Building A Website That Works
Whether you’ve decided your small business start-up needs a new website – or need to improve the effectiveness of your existing site – there are a few key things you need to consider in advance.
With many years’ experience in both graphic and website design – the team here at Lollipop Rocks have put together a few tips to help you ensure your website delivers the best possible return on your investment.
1. Purpose
There are many different reasons for wanting a website. And many different ways to reach your goals. It helps to have a clear idea of what you hope to achieve.
Before starting to do anything, you need to consider the purpose of your website. It may be simply to give you a website address to put on your business cards, or it could be to increase your visibility on search engines and social media, raise your brand awareness before a big event, or sell products online.
The purpose of your website should dictate everything that follows but before you start, you also need to have a realistic idea of:
A - How you will measure success – and
B - The level of investment that may be needed to achieve that success.
2. Domain Name
Your website address is the first key consideration for your new online presence, something simple and catchy works well - and should ideally reflect your business type – and location if possible - to help with search engine optimisation (SEO).
Lollipop Rocks can help by scouring existing websites to find an ideal website name - something that works for you and your business.
3. Website Hosting
Additional important considerations when considering your website hosting service are user experience (usability), SEO, security and good tech support. If you have the design background, technical ability and plenty of time on your hands – there are many hosting plans that will let you build your own website.
However, if you’re like most small business owners, your expertise, and your focus is – and should be - on developing your business!
Lollipop Rocks can support you with easy start-up plans and advice to help you get online – and stay online - as quickly, as painlessly and as inexpensively as possible!
4. Website Design
Your domain name and SEO should help to direct potential customers/clients to your website – but you then need to keep them there – and engaging with your content.
There are three important steps to good website design – and ALL start with your potential customers/clients in mind!!!
“You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view… until you climb in his skin and walk around in it.”
To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee
1 - The first step is to ensure they can access your website whenever they want - whether through desktop computer, tablet or mobile phone
2 - The second step is to have clean, uncluttered design and structure, with your key messages loud and clear
3 -
The third step is to create content that is easily read and digested, with clear, concise copy written from their point of view
5. Website Content
You may be an expressive writer and have a lot to say about your business, and long to provide fascinating, in depth information about the why – and how - you do what you do; but is it necessary? Hmmm… Perhaps, but more likely not. More hints & tips on writing your website content coming soon.
A little bit about us...
We are a website design company based in Holmes Chapel, Cheshire. We specialise in pay monthly website solutions for small businesses and new business start ups. We know that great website design doesn't need to be expensive, so we offer a range of pay monthly website plans starting at £25 per month for our 1 page Starter Plan. We don't have any contracts to tie you in, so you simply keep the website for as long as you and your business need it. We also don't charge you anything upfront, we really do just want to help small businesses.
If you are interested in working with Lollipop Rocks for your pay monthly website design, get in touch today.
