Building Your Business Website: A Guide

Building a business website is an exciting move! A website is essentially your digital storefront—it’s where your first impressions are made and where most of your sales will eventually happen.

To get you moving in the right direction, let’s break the process down into manageable phases.

Platform	Best For…	Pros
WordPress.org	Customization & SEO	Massive flexibility and ownership, but higher learning curve.
Shopify	Product Sales	The gold standard for eCommerce and inventory management.
Wix / Squarespace	Beginners & Creatives	Drag-and-drop, beautiful templates, all-in-one hosting.

Phase 1: The Strategy (The “Why”)

Before you drag a single text box or write a line of code, you need clarity on your goals.

• • Define the Goal: Is this for lead generation, selling products directly (eCommerce), or just a digital business card for credibility?

  • Identify Your Audience: Who are they, and what problem of theirs are you solving?

  • The “Call to Action” (CTA): What is the one thing you want visitors to do? (e.g., “Book a Consultation,” “Buy Now,” or “Sign up for our Newsletter.”)

  • Phase 2: Choosing Your Platform: You don’t need to be a developer to build a great site anymore. Here are the three most common paths:

Phase 3: The Essential Pages

Every business site should have these core elements to build trust:

1. 1. Home Page: A clear headline explaining what you do in 5 seconds or less.

   2. About Us: The story behind the business—humanize the brand.

   3. Services/Products: Clear descriptions with high-quality images.

   4. Social Proof: Testimonials, reviews, or case studies.

   5. Contact: A simple form, email, or physical address.

Phase 4: Launch & Maintenance

Building it is only half the battle. To actually get “promoted,” keep these in mind:

• • Mobile Optimization: More than half of your traffic will likely be on a phone. Make sure it looks good on a small screen!

  • SEO (Search Engine Optimization): Use keywords your customers are searching for so Google can find you.

  • Analytics: Install Google Analytics (or use your platform’s built-in tools) to see where your visitors are coming from.

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Quick Tip: Avoid “Coming Soon” pages if you can help it. Even a single-page “Landing Page” with your contact info is better than a blank site while you build the rest.