Congratulations on starting your new business!
One of the most important things you’ll need to do as a new business owner is to build a website. A website is the backbone of your online presence and it’s where potential customers will go to learn more about your products and services.
Fortunately, there are plenty of website builders out there that make it easy to create a professional-looking website without any coding experience. In this article, we’ll go over some of the best website builders for new business owners and provide tips on how to build your first website.
Website builders are a great way to get your business online quickly and easily. They offer a range of features and tools that can help you create a website that looks professional and functions well. Some of the most popular website builders include WordPress, Wix and Square.
Most new businesses will immediately look to hire a web designer or outsource their website design and build, where this can be effective for some businesses, it can also have tremendous drawbacks.
If you are looking for any other advice or tips when running your business, get in touch with Rebel Business School or attend one of our events!
Hiring an external web designer
While website builders like Wix and Square make it easy for new business owners to create their own websites, there may come a time when you want to hire a professional web designer.
Here are some reasons why you might want to consider hiring a web designer:
- You want a custom design: While website builders offer a range of templates, they can still be somewhat limited in terms of design options. If you want a completely custom design that’s tailored to your brand, a web designer can create that for you.
- You need advanced functionality: Website builders are great for creating basic websites, but if you need more advanced functionality, like integration with other systems or custom coding, a web designer can help.
- You want to save time: While website builders are easy to use, building a website still takes time. If you’re short on time and want to focus on other aspects of your business, a web designer can take care of the website for you.
- You want to improve your website’s performance: A web designer can help improve your website’s load times, search engine optimization, and overall performance. They can also help you track and analyse your website’s performance over time.
While there are many benefits to hiring a web designer, there are also some potential drawbacks:
- Cost: Hiring a web designer can be expensive, especially if you want a custom design or advanced functionality. Prices can range anywhere from a few hundred dollars to several thousand dollars.
- Timeframe: While website builders allow you to create a website quickly, hiring a web designer can take longer. You’ll need to work with them to create a design, provide feedback, and make revisions.
- Dependence: When you work with a web designer, you’ll need to rely on them for updates and maintenance. This can be a drawback if you want to make changes to your website frequently.
If you decide to hire a web designer, here are some things to keep in mind:
- Look for a designer with experience creating websites for businesses like yours.
- Review their portfolio and ask for references.
- Make sure they have a clear understanding of your website’s purpose and goals.
- Get a detailed quote and timeline for the project.
- Agree on a process for revisions and updates.
In terms of cost, the price of hiring a web designer can vary widely depending on the scope of the project, the designer’s experience, and other factors. Some web designers charge by the hour, while others charge a flat fee for the entire project. Expect to pay anywhere from a few hundred dollars to several thousand dollars for a custom-designed website. You can read more about how much a web developer will cost in 2023 in this blog post by Freelance Webdesign.
While website builders are a great option for new business owners, there may come a time when you want to hire a web designer to create a custom design, add advanced functionality, or improve your website’s performance. Consider the benefits and drawbacks carefully and make sure you choose a designer who understands your business’s needs and goals.
Most important things to consider, building your new website.
Now that you have a better idea of what each of these website builders offers, let’s look at some of the most important things to consider when building your website.
- Determine your website’s purpose: Before you start building your website, you need to determine its purpose. Are you trying to sell products or services? Do you want to generate leads? Are you trying to establish your brand online? Your website’s purpose will dictate its design and functionality.
- Choose the right website builder: As we mentioned earlier, there are plenty of website builders out there. You need to choose the one that’s best suited to your needs. Consider factors like ease of use, customization options, and pricing.
- Select a template that suits your business: Your website’s template is like its foundation. It provides the framework for your website’s design. Choose a template that suits your business’s style and tone. Make sure it’s mobile-friendly, too.
- Optimize your website for search engines: Search engine optimization (SEO) is essential if you want your website to appear in search engine results. Make sure your website is optimized for keywords related to your business. Use meta tags, alt tags, and title tags to help search engines understand what your website is about.
- Make it easy for customers to contact you: Your website should make it easy for customers to contact you. Include your phone number, email address, and physical address on your website. Consider adding a contact form, too.
