How to get started with a small business website: 3 questions about your business's website needs
We often meet business owners who are confused and confounded on what their business website should really have. This is not an easy question to answer in a few words or even a few paragraphs, since there are hundreds of styles for websites and varying ranges of complexity.
Here are some pointers to consider when you're just starting out or considering a redo of your current site.
- Target - who is your target audience? This goes into the reason for starting a website all together. Do you want to attract new clients? Is your site for your existing clients (with an intranet, a place for them to check their bills, contribute information, get in touch with you). Does your site sell a product? If so, who is your target audience for that product? The answer to this question will help you with other questions about your business model and your website needs.
- Complexity - first decide how complex you want your site to be, also considering how much can you afford to create and maintain. Sites range from behemoths like eBay to tiny 3 page basic websites that offer business validation only, i.e. you exist. Most businesses don't need online stores, or huge portfolios, or customer intranet and could do just fine with a small, 5-10 page website. Just don't forget to give your site a facelift when your business grows and you have hundreds of clients.
- Design - What do you want your site to look like? We would recommend that it has the same style and colors as your store, if you have a physical store. If you don't have a physical store and you function purely on the web, consider the items you send out. For example, diapers.com has boxes made with their logo. These match their site, and you should have matching stationery, invoices, etc.
We hope these questions will give you a good start in considering your website needs. Contact us for more information and support.