How Do I Build A Website?
Web Design Basics
You’ve got a business idea, a brand name, and products ready to sell, but you still haven’t got a website.
Establishing an online presence is crucial for any small business owner, or it may mean being overlooked in a highly competitive market and costing you thousands of lost sales.
Having a professionally built website is a no-brainer for any driven business owner. You’ll build brand credibility, reliability and of course, sustain a global reach.
If you have been considering building a website but have been asking yourself “How do I build a website?”, then here are some key tips to take on board:
Web Design Step 1 – Obtain a good domain name
Your domain name, otherwise known as your web address acts as the identity of your website. It sits between the protocol sign (HTTP://) and the first slash in a URL or web address.
Choosing a domain name doesn’t happen overnight. You’ll need to ensure that your ideas haven’t already been used and that it has a definitive link to your brand.
Typically, a domain name should include your brand or business name (making it easier for customers to find you), followed by an extension such as .co.uk or .com.
Here are some top tips:
- Make it easy to spell
- Keep it short and catchy
- Avoid numbers, hyphens, and other special characters
- Make it SEO-friendly
To Purchase a Domain I’d recommend using google domains services as it’s a simple and cost effective solution
Web Design Step 2 – Consider Investing in Your Own web hosting
A website hosting platform is a service used by clients to create and maintain a site on the internet, where it can be viewed by users.
To put it simply, think of it as though you’re renting space on the internet. The amount of space you’re allocated depends on the type of hosting you’re purchasing (e.g., dedicated, VPS and reseller), the degree of management, and any additional add-ons.
Two of the most popular website hosting platforms include Wix and GoDaddy. Yet, the cost to endlessly host your website on such platforms could leave you forking out hundreds of pounds every month. As such, you’re eating away at your business’s bottom line and increasing financial risk.
Personally I’d recommend Siteground for your hosting services.
Web Design Step 3 – Hire a website developer
Even if you have a rough idea of how to build a website yourself, sometimes it can be more trouble than it is worth to take on such an enormous project.
Hiring a web developer would be a recommended option if you have no knowledge of website design or development.
There are two different types:
- Front-end developer: Manages the aesthetics of your web site design, such as the visuals and usability.
- Back-end developer: Manages the technical aspects of your site.
Here at Ionic we cover both making building a website very straightforward for our clients.
There are several benefits of hiring a web developer, as follows:
- It’ll save time
Unless you’re equipped with the knowledge of basic website building, it’ll take time to learn and implement your skills. This will divert your attention from business matters, which may impact sales potential and profits. Instead, save time and hassle by hiring a professional web developer.
- Custom design
No one wants a website that looks like everyone else’s. If you have a unique creative idea in mind, it’s unlikely you’ll be able to execute it on a standard web hosting platform. A web developer can help you stand out from the crowd by providing a custom website design that fits your brand’s vibe and your personal vision.
- Continuous support
Mind-blown by website tech? Have no clue what to do if your website glitches? Your web developer will always be on-hand to assist with any web issues that crop up – even after the build has been completed. This means you don’t have to worry about your business coming to a standstill if ever your site were to crash. A good web developer will tackle the issue immediately and get you back up and running in no time.
Looking to have a website built, but don’t know where to start? Contact Ionic Creative Design today to solve your website design and website hosting dilemmas. We look forward to hearing from you.