Creating an online presence for your business is no longer an option; it's an expectation! The same is true even if you're doing exceptionally well in your brick-and-mortar store. Electronic commerce (e-commerce) is growing in popularity.
In the United States alone, digital buyers have skyrocketed from 246.9 million in 2019 to 266.7 million in 2022. One way to expand your business online is by creating and maintaining a website.
Benefits of Having a Website for Your Brand
A 2021 survey by Top Design Firms found that 28% of small businesses in the US didn't have a website. However, almost half of those without a website plan to have one in the future. If you don't have a website yet, there's a high chance you're missing out on the following benefits:
- Online presence. Customers are busy bees. Having a website means that your business is available 24/7. Thus, customers don't need to worry about being unable to beat store operating hours as they can just browse and buy from your website anytime and anywhere.
- Credibility. Being present in social media is not the same as having a website. In today's digital world, a business without a website can appear shady to customers. Most Americans prefer getting information from a business's website instead of its social media page.
- Information exchange. A website provides a quick and easy communication channel between you and your customers. It lets your customers know how to contact you by providing your opening hours and contact details. Also, you can include a Frequently Asked Question (FAQ) section to let your customers know more about your products or services.
Steps to Building a Website
"But I'm not tech-savvy!"
Actually, you don't need to be an expert in IT to build a website. If you're wondering how and where to start, let the following steps guide you:
- Choose a domain name. Every website needs a domain name. Otherwise, you can't have complete control over your website. You don't need to have a super creative domain name. You can simply use your company's name.
- Register your chosen domain name. Make sure your chosen domain name is available in the Domain Name System before registering. Also, pick a domain name registrar accredited by the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers.
- Select a website-building platform. There are hundreds of website-building platforms available in the digital space. Select one that's trusted by many like cloudways. Another safer option is hosting your website with the same platform you registered your domain name.
- Design your website. A well-designed and easy-to-use website can help you gain a competitive advantage. As such, structure your website to make it easy for visitors to find and do the things they want. One way to do so is to draw up a visual site map. For example, think about the most important pages, content, and customization you want to appear on your Home Page. Most websites have an About Us page, a Contact Us page, and pages for products or services.
- Launch your website. Once you're satisfied with the design of your website, you can now publish or make it live. Users can find your website by typing your domain name in the web browser.
Website Builders to Consider
An essential step in building a website is selecting a website builder platform. However, it can be overwhelming to choose from over a hundred website-building platforms available on the internet. To make that decision easier, pick one from the ten best website builders today:
#1.Namecheap
Namecheap is more than just a domain name registrar. It's also a reliable platform for building and hosting your brand's website. Known primarily for offering affordable domain names, Namecheap has expanded its repertoire to include a user-friendly website builder that caters to beginners and professionals. Their platform provides a variety of customizable templates, ensuring that businesses can establish a unique digital footprint that aligns with their brand identity. Additionally, their integration with various applications and tools provides businesses with all they need in one place.
One of the distinct advantages of Namecheap is its commitment to security and privacy. With each domain registration, users get the benefit of domain privacy protection at no additional cost, ensuring that their personal data remains shielded from the public eye. Furthermore, their hosting solutions are optimized for speed and reliability, making sure your website remains accessible to your audience at all times. If you're looking for a holistic solution combining domain management, website building, and hosting, Namecheap is a worthy contender.
#2.Wix
Wix is a perfect website builder for startups. It's best known for being easy to use. For example, it utilizes a drag-and-drop format that's perfect for beginners. Plus, it offers over 800 design options and templates.
However, Wix shouldn't be your first choice if you're looking for a website with optimal loading speed. Also, it's a bit costly for e-commerce.
#3.Weebly
Weebly is proof that you don't need to be an excellent editor to build a website for your brand. It has various templates, designs, and simple editing features. It also offers a free plan.
However, Weebly's free plan only gives you storage space, a Weebly subdomain, and a free Secure Sockets Layer. You need to pay to access its phone support. Also, it has limited blogging tools. Weebly is an easy-to-use platform, but if you're looking for a fresh alternative, consider Canva Website Builder. It boasts intuitive design tools and a plethora of customizable templates, making it a compelling choice for both beginners and professionals.
