what you have to offer? Does the price point you’re offering to make it an ideal fit for people at a certain socioeconomic level? Do you serve consumers, or do you mainly work with other businesses?

These are all questions that will help you figure out who you want to target and, once you do, you’ll be able to design a website specifically for them.

#3. What is your budget?

How much you’re willing to spend on your website is an important thing you need to know before you start the process. Are you willing to spend whatever it takes to get the website of your dreams, or are you on a tight budget that you’re hoping to squeeze every ounce of value out of?

Websites can get expensive. In fact, some of the priciest websites have cost millions of dollars to build. But, that doesn’t mean that your website has to cost an arm and a leg. In fact, you can save a lot by building it yourself with the Websites 360® website builder.

Best of all, when you build your website with Websites 360, you also have the opportunity to work with professional designers who can turn your vision into reality, with prices starting as low as $195!

#4. What will your domain name be?

The domain name is essentially the name of your website, which means that it’s one of the first things people see about your website. That’s why it’s so critical to get it right when you’re choosing a domain name for your website.

If it’s possible (and it makes sense), your best option is to choose your business name as your domain name. There are exceptions to this rule, though. For example, if your business name is misleading or doesn’t really have anything to do with what you offer, then your business name might not be a good choice. But, even if your business name is the best choice, there’s always the possibility that it’s not available for you to use.

The key to choosing the right domain name is that it should be short and sweet, easy to remember for your customers, and reflective of the nature of your website and business.

#5. Do you have a logo and quality images?

When you are finally ready to start building your website, there are a few things you’ll need to make it stand out. One of those things is a logo. Chances are, if your business is already established, you already have a logo. If you don’t, it’s time to design one (or get someone to design a logo for you).

Logos are the main piece of branding for many businesses, and they help to create consistency across your website. And, when it comes to the design of your logo, it’s important to get it right. So, whether you don’t yet have a logo or your existing logo looks old and outdated, it might be time to consider hiring someone to create a new one for you.

In addition to an eye-catching logo, you’ll also want to use plenty of high-quality images on your website. Stock footage can be a great option to help you get some images up, but ideally, you’ll want professional, high-quality photos of your work, products, storefront, etc. And, if you don’t already have some great photos for your website, it might be time to take some.

Are you ready to start building your own DIY website? Get started today!

Originally published on 1/27/20