Building your own business website feels so easy…until you sit down to do it. That’s when it hits you; you have no idea what a good DIY business website actually needs.
How many web pages does your website need and what should those web pages have on them?
What kind of copy should you put on your website?
Do you put your business contact information on the home page or give it its own contact page?
Furthermore, how do you even choose a web builder to DIY your website? There are so many and it seems like you’re getting a different recommendation (or ads in your social feeds) every day.
Let’s start with the key ingredient of a great business website – it sells.
Your website isn’t just a place to post business information. It’s not just there for credibility on the off-chance a new lead wants to look you up. It’s not just a thing people do for their digital marketing that takes up space online.
Your website needs to sell your product.
When you start with that primary goal in mind, you can make your website rise to this occasion.
What does your website need…in order to sell?
I have a handy list as well as this hands-on mini course just for you.
Here are the highlights of my Website Essentials mini course to help you get started building your own business website.
Flexible Website Templates: A Must-have when choosing a DIY website builder
First things first, let’s talk about website templates. You might find some website platforms boasting about their awesome templates, but here’s the catch – not all are as flexible (or changeable) as they claim.
I’ve personally used SquareSpace, WordPress, Shopify, Leadpages and ShowIt. Of these four options, ShowIt has been the best holistic option (includes the most features, flexibility and blog capability.) Leadpages has blown me away with user-friendliness and templates that look the best from the beginning.
Comment below if you want me to elaborate more on any of these web building platforms.
Remember, a template that looks good in theory might be a nightmare when you try to tailor it to your business needs. So, my top tip here: Prioritize being able to make changes to the template over the surface, at-a-glance aesthetics of their template library when choosing your website platform.
Why analytics integration is essential for your website
Moving on to analytics integration. This is huge! Most platforms have built-in analytics, but we want to go a step further. Ensure that the platform aligns well with Google Analytics AND Google Search Console (a little trickier to set up.)
This is vital because, as your business grows, you’ll need more robust data to make informed marketing decisions. Trust me, having only basic platform analytics won’t cut it in the long run.
Most web building platforms have a place for Google Analytics (GA4) but are hard to connect to search console. At the very least you’ll need the ability to add html from Google Search Console to the header or footer of every webpage of your website.
Don’t know what all that gibberish about html means? Get on the website builder platform’s chat to ask a representative for confirmation that you can add html to the site.
SEO: Your website’s selling superpower
Let’s not forget about SEO (Search Engine Optimization). Your platform should not only support SEO but also excel in it. Why? Because SEO that brings in search traffic will make it feel like it’s automatically attracting visitors to your site – and you know we’re all about sales automation around here.
No matter what website builder you use, there will be spaces to add SEO in the backend (settings is usually a good place to start) as well as in the messaging you write for it.
For a crash course in copywriting that helps SEO, check out this brand messaging workshop.
Creating a website that sells
Now, for the heart of your website – its content. Your site should be:
- Informative: Explain what your business does, who it’s for (be very specific with this) and how to buy. This should all be simple, clear and concise. As your visitor scrolls down the page, make sure to include small areas of text that cover the most common questions a potential customer would have for you.
- Navigable: A DIY website needs to make it easy for visitors to find what they need. Don’t overdo areas of text or images – keep the eye moving. Make it very clear how visitors can find what they’re looking for.
- Compelling: Your new business website should encourage visitors to make a purchase, snag your lead magnet offer or connect with you.
Telling Your Business Story
Your website should clearly articulate:
- What you offer: Be clear, simple and specific.
- How you stand out: What does your business focus on the most?
- Your target audience: Be descriptive about who your business is ideal for.
Consider big brands like Starbucks; they don’t just sell coffee, they sell convenience. Identify what your business truly offers and communicate that on your DIY website.
The technical side: privacy policies & more
Don’t overlook the technical aspects of a DIY business website
- Privacy Policy: Legally required and important for running ads on platforms like Google.
- SEO Implementation: Ensure your site is SEO-friendly.
- Connecting Your Domain: The final step to take your site live.
Final thoughts on what your business website needs: Keep it simple and evolve over time
Remember, your website is a work in progress that can always be updated. Don’t feel pressured to make it perfect from day one.
Start with something functional, then watch the analytics, get friend and family feedback and gradually improve.
In today’s digital world, less is often more. Aim for a clean, straightforward site that focuses on converting leads, not overwhelming them with information.
To get a step-by-step tutorial for building a website, I highly recommend my Website Essentials mini course.
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