Important Things You Need to Know Before Setting Up a Website

Disclaimer: I sometimes recommend products that I believe in. The link in this post includes an affiliate link where I will make a small portion of income for a purchase made through the clickable link.

I don’t think there is any type of business that I can think of off the top of my head that doesn’t need some sort of a website.

Whether it’s a simple contact or About Me website, a “this is where I’m located” website, or a full-blown e-commerce shopping website, all businesses should have an online representation.

Regardless of whether you are an independent business owner with a shop downtown or you are an online entrepreneur, a website is critical for your business.

But there are some things to think about and be prepared for before you start that website build. Here are some things that may help you before you hire that website developer or do it yourself.

Important Things You Need to Know Before Setting Up a Website

1. What do you want your website to do for you? Is it a way to develop leads? A way to sell product costs? A way to just contact you?

2. Do you have a brand created? Specific colors? A logo?

3. Do your competitors have websites? Visit them and see how they are utilizing it.

4. What do you want your website to convey when someone lands on it? Exciting, Calm, Straightforward.

5. Will you sell items? Even if it’s an informational product?

6. What type of content would you want on your website? Understand that there are multiple types of content to include. Text, images, and video are just a few.

7. Know your target market and keep them in mind as you create your website and all types of content.

8. Who will be creating the content? If it’s a static website, meaning it will just be comprised of a few pages, then content only needs to be created once and updated every so often.

If you will be adding a blog, that would be weekly and monthly content to be created. Who will be responsible?

9. Social media elements come into play on the website as well. Who is managing it and can they also do the website?

10. Do you have your domain name and web hosting? Both of these need to be purchased before embarking on your development. My personal recommendation is to buy your domain name from a reliable registrar such as GoDaddy and purchase your hosting from a company such as a HostGator.

I recommend HostGator because their pricing is the most consistent I have ever seen in the industry. You can also purchase your domain from them so everything is in one place.

Also for a limited time, you can grab their deal of a free domain name with a new purchase of hosting. It’s a great price. See the link at the bottom of the page.

Another reason I use them is their hosting plans are affordable. Other companies bring you in on a great deal and then the monthly plan is extremely inflated. Hostgator does not do that and I have been with them for probably close to 10 years with no issues.

11. What kind of action do you want the customer to take on your site? Sign up for emails? Click a link? Read a post? Buy something? Call you?

12. What type of website do you want? One that you can manage yourself? One where you can expand it easily eventually? WordPress is my site of choice regardless of the size of site you need or want. It is easy to learn how to use it and it is perfect for expanding in the future. Even into a store!

I hope these 12 things you need to think about and know before you start your website build is helpful to you.

Need help with your website? Contact me for assistance in developing your new website or teaching you how to use it!