Creating a Website for Small Businesses

Okay, so I can't remove your fear of creating a website, but I can recommend Weebly as an easy-to-navigate website builder for small businesses. Other website builders are listed at the end of this post. 

Have you started creating your website? If not, why? 

​Lately, I've come across three entrepreneurs who have stalled at the creation of their website. Whether it be from fear or lack of knowledge, they're potentially losing customers and clients by not having a website. I understand the hesitancy, because I've been there before when I created my first site 10 years ago. But don't let that fear hold you back.

Creating a Website for Small Businesses

3 Tips for Creating Your Website

1. Spend a few hours perusing websites in the same industry as you. Take note of the colors, details and layouts that resonate with you.
2. Start small with a basic landing page. This page can be used to collect email addresses of potential clients, or it can simply be used to share more information about your company/product, prior to the full website being completed. 
3. Start now. Don't put this off any longer. And if you need help with creating and formatting your copy (such as for your bio or homepage), don't hesitate to schedule a free consultation with Yaupon Berry Press by emailing [email protected]

What is a Call-to-Action (CTA)?

A CTA can be a button that entices viewers to subscribe to your email by offering a discount or free information, or a CTA can be a form that allows potential clients to contact you. It's a good idea to have a CTA on your website! 

I have three CTAs on my website: a schedule form (homepage), a pop-up that includes a discount (homepage), and a pop-up for new subscribers (on this blog). All of these CTAs enable me to stay in touch with interested clients. The site I use to create these pop-ups and forms is Poptin (my affiliate link). 

Poptin has been easy to use, and it integrates with my mailer service, MailerLite, for a seamless experience. (*Update: I removed all pop-ups from my site because Google frowns upon them.)

Website Platforms for Small Businesses

There are many different website hosts and builders available. But the four main types I hear about are: 

• Weebly
• Wix
• WordPress.com
• Squarespace 

These are platforms that allow you to build your website, using their tools. From what I've researched, WordPress can be confusing for beginners and is a platform that requires advanced knowledge, regarding coding. But when I was hired to edit content for a small company's website, I didn't find WordPress hard to navigate. To read more about the differences between these four platforms, visit Viget's article that lists the pros and cons of Wix vs. Weebly vs. Squarespace vs WordPress.com. 

Hiring a Team to Build Your Website

Would you rather hire someone to create your website for you? I understand! This option can take a lot of weight off your shoulders. A local company that creates fabulous websites is Ment Marketing & Creative Services. They have free consultations, so don’t hesitate to contact them!

​I hope this post has encouraged you to start creating your website, if you haven't already. Being a small business owner can be hard, but it's also freeing. Use that same tenacity that made you want to start your business, and this time, start your website.

If you found this post helpful, please consider sharing it with someone you think would enjoy it too. Are you nervous about creating your website? Tell me about your experience in the comments!

​If you need any help, don't hesitate to reach out at [email protected].

Author

Dawn Husted progressed into offering her editing services to clients in 2016, eventually opening Yaupon Berry Press LLC.  She's constantly learning new ways of helping clients stay relevant in today’s market, whether by using an SEO strategy targeting high-trafficked keywords or simply fine-tuning their content. ​Dawn lives in central Texas with her husband, two energetic kids and an adorable golden retriever.

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