It’s silly, but we’ve all done it. We’re so busy taking care of business that we forget to maintain or even create our business website.
In this decade, very few company owners or managers say, “I have enough business. I don’t need a website.” There’s too much evidence that you need a current website and an ongoing plan for optimizing the internet. It’s the best way to develop customer relationships with your preferred market.
If you’re serious about (even intimidated by) the challenge of creating an effective website, that’s a positive sign. Today’s website visitors are sophisticated and quick to condemn. You should be concerned because a website’s viability is determined in a snap (.05 seconds or 50 milliseconds), as in “snap judgement.” Badly designed websites are not only swiftly rejected, but they are rarely recommended to other consumers.
So many people jump into DIY (do-it-yourself) website programs without aforethought. They then usually discover they’ve wasted hours or even days. Their creation has so many problems it’s easier to jump ship than save it.
As with many things, getting started is the hardest part. Here are 3 steps that can help you develop a good website.
1. Define Your Website Goal
Your website should fulfill your goals and satisfy your vision. You have several goals. Website goals should include:
- Brand identity
- Commitment
- Dependability
- Honesty
- Superiority
- Company information and insight
- About Us
- Our History
- Who We Are
- Contact ease
- Conversions (turning website visitors into prospects/leads)
- Customer reviews/testimonials
- Digital sales
- Product or service updates/news releases
- Selling options/services
- SEO (search engine optimization on Google)
After defining your goals, set your strategy to achieve those goals. What click-through incentives can you use? What payment options (gateways) can you make available for ease of purchase?
2. Create Your Domain Name
Your physical address may be a street in Tomball. Your domain name is your company’s internet address.
Businesses need domain names, preferably with .com identifiers. Dot-coms are widely recognized and credible. “We’re all going to need an address in cyberspace,” says entrepreneur Bob Parsons. “They’re becoming increasingly important.”
Make a list of domain names you could use for your “quazee” (imaginary product) sales and services: katyquazees.com, steelmagnoliaquazees.co. This is important because your domain name will appear on everything; advertisements, print media, social media… Domain names are powerful and eternal connections to branding.
Your domain name should:
- Avoid hyphens, numbers, symbols, underscores
- Be short, easy to type, and easy to pronounce
- Give your company an option to grow/expand – Example: “tomballquazees.com” locks you into quazees. If you decide to manufacture and sell “motos” later, the domain name “tomballproductions.com” satisfies all new directions your company may take.
3. Develop Your Website Project
You quickly discovered DIY (do-it-yourself) website creation is usually a bust. There are so many advantages to professional website development and dedicated, ongoing maintenance that it’s always a good investment.
- Content will be original, licensed, and compliant with website development codes and regulations. Using superior, industry-standard software and tools means future updates will be available.
- Customization and personalization are standard. Your business website will be unique. Your company and its brand will be identifiable by its graphics.
- SEO (search engine optimization) will be…optimized. What’s the point of having a website if no one can find it?
- You’ll be better protected against hacking and piracy. Professionals use industry-best software and tools.
- Your website will be mobile-friendly. As of May 2023, the total share of internet traffic was 81% mobile/cellphone. Older or badly designed websites can be difficult to view or navigate on small screens.
Before the first meeting with your website design professional, make a list of things that should be included on your site. Do you have a logo, brand icons, or even certain colors that you feel identify your business? Which social media do you use?
Set a budget for a website design project. As always, where you live and what you need will impact services, but Forbes says 2023 averages for professional website development are:
- Small business website (up to 16 pages) $2,000-$9,000
- Corporate website (up to 75 pages) $10,000-$35,000
- E-commerce website (up to 1,000 products) $5,000-$55,000
- App website (up to 2,000 pages) $6,000-$75,000
Here are some sample questions for your website development professional:
- Do you build custom websites or use templates?
- Do you offer additional services?
- Have you researched our company and reviewed our current website? What are your thoughts?
- How many pages should I have?
- What do you need from me?
- What is your design process and how long will it take?
- Who is my primary contact for my project?
Let’s discuss your marketing options and explore what is needed to increase your organization’s internet sustainability. For professional website design in Northwest Houston, call 512-632-5662 or contact Modern Marketing & Media.
FAQs
Some of the frequently asked questions we receive about website development in Tomball include:
A: Online comments can make or break your business. In addition to favorable website testimonials, you need good Yelp, Angi, etc. independent reviews. Our reputation management services include managing positive and negative reviews while increasing your website’s Google ranking.
A: A marketing plan is the first and most important step toward targeting and reaching your customers. We’re eager to share ideas for strategies that can increase your website’s visibility.
