So, you have decided to build your own business website. That’s great!

However, it is more than just buying a domain name and paying for a web host. Knowing how to create a website can be intimidating, but there is no need to worry.

If you are tech-savvy enough, it will be easy for you to follow the web development tips below:

1. Build it with a goal in mind

The first thing you need to keep in mind when putting up a business website is that each one has a purpose.

Sure, the common denominator of having a website is to reach your market from the remotest part of the world. But that does not mean that you should copy every good looking website that you see on the interwebs.

Instead, build your website with a goal in mind.

If the purpose of your website is to allow international customers to buy products from you, then you will need to create an online store. On the other hand, if you are a photographer who wants to get more clients, then you will need a portfolio website.

This is important when finding ways on how to create a website for your business. Knowing the purpose of your website allows you to find ways on how you can maximize its features and capabilities.

2. Purchase a domain name

Your domain name is like the street address of your website and it looks like https://www.yourwebsite.com. Without it, your target audience will not be able to access your website.

For business purposes, your domain name should match your business name. If it is a portfolio website, we recommend that you use your professional name ‒ unless you have a studio or agency. For a personal website or blog, you can be creative with it.

But here are some tips you need to keep in mind:

• Use your target keyword as much as possible
• Make it short and easy to remember
• Avoid number and hyphens
• Use the appropriate domain extension (e.g. .com, .org, .net, etc.)

3. Choose your web host wisely

Now that you have a domain name, the next thing you need to purchase is a web host. If your domain if your website’s street address, your web host is your “real estate property.”

Your web host runs on a server, a huge and remote hard drive that connects to your computer via the internet. This is where you store all of your content like blog posts, product images and videos, customer information, and more.

And because you store all types of data, from the mundane to the most sensitive, it is important to look for a reliable web host.

4. Keep your design simple

With user experience and stuff being thrown around the web, it can be overwhelming to pick the perfect design for your website. But here’s what you need to remember:

• Your design should be visually appealing (obviously)
• Your design should stay consistent with your overall branding

Doing so can make it easy for your website visitors to associate your site with your business. Not to mention that it can help you draw their attention and make them stay on your website for long.

Another thing you need to consider when designing your business website is the customer journey. Keeping this in mind can help you distinguish what should be included on your website and how you can best present that information.

5. Highlight important points about your site

Here’s the thing: Just because you have a website does not mean you can post lengthy content about anything and everything.

There is a big chance that your target market is comprised of busy professional people. So, unless you are publishing an informative and relevant blog post, avoid producing content that is long-winded.

Your site visitors will not take the time to read them from beginning to end anyway. Most likely, they will just skim through it. That said, make sure that it will be easy for your site visitors to look for basic information on your website.

6. Produce high-quality content

For many (if not all) digital marketing professionals, high-quality content is integral in building an online presence.

Without it, you cannot tell your business’ story and core values. You will have nothing valuable to share with your target market. And there is nothing you can optimize.

Keep in mind that your content is not limited to your blog post. It can be your product description, images and videos, downloadable content, and more. These are information that your target market is searching for. So, it is best that you have them on your website.

Sure, you may need to build a team that can help you produce high-quality content for your website. But that does not necessarily mean that you will need a multi-million dollar budget.

You can start with a couple of evergreen content, and then find creative ways on how you can repurpose it.

7. Do not forget to include images and videos

As mentioned earlier, your content includes images and videos. Multimedia is believed to help boost your website’s performance, as humans are visual beings by nature.

But more than getting your site visitors’ attention, adding images and videos on your site can make them stay longer. This can have a positive effect on your SEO efforts and search engine ranking.

However, keep in mind that too much multimedia on your website can slow down its page load speed. This can affect your user experience negatively, which could be detrimental to your rankings.

That said, it is wise to plan how you will include multimedia content on your website first.

8. Implement calls to action

Now that you have site visitors and they are consuming your content, what’s next?

Should they leave a comment? Share your post with their Facebook friends? Subscribe to your newsletter? Buy a product?

They will never know unless you implement calls to action (CTA). Basically, CTA is telling what you want your site visitors to do. It can be a “Buy Now” button, a “click here for more information” link, or as simple as “Let us know in the comments!”

Regardless, here are some things that you need to keep in mind:

• Make it brief and concise
• Use action words
• Create a sense of excitement or urgency

Doing so can compel your site visitors to take action.

9. Leverage social media

For the past decade, we have seen social media becoming integral in web design. Simply put, you have to make sure that your website and its content are shareable.

For one, it helps with your SEO efforts. Although Google will not admit it, there is actually a strong correlation between social media engagement and search engine ranking.

Other than that, you are also allowing your site visitors to spread the word about you. If you are producing informative and relevant content, they will be compelled to share it with their social media friends. And when you make it easy for them to do so, you are likely to more eyeballs to your content.

10. Make your website mobile responsive

Since 2016, online traffic from mobile continuously grows to the point that it surpassed desktop traffic. That’s why it is important that your website is mobile responsive. Meaning, you should provide a seamless and consistent user experience regardless of whether your site visitors are on their laptop, tablet, or smartphone.

Your website is your way to connect your business to the world. It also allows you to generate new revenue streams. Without it, your brand will become outdated and obsolete. That said, the best time to build a website for your business is now.