According to Bright Local’s Local Consumer Review Survey 2017, 97 percent of all consumers search for businesses online, intently reading reviews that others have submitted in an effort to determine whether that specific business is the right business for them. Additionally, 12 percent report that they engage in this type of search every single day. This means that if your digital small business doesn’t currently have a website, then you’re likely missing out.
Fortunately, this issue is one that is easy to correct, ultimately giving your customers some place to go when they’re actively looking for your type of products and services. And there’s three ways to do it. You can have someone build the website for you, you can build it yourself from scratch, or you can use a template site builder. Let’s look at each one now.
Using gig marketplaces like Upwork.com, you can developers that work with popular content management platforms, such as WordPress
Option 1: Have Someone Build Your Website for You
If you have some cash available, don’t know a thing about website design, and you don’t have a desire to learn either, then this first option is likely the one for you. It simply involves hiring a person or company to create your digital business’ website from start to finish. Some will even monitor and maintain it, giving you access to professionals who do this for a living as long as you choose to stay online.
Should you decide to take this route, you need to realize that it will likely take some significant money up front as the average cost of just a basic website is between $2,000 and $5,000. A more advanced website that you can update yourself when you see fit will likely cost you between $7,500 and $30,000, and a custom website designed to your exact specifications and that fits all of your needs can wind up costing you as much as $100,000, if not more.
Before making a final decision as to who you entrust with your website creation and/or design, ask first to see their portfolio so you know right away whether or not you even like their work. Also, inquire about who is responsible for the copy on your site, how they intend to optimize it for SEO (search engine optimization), and what happens if an issue develops with your site. The more you know the answers to these types of questions beforehand, the happier you’ll be with the company you select.
Option 2: Use a Template Site Builder
Finally, if you’re a do-it-yourselfer who doesn’t mind spending a little time learning and doing something in return for saving some cash, then this may be the best option for you. You can find a template site builder, that may help you create a website by providing you with a ready-made design that you can tailor to your individual needs. A lot of website builders are pretty easy to use, enabling you to design a site that best serves your brand while giving potential customers more information on who you are, what you do, and what you have to offer.
LCN.com is a web hosting provider that offers an instant site builder to-go.
However, with so many template sites available, how do you know which one to choose? Simple. Just remember that the best website builder offers a variety of templates from which to choose, gives you the ability to effortlessly “drag and drop” elements into your site, is compatible with mobile devices, and is optimized for SEO. As long as it has these four things, you should find building your own website fairly easy to do.
Option 3: Build Your Own Website from Scratch
The second option is to build your own website from scratch. Of course, for this option to work, you have to know how to code your site, how to create the designs you want, and more. If you already know this type of information, great! You can get started. But if not, there are a few ways that you can learn.
For instance, several colleges and universities offer coding and web design classes, so that would be a good place to start. You might even be able to find a course or two at your local high school or alternative education facility as some of these offer courses to adults at night, after school has been dismissed.
There are online courses you can take as well. These give you the tools you need to build your own website, while allowing you to learn from home and at your own pace.
Building a website for your digital small business takes time, regardless of which option you choose. But it’s also time well spent because your customers will be able to find you easier, which ultimately helps you both.
