No matter what industry you hope to conquer, having a reputable presence online will help you. An online custom business website presence makes the difference between a business’ success or failure.
A current website will help people find you whether you sell real estate or janitorial supplies. A potential customer will likely be looking for you online or on their mobile phones and you don’t want your business to suffer.
While the average small business is aware of this new reality in marketing, not many are eager or able to transition their brand. A custom website doesn’t need to be a spend of tens of thousands of dollars on development. You don’t need to hire and maintain a pricey tech firm.
1. Use Website Templates
Over the past several years, pre-designed templates have become the norm for small businesses. Builders like Weebly, Squarespace, and Wix have empty themes you can fill with whatever content you desire. Each of these companies have an easy “drag and drop” functionality.
Mega-host GoDaddy explains an affordable builder may mean your site could lack advanced functionality of custom. Of course a custom job will be more appealing. But regardless, the main point is to get a website up.
How can your small business benefit from both sides of website design? Easy: Use a pre-made template, but hire a developer to finish the design. You’ll need to understand what builders work best for the job you need done. It is possible to find a skilled coder who is within your price range.
2. Choose a Website Builder
With great ease, you can acquire a website that you’ll have open access to and can edit freely. If you decide on a website builder, you’ll also enjoy the advanced functionality of a complex site.
First, create an account for a builder you prefer. Make sure the builder you choose offers the ability to edit the HTML/CSS code. Through the editing function, the theme can be customized. You can include plug-ins, new color schemes, layout changes, or whatever you see fit. Once you’ve purchased a builder plan, you’re ready to hire an expert.
3. Hire a Web Developer
I recently got my website re-designed and I was able to find an affordable web developer thanks to a referral. The highly skilled laborers of today find a surprising amount of their work on global platforms. These platforms act as a medium where businesses and freelancers can collaborate.
The largest of these is Upwork, which recently merged with Elance. Upwork offers its clients the chance to hire from a pool of over 10 million experts in programming. They can also help supply admin, sales, marketing, and much more.
Register your business, post a job that freelancers can bid on, and choose the best candidate. Once you’ve made your decision, provide the developer access to your builder login, and let the fun begin!
After the development of your new site you can use the developer’s services further or perform the maintenance yourself. Learning the rudimentary workings of your website can save you a buck or two.
Custom Business Website Summary
Establishing a website for your business is a must and it’s a great way to grow your brand. However, it doesn’t have to cost an arm a leg even if you’re looking for a quality, custom design.
Consider hiring freelancers and asking for referrals. You can purchase templates that can be edited in order to save money on your website design. The best part of having a website is that you will now be seen by those who are seeking to find your business.
