1. The Brainstorming Stage Planning and Strategy 🧠

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When it comes to design, it can be easy to get carried away with ideas before really stopping to strategise, so don’t miss out on these next steps before diving into building your small business website. 

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Define your website's purpose and goals

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What do I mean by this, well simply put, what do you want your website to do for your small business?

• Generate leads to your small business services such as a photographer, or caterer
• Sell products for your small business, whether you’re upgrading from an Etsy store to Shopify or expanding a physical store to the digital realm.
• Informational for example a travel blog where the purpose of your site is entirely to provide valuable information to your readers

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Identify your target audience

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This is an important one because understanding your ideal customer or client's demographics, interests, and online behaviour will allow you to tailor your small business website content and design towards them.

Considering who is on the other end of your content enables you to create a website that will resonate with them. 

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Conduct competitor analysis

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Analysing your competitors' websites can shine a light on what they do well and what they don’t do so well, providing valuable insights for improving your own online presence.

You can identify opportunities to make your business stand out in the market and offer your unique value proposition.

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2. Nail Your Branding and Overall Aesthetic 🎨

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Whether you already have your branding in place, or not, it’s super important to consider this before jumping into design. Not only does branding improve recognition but it also helps you to establish trust with your future clients. 

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3. Choosing Your Domain Name and Hosting

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Your domain name is your website's address and a crucial part of your online identity. It's often the first thing potential customers see so it’s important that it is relevant, memorable and easy to spell! 

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Remember that your domain name contributes to your overall brand image so keep it consistent with your branding. 

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Web hosting essentially, is where a provider stores your website's data on its servers, making it available to anyone who wants to view it. Research and choose a reliable web hosting provider. Consider factors like speed, security, and customer support.

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Deciding Your Website Structure 

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A sitemap is a chance to outline your website’s structure. A messy website can make it difficult for users to find what they need and ultimately end in them leaving your website. 

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When thinking about your sitemap, start with your main pages (e.g., Home, About, Services, Contact, Blog). Then break down each main page into subpages as much as you need, for example you might have multiple pages under your services that relate to each service you provide.

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If you want to take it a step further here you can wireframe your website. This is an important step for professional designers to visualise content placement and user flow, it’s much easier to change at this point and can really help consider how your user will interact with your small business website. 

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4. The Fun Bit (imo) Design and Content Creation 

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While many people jump straight into designing a website on their chosen website builder, using a design software to outline your website beforehand will really save time when it comes to building your small business website. Develop a visually appealing website design that aligns with your brand.

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There are multiple design tools you can use to design your website on, from Adobe, to Figma and even Canva. 

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A well-designed website is crucial for attracting and retaining visitors. This is where the right platform and expertise come into play. I specialise in creating beautiful and functional websites using Webflow. Its design tools allow me to craft unique online experiences that perfectly reflect your brand - Contact me here.

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5. Actually Building Your Small Business Website 💻

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Choosing the website builder for your small business site or Content Management System (CMS) (e.g., WordPress, Squarespace, Wix, Shopify, or Webflow) is an important step because their capabilities can impact how impressive your website looks.

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While drag-and-drop builders like WordPress, Squarespace, and Wix offer ease of use with templates, Webflow will allow you design freedom, empowering you to create truly unique websites without needing to code, essential for a standout presence. 

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6. Optimise and Test Your Website 

Before launching your website, testing and Google search optimisation are essential. An aesthetic and appealing site is useless if it doesn’t function! 

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Test all interactive elements like forms and links thoroughly. Utilise tools like LambdaTest for cross-browser checks, and PageSpeed Insights for speed and mobile responsiveness. Set up Google Analytics and Search Console to track performance. Alternatively, hiring a freelance designer ensures these critical steps are professionally handled, guaranteeing a smooth and effective website launch.

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7. The Most Exciting Part: The Launch 🚀

Launch day! 

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Congratulations on reaching this milestone; building a website for your small business  is no small feat! Now, it's time to share your hard work with the world. Promote your new site across all your social media channels to drive initial traffic. 

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Remember though, the launch isn't the finish line: make sure to monitor your website's analytics and performance and regularly update your content to ensure your meeting your user needs.