What are the fundamental elements required to set up a website?
The adverts make it sound so easy to set up a website…
“Visit our All-In-One Platform To Build a Beautiful Online Presence In No Time.”
“Build Your Professional Website With Intuitive Features & Easy-to-Use Customisation Tools.”
“Smart sections and ready-made colour palettes make building your website easier than ever.”
“Build a professional website with our FREE Website Builder. Access mobile-friendly and modern templates with no technical knowledge required.”
Do these sound familiar? Well they are all true, but setting up a great online presence that will support your business is not quite as simple as that!
What do I need to set up a website?
Setting up a website involves several fundamental elements that need to be considered in order to create a functional and effective website that can really support your business. Here are the key elements you should consider:
- Domain Name
Choose a domain name that represents your brand or business and is easy to remember. Make sure it’s available and register it with a domain registrar. - Web Hosting
Web hosting is where your website’s files are stored and made available online. You will need to choose a hosting provider that offers the storage, bandwidth, and support you need. - Content Management System (CMS)
You can code your website from scratch but it’s far easier to use a CMS. A CMS allows you to create, edit, and manage your website’s content. Popular CMS platforms include WordPress, Joomla, and Drupal. - Design and Layout
A visually appealing website design and layout can make a huge difference in the success of your website. Choose a design that matches your brand and target audience and create a layout that is user-friendly and easy to navigate. - Content
Create high-quality content that provides value to your target audience. Your content should be engaging, informative, and shareable. - Search Engine Optimisation (SEO)
SEO is the practice of optimising your website to rank higher in search engine results pages. This involves keyword research, on-page optimisation, and link building. - Security
Your website needs to be secure to protect against hacking and malware attacks. Make sure to install security measures like SSL certificates and firewalls. - Analytics
Use analytics tools like Google Analytics to track your website’s performance and gather insights on your target audience.
Once you’ve ticked off these eight basic elements you essentially have not just a website but the tools you need to build your business an effective, secure and user-friendly online presence.
However for that presence to be an extension of your business you have to bring in some more elements. Let’s take a look at what integrates your website with your company.
What will help integrate my website with my business?
Your website is an essential tool to represent your business online. Gold Pebble is not an agency that is just about ticking the above elements. We make sure when we set up your website we make it part of your business, your marketing plan, focused on your objectives and designed to grow as your business evolves.
We feel to reflect your business in your website, you need to consider the following aspects:
Set up a website to reflect your Branding
Your website’s design should be consistent with your brand identity, including your logo, colours, typography, and other visual elements. This is your digital shopfront and someone may land on any page of your website – they need to know its yours.
Your Content is your conversation with your customers
Your content should reflect the values and mission of your business. It should be informative, relevant, and engaging, and should align with your target audience’s interests and needs. Does it sound like your business? Does it resonate with your target audience at the right part of their buying cycle?
Do you sell Products or Services?
Your website should showcase your products or services in an appealing and informative manner. Make sure to provide detailed descriptions, images, and pricing information.
Products – If you sell products your audience needs to be able to learn as much about them as possible without touching them! When delivered, if your product is not as described you will have to pick up the cost of it being sent back!
Services – This is even harder than products. You should be explaining what you do, how you do it, expected duration of service and what benefits will be delivered. The financial commitment of a service customer is usually far greater than a product customer and the trust level is much greater!
Think Navigation and User Experience when you set up your website
Your website should be easy to navigate, with clear menus and links. The user experience should be smooth, intuitive, and designed with your target audience in mind. It needs to be easier than walking into a physical store and making your transaction in person.
Calls-to-Action
Your website should include clear calls-to-action (CTAs) that prompt users to take a desired action, such as making a purchase, filling out a form, or contacting your business. You are not there to answer any questions in person, or close out a deal – your site needs to be able to do this for you, just as effectively as you do!
Set up your website and think Contact Information
Your customer could land on any page of your website. Make sure they can contact you with any questions! Include your business’s contact information, including phone numbers, email addresses, physical address, and social media handles, to make it easy for customers to get in touch.
Testimonials
Probably the most important element connecting your business and your website (after branding). Testimonials build trust. They reflect how you have satisfied previous customers. A good testimonial reflects the quality of your product or service and how you look after your customers. These are vital persuaders for future customers and advocate putting trust in your brand. Including customer testimonials and reviews on your website can help build trust and credibility, and demonstrate the quality of your products or services.
By considering these aspects, you can ensure that your website reflects your business and effectively communicates your brand, products, and services to your target audience.
How can I set up a website with business integrations to improve my ROI?
Integrating your website with your business involves connecting your online presence to your offline operations, to streamline your business processes, and make your customer interactions more efficient. Here are some ways to integrate your website with your business:
- Online Booking and Scheduling: If your business involves appointments or reservations, you can integrate your website with online booking and scheduling tools. This allows customers to book or schedule appointments directly on your website, reducing the need for manual booking and scheduling.
- E-Commerce: If you sell products, you can integrate your website with an e-commerce platform. This allows you to sell products online and manage your inventory and order fulfilment through your website.
- Customer Relationship Management (CRM): A CRM system allows you to manage customer interactions and data, including contact information, purchase history, and feedback. Integrating your website with a CRM system can help you manage customer interactions more effectively.
- Payment Processing: Integrating your website with a payment processing platform allows you to accept online payments securely and efficiently. This can help streamline your billing and payment processes.
- Marketing Automation: Integrating your website with marketing automation tools can help you manage and automate your marketing campaigns. This can include email marketing, social media marketing, and other forms of digital marketing.
- Analytics and Reporting: Integrating your website with analytics and reporting tools allows you to track website traffic, user behaviour, and other important metrics. This can help you make data-driven decisions and optimise your website and business processes for better results.
By integrating your website with your business processes, you can streamline your operations, improve customer interactions, and gain a competitive edge.
If you would like to discuss any of the topics covered here and how they can best be incorporated into your online presence then come down to our offices for a coffee, chat and maybe even biscuits!
