How to Build a Business Website - Mazloy LLC

In today’s digital landscape, a business website is a powerful tool that enables brands to connect with customers, showcase their services, and gain credibility. This guide will show you how to build a business website, from gathering essential assets to ongoing maintenance. Following this roadmap will help you avoid common pitfalls and create a professional site that achieves your business goals.

Step 1: Gather Essential Assets

To start, gather all the assets needed to develop your brand identity and give your website a consistent look. These assets will play a major role in establishing trust with visitors and ensuring a unified brand experience. We recommend building your website with WordPress.

• Logo: Ensure your logo is a high-resolution vector image. This will make it versatile, capable of being used across various media without losing quality. A well-designed logo helps build brand recognition.
• Branding Guidelines: Define your brand’s core elements—colors, fonts, and tone of voice—to create consistency. These guidelines ensure that every visual element reflects your brand’s personality.
• Photographs: High-quality images of your team, products, and workspace create a connection with visitors. Real photos (not stock images) often build more trust.
• Videos: Video content such as brand introductions or customer testimonials engages visitors. Quality videos can help tell your brand’s story and demonstrate your value.
• Web Hosting: Choose a reliable web hosting provider like WPEngine for fast load times, robust security, and dependable support.
• WordPress Theme: Purchase a versatile theme like Divi from Elegant Themes, which offers design flexibility and a range of pre-built layouts.
• Development Environment: Set up a development environment where you can test site changes before going live. This helps prevent potential issues on the live site.

Step 2: Plan the Site

Planning your website ensures it aligns with your business goals and meets your audience’s needs. This step involves defining your core message, organizing the site structure, and visualizing key pages.

• Define the Message: Your website should reflect a clear message that resonates with your target audience. Define who they are, their demographics, and the problems your business solves. Categorize problems into three types: external (visible issues), internal (emotional concerns), and philosophical (your values or stance). Develop a solution plan that demonstrates how your offerings meet these needs, and add proof elements, like testimonials, awards, case studies, and success metrics, to build credibility. Be sure to state the promises you make to your clients (such as, "we return all calls within 1 business day"). Clearly state the success the client should expect if they work with you - or what failure looks like if they don't. Finally, bring it all home with an enticing and urgent Call to Action.
• Sitemap Creation: Outline all main pages (e.g., Home, About, Services) and any additional pages, like a FAQ or Blog, for comprehensive site navigation. Don’t forget legal pages, such as Terms of Service and Privacy Policy, as well as error pages and “Thank You” pages for post-interaction messaging. Be sure to perform keyword research using a tool like Ubersuggest and list the target keyword next to each page in the sitemap. This will help your site have excellent on-page SEO from launch.
• Wireframe Key Pages: Create wireframes for pages that require unique layouts, like the Home page, service pages, or product landing pages. Wireframes are basic sketches that show where elements like text, images, and buttons should go. They’re essential for a user-friendly and logical design structure.

Step 3: Design the Site

With your planning complete, it’s time to bring your vision to life through design. Effective design combines aesthetics with functionality, helping visitors navigate your site and find the information they need.

• Home Page Design Options: Develop two or three options for the Home page to explore different color schemes, and design styles. The Home page is often the first interaction visitors have with your brand, so it should be visually appealing and informative.
• Key Page Designs: Once you’ve chosen a Home page design, move on to other key pages. You’ll want to ensure that each page reinforces your brand’s message while providing a smooth user experience. Consider up to two rounds of revisions to refine the design.
• Photo/Video Shoot: If you haven’t already gathered professional-quality photos and videos, now is the time. Investing in custom visuals makes your website more authentic and relatable.

Step 4: Code the Site

With your design assets and plan ready, it’s time to start coding the website. This stage involves assembling your content, selecting images, and ensuring everything aligns with your brand’s message.

• Human-Edited AI Copy: AI tools can help generate content quickly and they're great at sticking to SEO best practices, but always have a human editor refine it to match your brand voice and ensure accuracy.
• Edit Photos/Videos: Ensure that all images and videos are properly edited for lighting, color, content, and size. Optimized visuals improve page load speed, especially on mobile devices.
• Select Final Imagery: Carefully choose images and videos that represent your brand and resonate with your audience. This is especially important on your Home page, where first impressions matter most.

