Starting up is never an easy task. You have to deal with a never-ending to-do-list, compete with the established players, and increase your visibility everywhere possible. Even though lean is the new in, this doesn’t mean you should take shortcuts and ignore one of the most essential assets of your startup – the website; not especially when 70-80% of people research a company on the web before making a purchasing decision.

A website is always preferred over the social media pages. It could be a one-page website talking about the products and services provided or can be a big eCommerce store, depending on the customers’ needs, wants, desires, and startup’s financial strength.

If you’re new to the digital world and know very little about how to create a website for your startup/business, you’re at the right place. This guide from luminablog.co.uk will show you how you can create a good website for your startup.

Obtain A Good Domain Name

Your domain name, also known as your website address, is often the entry point to your site. It is important that it makes a good impression for usability purposes, as well as for search engine optimization (SEO). Make it easy to spell. Try not to use slang, made up, or extremely esoteric words.

Also, keep it as short as possible. The shorter it is, the easier it is to remember and type correctly. Use the proper domain extension. Try to always make it a .com domain name (as opposed to .net, .co, etc.) unless it is more appropriate to use another extension, such as .gov, .edu, or .org.

Lastly, avoid numbers and hyphens, make the address broad to facilitate future growth, and ensure it is memorable.

Choose A Web Host

Every website needs a host – a server where all its data is stored for the public to access at all times. Hosting your own website is probably too large an expense for your small business, so you’ll need to select an external host.

Depending on your budget, you can choose from two different routes. A shared web host, the less-expensive option, means you’ll share a server with other sites. Dedicated hosting costs significantly more, but it means that you get your own private server and won’t have to compete with other sites that could drag down your speed.

Use A Content Management System

A content management system (CMS) is a software program or application that is used to create and manage digital content. A good CMS will help you maintain your site, and you don’t need much technical knowledge to use it. You should choose a CMS that is designed for your unique needs; different systems are used for different reasons, such as user-friendliness, extensibility, and budget.

Some of the most popular are WordPress, Drupal, Joomla!, Squarespace, and Wix. If you need a video marketing service for your website, we suggest first looking through a few video marketing services online reviews to ensure you choose the right one for your website creation needs.

Add Your Content

As you customize your website, you will likely want to add content almost immediately. Before you do that, it’s wise to have a rough structure in mind.

Most business websites will need the following:

• Homepage. This will be the first thing many visitors see when they come to your site. It should give a short overview of your services and include clear navigation to other sections.
• Products, Services, or Portfolio page. This is where you will showcase your work and describe what you have to offer customers or clients.
• About page. In this section, you’ll include your story or share information about your team.
• Contact page. Ideally, you’ll want to include a contact form and encourage customers to get in touch if they have questions.
• Blog. This is a must for many businesses nowadays and an excellent content marketing tool.