If you have a business but no website, it’s like opening a store in a basement without a sign. People simply don’t know that you exist. Today, a website is not just a pretty picture, but a full-fledged tool for attracting customers, sales, and brand development. But here’s the question: what kind of website do you need?
A landing page? A corporate website? An online store? Or maybe a business card site is enough?
It often happens that entrepreneurs rush into website development without fully understanding what they require. As a result, they spend a lot of money and get minimal benefit. To avoid this, let’s figure out what a website is, what types of websites exist, and how to choose the perfect one for your business.
Step 1: Understand the purpose of a website
A website is a collection of web pages connected by links and usually united by a common theme, purpose, or ownership by one organization or person. These pages are hosted on a special computer called a web server and are accessible via the Internet using special programs, browsers (Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge, etc.).
Before you order a website or even think about developing one, you should answer the main question: what do you need it for?
Here are some possible options:
- Do you require a website for sales? Then you need to develop an online store or a landing page.
- Do you just want to present your company? A corporate website will suit you.
- Are you looking for clients for services? A business card or landing page will be the best choice.
- Do you want to create a blog or news resource? You require a website portal.
- Don’t have a budget but want to be online? Try creating a Google site, it’s a free option to get started.
A proper understanding of your goals will help you avoid unnecessary expenses and choose the right platform.
Step 2: What types of websites are there and how to find yours?
If you’ve never worked with web development, deciding a website type may seem like a bit of a challenge. But we’ll help you figure it out. The main thing here is not just to find a good website template, but to understand what exactly your business needs.
Business card website is a compact, simple and convenient
A business card website is the simplest option that is suitable for freelancers, craftsmen, private professionals, and small companies. Its main task is to briefly introduce you or your business. Usually, such a site consists of several pages: “About Us”, ‘Services’, “Contacts”, and possibly a portfolio or client testimonials.
Why choose a business card website? First, it is quick to create and inexpensive. If you have a limited budget, you can even create a Google site yourself. Secondly, such a website does not require complex maintenance. However, you should keep in mind that the functionality is minimal: it is not suitable for sales or complex interaction with customers.
Corporate website is a serious level for a serious business
If your business is actively developing, working in many areas and interacting with customers or partners, you need a corporate website. It is no longer just a business card, but a full-fledged resource that tells about the company, its team, cases, achievements, and news.
A corporate website increases brand credibility. Customers are more likely to trust companies that have a modern website with a high-quality design. It’s also great for SEO promotion, if done right, potential customers can easily find you on Google.
But there are nuances. Creating such a website is not cheap. In addition, it requires regular updates: news, articles, updates of information about the company, all this needs to be kept up to date. If the site looks outdated and hasn’t been updated for years, it will harm your image rather than help.
Landing Page is ideal for advertising and quick sales
If you need to launch an advertising campaign and attract customers, a landing page is the way to go. This is a one-page website created specifically to lead a person to a specific action: purchase, registration, ordering a call, or downloading a file.
Why are landing pages so popular? They are as simple as possible, without unnecessary information, only the main thing: a brief description of the product, benefits, price, order form. Thanks to this, a landing page is a great tool for testing the market or launching a new offer.
But there are also disadvantages. A landing page is not suitable if you need a multipage website or want to add new content regularly. In addition, without high-quality advertising and customized analytics, the effectiveness of such a site will be minimal.
Online store for automated sales 24/7
If your goal is to sell goods online, you need an online store. It’s not just a website, but a full-fledged sales platform with a product catalog, shopping cart, payment methods, and order accounting system.
The main advantage of an online store is that it works around the clock, seven days a week. Even when you are sleeping, your website can accept orders. Moreover, proper SEO promotion will help you attract new customers without spending too much on advertising.
But it is worth remembering that developing an online store is a serious investment. Creating such a site is more expensive than in the case of a business card or a corporate resource, and it also requires constant maintenance: updating products, processing orders, and technical support. If this is not done, the store will quickly turn into chaos.
