Launching Your Website
Your website is often the first impression a potential customer gets of your business. It does not need to be expensive or complicated, but it does need to be clear, professional and easy to use. This pathway takes you through every step — from choosing a domain name to going live — so you end up with a website that actually works for your business.
Before you think about design or technology, get clear on what your website needs to do. Most small business websites have one primary job: to convert visitors into enquiries or customers. Everything else is secondary.
Decide what pages you need. Most small businesses need: a homepage that explains what you do and who you do it for, a services or products page, an about page, and a contact page. That is it to start with. You can add more later.
Think about your visitors. What do they already know when they arrive? What do they need to find out? What do you want them to do? The answers to these questions should drive every decision about your website.
Write your content before you start building. Many people do it the other way round — they build the site and then try to fill it with words. This leads to generic, placeholder-style content. Write your key messages, your service descriptions and your about page first. Good content makes a mediocre design look great. Great design cannot save poor content.
Good to know
- Keep it simple — a clear, focused website outperforms a complex one almost every time
- Write your content in plain English, as if you are explaining your business to a friend
- Include a clear call to action on every page — what do you want visitors to do next?
Watch out for
- Trying to build a perfect website before launching — get something live and improve it over time
- Writing about yourself rather than about what you can do for the customer
- Forgetting to include your contact details — make it easy for people to get in touch
Ready for the next step?
Browse all pathways or explore our handbooks and templates for deeper guidance.