What are the key elements you need to include on your website so you can publish right away?
Here are the top three essential elements that you should have on your website to launch it successfully:
- Clear and Compelling Call-to-Actions (CTAs): A call-to-action is a prompt that encourages visitors to take a specific action on your website, such as signing up for a newsletter or making a purchase. CTAs are important because they guide visitors through your website and help you achieve your business goals. Make sure your CTAs are clear, easy to find, and encourage visitors to take action.
- High-Quality Photos: Great photos are an essential component of any website. They can help to engage visitors and make your website more visually appealing. Use high-quality, visually appealing images that are relevant to your brand and products or services. Make sure that the images are optimized for the web, so they load quickly and don’t slow down your website.
- Exciting Copy: The copy on your website should be engaging, informative, and persuasive. It should convey your brand’s unique value proposition and communicate the benefits of your products or services to your target audience. Make sure your copy is easy to read and free of errors. Use headlines and subheadings to break up your content and make it more scannable.
By including these three elements on your website, you’ll be well on your way to launching a website that effectively communicates your brand and encourages visitors to take action. Remember, your website is often the first impression that potential customers will have of your business, so it’s important to make sure it’s visually appealing, easy to navigate, and communicates your brand’s unique value proposition clearly and effectively. For more information this blog post by VWO gives some great, staticstic driven, facts about how you can make a highly converting website.
So which website building platform is best for you to start with?
Wix
Wix is one of the most popular website builders out there, and for good reason. It offers a range of features and templates that can help you create a professional-looking website in just a few hours. Some of the pros of using Wix include:
Pros
- Wide range of templates to choose from
- Drag-and-drop interface that's easy to use
- Lots of customization options
- Mobile-friendly templates
- Good SEO tools
- Free plan available
Cons
- Limited design flexibility
- Limited control over the code
- Some templates can look dated
Square
Square is another popular website builder that’s geared toward small business owners. It’s known for its ease of use and simplicity. Here are some of the pros and cons of using Square:
Pros
- Easy to use interface
- Simple design process
- E-commerce tools built-in
- Mobile-friendly templates
- Good customer support
Cons
- Limited design options
- Limited customisation options
- Limited SEO tools
- No free plan available
WordPress
WordPress is one of the most famous website platforms. It powers nearly 30% of websites currently on the web and is one of the recommended builders for big businesses. Here’s the WordPress pros and cons:
Pros
- The most flexible platform
- A large community of creators
- Built-in SEO-friendly tools
Cons
- Steepest learning curve
- Bigger target for security issues (due to the popularity of platform)
Squarespace
Squarespace… ye ol’ faithful. It’s one of the oldest builders around making it one of the most robust and supported. It’s usually thrown in to package deals with domain providers so you might already have an account! Here’s the pros and cons:
Pros
- Easy to use
- Beautiful templates
- All-in-one platform
Cons
- Limited customisation
- Cost
- Limited third-party integrations
GoDaddy
GoDaddy is a real marmite builder… some love it, some have never heard of it. Similarly to Squarespace it’s linked to domain registrations so there’s a good chance (if you’ve bought a domain) you could have an account.
Pros
- Easy to use
- Affordable
- Hosting and domain included
Cons
- Limited customisation
- Limited SEO features
- Limited third-party integrations
Overall, each of these website builders offers its own unique set of pros and cons. When choosing a platform, it’s important to consider your needs and goals for your website, as well as your level of experience with website building and coding.
So should you build your own website or hire a professional?
In conclusion, building a website for your new business doesn’t have to be daunting. By choosing the right website builder, selecting a template that suits your business, optimising for search engines, and making it easy for customers to contact you, you can create a professional-looking website that helps you attract and convert new customers in to sales.
If you want more help with building your website join one of our live courses or learn more inside of Rebel+.
About Henry Nicholson
Henry is The Rebel School’s CEO and an expert on websites; both in building, developing and troubleshooting them to get them to where they need to be. Check out some of his work at NicholsonWebDesign.
A lover of music, shooting and side-hustle; Henry also owns a business in ethical clothing too, One Planet Apparel and freelances for Shield Sights.