#4.Hostinger Website Builder
As one of the top web hosting providers, Hostinger now offers its in-house website builder. It's a simple and easy builder to make your own website, like Wix and Weebly – only with good website performance. It offers a suite of AI tools. For example, its heatmap highlights the areas of your most visited pages, allowing you to understand how users interact with your website and make the necessary improvements.
However, Hostinger Website Builder has limited customization. It doesn't allow you to switch templates or designs once your website goes live. In addition, the process of connecting a custom domain name takes effort.
#5.GoDaddy
GoDaddy is a suitable website builder if you're indecisive but in a hurry. It doesn't require you to choose a template and make the necessary edits until you get the design you want. Instead, it builds the template and design based on your answers from a quick survey.
However, GoDaddy's internal speed isn't always the best. Also, it takes up to 48 hours to get a response if you have a problem.
#6.Squarespace
Squarespace is ideal if you're aiming to build an aesthetically pleasing website. It has the best modern and elegant designs and templates. Besides the look, it's effortless to implement and offers superb features, such as SEO tools and domain transfer.
However, Squarespace's e-commerce capabilities are subpar compared to other website builders. It also requires a business plan to activate powerful features, like custom code to add event countdown timers.
#7.Duda
Duda is a combination of Wix and Squarespace—that is, it's easy to use and offers aesthetic templates and designs. Another advantage is that it allows you to upload photos, change links, and make corrections from your mobile phone. Equally important, it has exceptional customer support.
However, Duda doesn't offer a free plan, and its paid plans are pretty expensive. Its SEO tools aren't as expansive as other website builders.
#8.HostGator
HostGator is the appropriate website builder if you're particular about time. For one, it has a fast server response time with an average page loading time of 234 milliseconds. Apart from website building, it also provides a hosting solution.
However, HostGator isn't free. Neither does it offer a free trial. Moreover, its backups, SEO tools, and SiteLock feature cost extra.
#9.Shopify
Shopify is a website builder with a sharp focus on selling online. As such, it has more advanced e-commerce features. It can connect to over a hundred different payment gateways. It also offers dropshipping, which allows you to purchase products from a third party and deliver them directly to customers. It also has a wholesale marketplace that doesn't charge any listing and selling fees. A new online marketplace by Shopify called Shopify handshake where you can sell wholesale products for free.
However, Shopify doesn't offer heavy customization. You need to hire a web designer to make significant changes to the look and feel of your website. Plus, it can be expensive since you need to pay a transaction fee for each sale you make.
#10.HubSpot
HubSpot is ideal for growing and scaling businesses. Besides ease of use, it has plenty of other benefits. It offers a seven-day free trial, user education, and a place for all your tools. You also get these functions for free.
However, HubSpot's pricing plan can be very steep and doesn't cover technical support. Also, its contract requires a lock-in period of twelve months.
#11.WordPress.com
WordPress.com is the right website builder if you want complete control. It doesn't only help you start your website, but it's also content management software. It allows you to create forums, membership sites, portfolios, and blogs.
While WordPress is highly customizable, it's also easy to mess up. In addition, plugin versions often don't align with the WordPress version and aren't available for users of free plans.
Words of Advice
Having a website alone doesn't guarantee a strong online presence. You need to maintain it to be visible. Here are some ways to go about it:
- Target your website pages for keywords. Keywords refer to words and phrases users enter into search engines. Incorporating relevant keywords into your pages and meta tags is vital to attract users searching for content like yours to your page.
- Create quality content. Writing relevant and engaging blog posts is another way to increase traffic to your website. After all, customers look for value. For example, sellers may want to read an article about the difference between selling on Amazon and eBay.
- Run Google Ads. With 9.1 million online retailers worldwide, getting your website to appear on the first page of Google's search results can be challenging. Lucky for you, it's not impossible. Investing in Google Ads is one way to get your brand to top Google's search results.
Conclusion
Having a website is beneficial for brands, both small and big. It makes you more accessible and credible and provides easier and faster communication. Before building a website, you need a domain name and have it registered. Once done, you can now design your website with a reputable website builder. Make sure you choose the right one. Remember that growth opportunities await you with the right website builder. Good luck!