Which website to choose?
If you think about it, the choice of website type really depends on what you need it for. For example, if you just need to present your services or show what your company does, then a business card website is exactly what you require. It is easy and quick to create, plus it looks good. If you have little money, you can go for a Google site, which, surprisingly, performs its function well.
But if your goal is to do more than just make yourself known, say, you want to emphasize the status of a large company, then you require a corporate website. It will look much more solid and give visitors a sense of professionalism, because you can collect everything you require there, from a description of services to contact forms.
If you want your website to bring real results in the form of customers, you should pay attention to a landing page. This page is a great marketing tool. It is designed to turn visitors into customers or interested clients as quickly as possible.
And if your business is selling goods, you can’t do without an online store. In fact, it is the basis for any business that plans to work online. An online store automates the sales process, allows you to work seven days a week, and helps you reach a wider audience.
How to create a website?
There are several options, and each of them has its pros and cons.
- You can build a website yourself. This is the most economical option for those who want to try their hand at creating a website without spending money. There are services such as Google Sites or builders like Tilda or Wix, where you can easily create a basic website. And by the way, the result will be quite good.
- Alternatively, you can use a template. If you want something more, but don’t want to pay for development from scratch, you can choose a template. There is a CMS like WordPress, where there are many ready-made solutions that you can simply customize for yourself. It’s faster and cheaper than building a website from scratch, and it will still look more professional.
- You can also order a website from specialists. If you need a unique design, specific features, or complex SEO optimization, then you should turn to professionals. They will develop a website that will meet all your requirements and work without restrictions, as in builders or templates.
Of course, the price will depend on the complexity of the project. For example, a landing page is usually cheaper than, say, an online store with many products and payment systems.
Stages of website development
Here are some basic steps to keep you on track when creating a website:
- The first stage is the needs analysis. First, you need to understand what exactly you want from the site and why you will need it. This is very important because it determines what type of website to choose.
- Next is the structure. You need to plan how the site will be built: what sections should be on it and how they will interact with each other.
- Then there is the design. Well, this is definitely one of the significant points. The impression of a website often depends on how it looks. The choice of colors, fonts, the general visual part, all this matters.
- Now it’s time for programming. To make the site work, you need to program it. Here is everything that will make your site interactive and user-friendly.
- Testing and launch. Before you launch your website, be sure to test it. How will it look on mobile devices, does it open correctly on different browsers? It is significant that the site looks and works properly.
- And finally, SEO. If you want your website to be seen, you need to optimize it for search engines. Without this, the chance of being found is minimal.
If all the steps are done correctly, the site will certainly work for you and bring results. Therefore, even if the process seems complicated, don’t be afraid to experiment and work on each stage.
How not to make a mistake when choosing a website?
To summarize: website development is not just a fashion trend, but a necessity. But spending money for nothing, without a clear understanding of what you need, is a dubious idea.
If you are just starting out or need a minimal presence on the Internet, creating a Google site or a business card site will be the best solution. It’s fast, budget-friendly, and, most importantly, it works.
If your intention is to make a serious statement about yourself, a corporate website is exactly what you require. It will add weight to your business and increase customer confidence.
When the main thing is sales, don’t think twice: Landing page or a full-fledged online store. The former is ideal for advertising, the latter for sales automation.
And one more important point. Choosing the type of website is only the beginning. It’s significant to remember about website design, SEO optimization, and website adaptability to make it convenient for users to use. Don’t create a website just because you have to. Understand why you need it, and only then invest in its development. After all, web development is an investment that should bring results, not just take up your budget.
Our specialists have extensive experience and understanding of all the significant factors in creating a high-quality and effective website. Contact us, we will be happy to help you and provide advice. You can get acquainted with the vacancy for a WordPress web developer at the SELECTOR.SPACE Digital Agency by following the link. Find more interesting posts in our blog. You can contact our digital agency by phone 066 389 02 24, 096 81 00 132 or by e-mail office@selector.space.
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