How to create a small business website: A beginner's guide
Presented by Chase for Business
Quick insights
- Having a website can help small businesses reach new customers, build credibility and automate tasks.
- Choosing a domain, host and website builder may simplify the process of creating a website, often without requiring coding experience.
- Testing, promoting and tracking metrics are some key components of launching and maintaining a site.
Many business owners view their website as a 24/7 digital representative. Whether the goal is to sell handmade products online, capture requests for a service business or help locals find store hours, a website can help support revenue goals. A well-maintained website may be a helpful business tool if you’re starting your business or simply want to expand and reach new customers.
But if you’ve never created one, building a small business website might feel overwhelming when you’re juggling day-to-day operational tasks. While you can choose to hire someone to build a website, there are many options for creating and building one yourself that are geared to those with zero coding experience.
This guide explores common steps to build a small business website, from securing a domain to launching and promoting your business online.
Why are websites important for small businesses?
In today’s digital world, a website is often the first place potential customers learn about a brand. It can provide a professional presence that helps build trust and credibility.
A website allows businesses to share detailed information about products, services and business hours. Additionally, it can support marketing efforts through search engine optimization (SEO) and online advertising, potentially helping small businesses grow their customer base.
Steps to create a small business website
There is no single correct way to create a business website. The needs of your business, the purpose of your site and how technically savvy you are may influence how you design and build one. However, there are some common steps and considerations when building a website from scratch.
Securing a website domain
Often, the first step to building a site is securing your domain, commonly known as your URL. The domain name is a website’s address on the internet (such as yourbusiness.com), and it often plays a key role in branding and search visibility for your business. Think of it like the street address of your virtual storefront.
When selecting a domain, it can be helpful to consider the following:
- Keeping it simple: Many businesses opt for a short, memorable name that reflects their brand.
- Using relevant keywords: Including words related to services (like "plumbing" or "designs") may help with SEO.
- Picking an extension: While many businesses use “.com” as it is recognizable and could contribute to credibility, there are other options available.
- Checking availability: Domain registration sites can help you determine if your desired domain name is available.
Picking a website host
If a domain is similar to a street address, a website host is like the physical building where a business operates. Website hosts store all the files associated with your site, which may include text, images, video, PDFs and client info, to name a few.
Factors business owners typically evaluate when selecting a host include:
- Performance: Hosts with fast load times can help reduce visitor frustration.
- Support options: Access to 24/7 customer support via phone or chat can be helpful if immediate assistance is needed.
- Security: Many website owners look for providers that offer SSL certificates, a technology designed to help protect customer data (often indicated by a padlock icon in a browser).
- Pricing: Comparing costs and reviewing renewal rates can help align the choice with a long-term budget.
There are many hosting companies that provide both domain and hosting services. This option can be helpful for business owners who are not the most tech-savvy.
Picking a style and website builder
Building a professional-looking website does not always require coding experience. There are many website builders that offer templates and whole platforms where you can build a website using “drag and drop” features, which don’t require coding.
Knowing the purpose of your site also helps when choosing a design. For example, businesses that provide services typically have different needs than businesses that sell products. Product websites typically need layouts that prioritize images, pricing information and shopping cart features. On the other hand, a service business may prioritize a more streamlined site that puts focus on opt-ins, blog posts and booking integrations.
Creating pages for your site
The type of business you run often dictates the pages your site needs. For example, service-based businesses typically don’t need product pages and listings.
Regardless of the business you have, here are some common website pages to consider including on your site:
- Homepage: Think of this as the front page of your site. It’s the first thing most website visitors see. This page often introduces the business and highlights main offerings.
- About: Visitors to your site likely want to learn more about you and your business. An about page often shares the company story, mission and team information, which may help build trust.
- Products or services: These pages typically list details about your available offerings or products with descriptions and pricing.
- Contact: It may be helpful to list a few ways for your website visitors to get a hold of your business. A contact page may include your phone, email, address, social media handles and a contact form to help capture leads.
- FAQs: Most businesses have a few common questions that new clients or potential customers ask. A frequently asked question page answers common customer questions, potentially saving time spent on phone inquiries.
Depending on how long your business has been open, a page with customer testimonials or reviews may be a good addition. It can help visitors to your site get a better sense of what it’s like to interact with your company and how you can help them.
Connecting a payment solution
For businesses planning to sell products or book paid services online, integrating a payment solution is generally a standard step.
Many modern website builders offer built-in payment processing or plugins to connect major payment gateways. Business owners often link these payments directly to a dedicated business checking account. This practice can help keep personal and business finances separate, may simplify tax preparation and can assist in managing online revenue flow.
Implementing SEO
SEO is a strategy used to help a website appear higher in search results, which may attract more organic visitors. SEO can feel like technical jargon created in the boardrooms of Silicon Valley. However, many modern website builders provide simple ways to incorporate SEO into your website.
Some of the most common SEO practices include:
- Keyword research: Identifying terms customers use (e.g., "emergency HVAC repair") and incorporating them naturally into the text.
- Meta titles and descriptions: These are the clickable blue links and short descriptions that typically appear in search engine results. In your website builder, there should be a place for you to fill out the titles and meta descriptions for each page.
- Fast loading speeds: Search engines take factors like load speed and user experience into account when ranking pages. Optimizing image sizes can help reduce the time it takes for a site to load.
There are also providers and online tools that can check and rate the SEO of your site. Some may also provide suggestions to help increase your search engine rankings.
Testing your site
Before launching, many business owners test their website to help promote a smooth user experience. When checking your website, you may want to test the following:
- Navigation: Checking that menus and links work as intended.
- Mobile check: Confirming the site displays properly on smartphones.
- Forms and checkout: Running a test transaction and submitting a test contact form to verify functionality.
It can also be helpful to have friends and family test the site on their computers and devices. Viewing the site on different browsers and devices can uncover issues and irregularities.
Launching and promoting your site
Once tested, you can officially publish your website. It’s time to show off your hard work! Often, you’ll want to announce your new site in a few ways, which may include:
- Social media announcements: Share your new website with social media followers, including a link to your new site wherever possible.
- Local listings: You can also add the website to local search directories, which may help increase visibility in a specific city or neighborhood.
- Email marketing: If you have a list of clients and customers, you can notify them via email about the site's launch.
If your business is brand new, it may be helpful to share your site with friends and family who can help spread the word and promote your business.
Tracking and maintaining your site
Launching a website is typically a big milestone for small business owners. However, your work is not done once your site is live.
Websites need to be maintained for the best results. This can include performing routine maintenance, regularly updating your site with new offerings or products or editing your site as the needs of your business change.
Websites also provide performance metrics and visitor information that can help business owners measure the return on their investment. Many website analytics tools track metrics such as:
- Traffic volume: The number of visitors over time.
- Traffic sources: Identifying where visitors come from (such as search engines, social media or direct visits).
- Conversion rate: The number of visitors who complete desired actions, like making a purchase or submitting a quote request.
The metrics you track are individual to your business, but knowing your numbers can help you make informed decisions about your website and business.
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to create a small business website?
Using modern website builders, a basic website can often be created in a few days. More complex e-commerce sites may take several weeks.
Can a website be created without technical skills?
Yes, many of today's website builders are designed for beginners and generally do not require prior coding knowledge.
How much does it cost to make a small business website?
Costs vary based on hosting, domain registration and features. However, many small business sites can be launched for a low monthly subscription fee.
How often are websites typically updated?
Many business owners choose to review their site monthly to help keep hours, pricing and contact information current, as well as to maintain security features.
