When you’re creating a website, sometimes it’s hard to know where to begin and what to look out for. We’ve helped many of our clients create websites that enable them to boost their profile and win new business. Here are our top tips for building a website that works.
1. Find the right hosting platform
When starting off, you need to find a reliable hosting platform that fits your budget, is SEO (search engine optimisation) friendly, and is security conscious.
We think CMSs (content management systems) are great for all these. There are website builders available, such as Wix and GoDaddy, if you want a basic website that does the minimum. But a CMS gives you a lot more flexibility and options to create a website that does exactly what you need it to do, while also looking great. If you’re a website newbie, these CMSs may seem confusing. But with the help of a good developer or designer, you can have your website up and running in no time, instead of paying hidden costs with a website builder.
2. Sort out your SEO strategy
Did you know that 75% of people don’t click past the first page of a Google search? That’s why search engine optimisation (SEO) is so important to get your website performing well on Google, or any other search engine. You don’t necessarily need to fork out for a big-budget SEO strategy or pay-per-click (PPC) campaign. Even including a few targeted keywords throughout your website and adding links to other pages can help get your website appearing higher up the search engine results.
3. Stay safe and secure
It’s always important to think about security when doing anything online – especially when creating a website that could have millions of visitors. With endless security threats and viruses out there, it’s vital to protect your data and make sure your website is secure for users, as well as for your business.
Websites are always going to be prone to threats, but there are some key things you can do to reduce the risks and keep the site running smoothly:
- Always secure your login procedures
- Make sure you have the most up to date version of your website hosting system
- Have more than one security plugin in place, just in case one fails
- Install a firewall that allows you to see trusted and untrusted networks
4. Why use a content management system?
There are dozens of website builders out there that can give you an off-the-shelf website that does the basics. But if you’re looking for something more tailored, that can give you a fast, functional, beautifully designed website that truly does justice to your business, then a content management system is the way to go. These free and open-sourced systems allow your developer to build and host a website that suits your specific needs. Whether it’s general content pages about your business and what you do, or more complex functions like product portfolios, an online shop or multi-media content they can help.
If you’re looking for advice and support on building a website that works, talk to our expert team. We can help you design a bespoke website that suits your business, your customers and your budget.