Step 5: Launch the Site

Launching a site requires a meticulous quality control process to ensure a smooth experience for users. After all, your website serves as your online sales team, and any errors can impact credibility.

• Final Quality Control Pass: Test all links and buttons. Confirm that each page is optimized for desktop, tablet, and mobile devices.
• Connect Analytics Tools: Install analytics tools to gather data on how visitors interact with your site. This information will be valuable for future optimizations and tracking your return on investment (ROI).
• Test Forms: Ensure all contact forms work correctly and that entries are saved and sent to the appropriate email addresses.
• Launch: Once you’ve completed these steps, it’s time to go live! Share the website with your network and celebrate your accomplishment.

Step 6: Ongoing Maintenance and Monitoring

A successful website requires regular maintenance. This final step will keep your site secure, up-to-date, and effective over time.

• Hacker Protection: Keep plugins and themes updated to reduce vulnerabilities. Make nightly backups, so you can quickly restore your site if needed.
• Uptime Monitoring: Use tools to ensure your website is consistently available. If your site goes down, uptime alerts will help you resolve the issue promptly.
• Speed Optimization: Compress images and code, and cache pages. Page load speed is important for both SEO and user experience.
• Content Updates: Regularly update your blog and replace outdated content. Fresh, relevant content keeps your audience engaged and enhances SEO.

How Much Does It Cost to Build a Business Website?

The cost of building a business website varies widely depending on its complexity and the resources you use. For a simple site using a DIY website builder, like Squarespace or Wix, the cost might be as low as $300 annually. However, if you’re hiring a professional designer or agency, expect costs from $5,000 to $20,000 or more, depending on features, custom design, and additional integrations. Be wary of cheap website pitfalls, as opting for the cheapest option often leads to a lackluster design, poor functionality, and limited scalability. Our pricing is here.

Who Builds Websites?

You have several options when it comes to building your website:

• Freelancers: Freelancers often provide custom design and development services at a lower cost than agencies. This is a good option if you have a clear vision but need a professional to execute it.
• Web Design Agencies: Agencies offer a team of experts to handle design, development, and SEO. This option is generally the most expensive but ensures comprehensive service and support.
• DIY Website Builders: For a more affordable route, use platforms like Wix or Squarespace. These tools offer templates and require no coding, making them ideal for smaller budgets or those who want to control the process. However, if you're new to the process you might find yourself quickly overwhelmed. Remember, your time is valuable - don't waste it learning a skill you'll only need once.

What Should a Business Website Do?

Your business website should do more than just present information; it should engage users, provide value, and encourage action. Here are the primary functions it should accomplish:

• Establish Credibility: Showcase your expertise and build trust through testimonials, case studies, and industry awards.
• Communicate Your Unique Value: Use concise, persuasive messaging to explain why visitors should choose you over competitors.
• Make User Interaction Easy: Whether it’s booking an appointment or purchasing a product, make it simple for users to complete the action.
• Optimize for Mobile and SEO: Ensure your site is mobile-friendly and optimized for search engines to improve visibility and accessibility.

Is It Worth Making a Website for a Small Business?

Yes, building a website is one of the most valuable investments for a small business. A well-designed website establishes credibility, attracts new customers, and provides a way to showcase your products or services to a broader audience. Furthermore, with people increasingly searching online, not having a website can make your business appear outdated or less trustworthy. Building an effective website will enable you to reach potential customers beyond your immediate area, giving your small business a competitive edge.

No need to worry about complexity! Many small businesses thrive with just a simple one-page website. As long as it looks polished and clearly shares what you offer, you're all set!

With these steps, you now have a comprehensive guide on how to create a business website that’s both effective and professional. From defining your brand to launching and maintaining the site, each step contributes to creating a strong online presence for your business.

Ready to get started? Download Mazloy's Perfect B2B Landing Page Wireframe right now to get moving in the right direction