How To Create A Website For Small Business In 2023

Web presence is everything for new small businesses. But, where do you start? How do you create a website for a small business? And what are the best options?

We’ll walk you through the answers to these questions and more.

Creating A Website: What Do You Need?

The kind of website you need for your small business is going to depend on what you intend to use it for. Check out the sections below to help you make your decision!

Build Your Own Website If…

Use An eCommerce Platform If…

Consider Software If…

How To Build A Website

Website builders make it easier than ever for you to create your very own functional and attractive website for your small business. Consider the following when you begin your website-building journey.

Before You Start

We recommend doing the following before you even begin planning for your website or researching hosting platforms.

1. Solidify Your Business Plan: With a completed business plan, you’ll have a great idea of what you want your website to accomplish. Determine who your target customers/clients are and how best to communicate with them what your business is all about. Don’t know how to make a business plan? We’ve got an article on how to make a one-page business plan that can help!
2. Research The Competition: Take the time to research other businesses in your industry (preferably local) and pay special attention to the websites of your direct competitors. Take note of the design/branding, how the sites are structured, and whether or not they implement mobile-specific features.
3. Create A Business Email: This is going to make a lot of your tasks as a small business owner easier if you haven’t already completed this step. The importance of a professional, business-specific email address cannot be overstated. Think, “[email protected]” or even your name if want a more personal approach. Some website builder packages include custom email addresses as well.
4. Pick Your Domain Name: While you won’t be able to pick this officially until you begin using a website builder, you can at least brainstorm a list of easy-to-remember, professional, and distinctive domain names to choose from. You can choose to use your website builder as your domain host, but that could prove tricky later on if you decide to change platforms, so you might consider purchasing your domain from a third-party source.

Choose Your Website Builder

Unless you have experience with coding and building websites from scratch or can afford to hire a team of developers and designers, you’re going to be looking for a website builder to create the site your business deserves.

Every website builder has its strengths and weaknesses. Thankfully, there are a lot of options tailored for specific industries and different levels of technical expertise. A lot of them require no knowledge of coding at all!

Here are some builders we recommend:

Organize & Design Your Website

Some of the website builders we’ve mentioned above will ask you to choose a template or theme before you begin your site creation process.

When making your choice, be sure to select carefully. You want to pick a template that reflects the industry you’re in and can accommodate whatever feature additions you plan to make.

Once you’ve picked a template or theme, it’ll be time for you to organize your content. Keep the following in mind when creating your site:

• Multi-Page VS One-Page: A lot of business websites will be multi-page to fit all of the content you will be uploading. If you’re only using a website to show basic information or expect most of your web traffic will come from smartphone users, a single-page website might be best for your business. Check out our article about the best one-page web builders to learn more.
• Call To Action: Consider adding a prompt (typically a large, obvious button) to your website to encourage visitors to subscribe, sign-up for free, learn more, get started, or schedule an appointment. Call-to-action buttons are the primary way small businesses can drive conversions and make sure your business site isn’t just a passive digital billboard.
• Contact Page: For most small businesses, your contact information page will be the most important part of your website. It will often mark the beginning of your relationship with a potential customer. Make sure your contact information is as clear to understand as possible, and don’t make your site visitors jump through hoops to find it.
• Content: This is arguably the most exciting part about making a website, getting to add your content! Once you have your site’s design, form, and structure figured out, you can begin filling in the blanks. Keep your content simple and streamlined while still showing off the personality of your business.

Set Up Payments & Policies

If you’ll be offering products or services for sale on your website, you’ll need to have a payment processor. Many website builders have a native payment services provider (PSP) that will require minimal set-up on your part.

However, if you choose not to use their PSP or one is not offered on your website, we can help you choose the best option for your business. Check out our complete guide on accepting credit card payments online to learn the basics, and then head over to our article about the best credit card processing companies.

Make sure to be clear on your website about your policies regarding payment, shipping, returns, no-shows, and late cancellations.

Make Your Website Work For You

Building a website isn’t where your work should end. You also want to optimize the website so that it works for you and your customers, and website guests. Here are some ways you can ensure your website is functioning at peak levels.

Easiest Way To Build A Website To Sell Online

Plan on using your website solely for eCommerce? Consider platforms like Square, Shopify, and BigCommerce for an easy and effective way to create a website that drives sales.

Square Online is an omnichannel platform best suited for businesses that

• Already sell primarily in-person
• Are considered low-volume merchants
• Are looking for a free plan
• Need an all-in-one eCommerce and payment processing solution

Shopify is an online shopping cart tailored for businesses that

• Want to grow quickly
• Don’t mind paying a monthly/annual fee
• Have larger inventory/shipping needs
• Need an all-in-one eCommerce solution

BigCommerce is an eCommerce platform with no transaction fees best for businesses that

• Need a cost-effective eCommerce and payment processing solution
• Want persistent and abandoned cart functions
• Are interested in a store with unlimited storage, bandwidth, and free sitewide HTTP and SSL
• Already have a website and are looking to migrate

For more great eCommerce options for your business, check out the best eCommerce platforms.

FAQ: Creating A Website For Your Business