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The creation of a website is an important process when it comes to the development of a local business. As the number of customers using the internet to search for service providers and products increases, so does the need for a clean, clear and informative website that would enhance the business’s visibility and credibility. Below is the guide in case you want to start a website for local businesses with a professional look as well as those of your clients.
In this context, the first step in the web development process is to determine the major goal of the website under construction. For a local business, this may mean displaying products, services that are being offered, or having an option of booking, the business’s contact information or even selling goods online. NR guides the creation of a marketing message that focuses on what customers are likely to seek when visiting the website.
Furthermore, think through what success looks like and
how success will be defined. Will it be through customers initiating inquiries
via the company’s website, through phone calls, through physical traffic to the
physical store or through the company’s website for sales? It would be
important to define further what the specific aims of the website are to allow
better decisions concerning the look and usage of the website later on.
A domain name is the unique address located on the internet for the website of your business such as www.yourbusinessname.com. This should be brief, easy to remember and incorporate your business name for easier recall by the customers. If possible, you should opt for the domain name that would be associated with your business and the location of your targeted audience. For instance, if you own a bakery and your business is based in Chicago, it would be appropriate to name it chicagobakery.com.
After you select your domain name, you might want to pick
a web host. Hosting services are responsible for storing your website files and
making such files available to users over the Internet. There are some of the
best hosting services for small businesses; are Bluehost, SiteGround, and
GoDaddy. While choosing a hosting plan, you should consider the price, amount
of bandwidth provided and the quality of support provided by the company.
You need to choose the platform that you want the website to be developed on . One of the main reasons why Content Management Systems (CMS) are used is that they allow website development and management without much coding knowledge. The two most common CMS options are:
i. WordPress: WordPress is perfect for those who seek
flexibility and extensibility, as it is used on more than 40% of websites. It
has various themes, plugins, and possibilities of customization.
ii. Wix or Squarespace: These are basic to use and
designed for novices; they include features such as drag and drop which enable
a person to create a website easily. Nevertheless, they may not be as flexible
in the long run as WordPress is now available to its users.
If you prefer to build an internet store, then think of
using Shopify, WooCommece (WordPress plugin) or BigCommerce for they are
specifically designed for online sales.
So when you have made up your mind on which platform you want to use to build your site, you can proceed to laying out your site. It should embody your business’s identity and be aesthetically pleasing and provocative to the clientele.
i. User-Friendly Layout: Make your site as easy to
navigate as possible. Information that is frequently accessed should be quickly
accessible without the navigation of several pages.
ii. Mobile Responsiveness: A large number of people will
access your website via their phones or tablets and therefore it should be
highly responsive. WordPress and most other modern site platforms in existence
provide responsive design themes.
iii. Branding: Employ the logo of your business, and
other related colors and fonts to give your magazine a professional look. This
works in a way to strengthen your brand image and make your business more
familiar to people.
iv. Calls to Action (CTAs): Use CTAs such as the “Contact
Us” button, “Book Now,” or “Get a Quote” and place these strategically on your
site. Ensure they are comprehensible, persuasive, and easy to locate.
If you’re not confident in your skills, don’t consider
yourself a graphic designer and have some difficulties with creating unique
design templates – Wix provides design templates for you to use, or you can
hire a web designer to create something totally unique.
Just like any other business, SEO plays an important role in guaranteeing that your site is among the first to appear in the search results when customers search for services or the products that you offer. Here are some key SEO practices:
i. Use Relevant Keywords: There are keywords that your
customers will use when searching for these products so ensure these terms are
blended on web pages, titles, meta descriptions, and images. For instance, if
you are a plumber, some of the relevant keywords might include plumber New York,
emergency plumbing services, among others.
ii. Local SEO: If your business is localized, you need to
learn how your site and content can rank well in local search results. Always
use your city or region in the keywords and optimize your website for Google My
Business listing to increase your chances of being featured in the local maps.
iii. Quality Content: This may include blog posts,
tutorials, or customer success stories, that are published on a consistent
basis. Google prefers sites that feed it fresh content in good regularity.
iv. Fast Load Time: Make sure the site takes a short time
to load because this is one of the most important aspects of the search engine
result. Optimize the images and CSS code, take proper hosting services to
improve the speed of your site.
To know how your website is faring and making improvements, ensure that you put tools like Google Analytics and Google Search Console in place. These tools offer information relating to how visitors are accessing and engaging with your site. One of the most useful tools is tracking visits, the average time visitors spend on your site, and the most popular pages visited, as well as keywords used to find the site.
This data will assist you in identifying which aspects of
your current strategy are effective and which require revision. It will also
let you evaluate the effectiveness of your chosen SEO strategy and adjust your
website accordingly.
It is advisable to have several important web pages on the local business site to ensure that users get all the required data. These typically include:
i. Home Page: This is the first page that anyone will
find on the site and therefore it must make a brief point of what the
business is all about, where it is located and how people can reach it.
ii. About Page: This page should explain to the customers
about your business, the values of the business and why they should choose your
business.
iii. Contact Page: Always ensure that the customers can
easily reach you by providing them with a form, phone number, email, as well
as a map to your office.
iv. Services/Products Page: Specialize in providing
detailed information concerning the services or products that one is offering.
Incorporate images, descriptions and where applicable, the price.
v. Testimonials/Reviews: Use positive experiences from
previous buyers to establish trust and credibility with the incoming visitors.
After completing the development process of your website is over, it is time to go online. Ensure that all form fields, links, etc., are functional and working as expected before going live. After launching, promote your site through various channels:
i. Social Media: Promote your site using social media
apps such as Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter to target the local market.
ii. Google My Business: To have control and management
over your site and for your website to be displayed in local searches and
linked to maps you need to verify or confirm your Google My Business listing.
iii. Email Marketing: Reach out to your current customers
using electronic mail and inform them about the new site.
Building a website for your local business is a crucial
step towards expanding your online presence. When you complete these
steps—clarifying your website goals, selecting your domain and hosting,
determining the platform, designing layout, and SEO, installing analytics,
creating the essential pages, and promoting your site, you will design and
develop a functional and attractive website that captures the local client base
and contributes to your business success.
Do you want to have a website that attracts attention and wows visitors? Then, we are prepared to assist! Contact us by clicking the button below to share your thoughts with us.
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Poland Web Designer (Wispaz Technologies) is a leading technology solutions provider dedicated to creating innovative applications that address the needs of corporate businesses and individuals.