Whether you’re a writer looking to reach a larger audience, a boutique manufacturer looking to increase sales, or someone simply looking to make money online, you’ll need a website. And not just any website, but a fantastic website.
Unfortunately, the World Wide Web has been overrun with sites for several years.
Making a statement. Making a statement. It’s not an easy task.
But here at Rippa Hosting, we know a thing or two about websites and what makes them tick, so here are our 11 website-building secrets.
- Clearly defined objectives
- A suitable domain name
- High-quality web hosting
- A detailed explanation
- A high-quality CMS
- A fantastic e-commerce platform
- Web design that is engaging
- Search engine optimisation
- Content of high quality
- Making Use of Google Analytics
- A strategy for site upkeep
1. Establish your objectives.
Before you do anything else, you should decide what you want to accomplish with this website.
Is it going to be an e-commerce site where you sell products?
Do you want to promote a service?
Do you want to earn money through affiliate links?
Are you looking for a place to share your thoughts and ideas?
It can be difficult to change the direction of a well-established website. Make sure you know what kind of website you want to build and what you want to achieve from it.
2. Select a suitable domain name
It is easier said than done to choose a good domain name. It’s also critical because it’s difficult to change once you’ve established your site and brand. (You can, of course, migrate to a new domain, but this comes with a slew of complications.)
So, what exactly is a good domain? What constitutes a good domain?
Either your brand name or contains your brand name.
It’s unforgettable.
Simple to spell.
It’s brief (ideally under 14 characters; but the shorter, the better).
Doesn’t contain any numbers, hyphens, or other unusual characters.
It has a well-known and reliable extension (.com is the ideal).
It is also a good idea to select an SEO-friendly domain that contains one of your most important keywords.
3. Obtain safe, high-quality web hosting with excellent technical support.
It can be tempting to cut corners on web hosting and go with the cheapest option available. Don’t do it.
A low-cost web host can cost you in other ways, such as prolonged downtime, slow site speeds, and limited or non-existent support.
It isn’t worth it.
If you’re serious about making your website a success, invest in dependable web hosting. With DreamHost web hosting, you can’t go wrong.
Related: 15-Point Checklist for Choosing a Web Hosting Provider
4. Include a detailed description of your company.
This is something that many businesses get wrong. They are well-versed in their industry and business. That’s fantastic. However, this frequently results in them forgetting how to describe it to those who do not understand.
In an ideal world, you should be able to summarise what you do in a few sentences. This summary should be prominently displayed on your homepage. And it should be readable and understandable to anyone.
If you’re unsure, ask someone who knows nothing about what you’re doing what they think. Even better, enlist the assistance of a professional copywriter.
Related: How to Write Clickable Meta Descriptions
5. Make use of a high-quality content management system.
A content management system (CMS) is where you will manage the pages and content of your website. The right one can make this quick, simple, and enjoyable. The wrong one can cause endless headaches and even limit your ability to do things.
Good content management systems enable you to create pages and posts on a website without any prior coding knowledge. They lower the entry barrier and allow anyone to create their own website.
But how do you know which one is best for you?
The following questions will assist you in making your decision:
Do I want a simple, no-frills website?
Do I want to be able to expand the website’s features in the future?
What is my financial situation?
Will I want to allow website visitors to purchase products in the future?
Is it acceptable to me to pay ongoing costs, or do I prefer to pay a one-time fee?
Is it necessary for me to integrate with other parts of my business (for example, a lead generation tool or a payment platform)?
Is it search engine friendly?
Will it grow with my company?
Can I use a website builder to speed up the design process?
Other questions may arise depending on what you intend to use the CMS for, but these basic ones should get you started in your search for the best content management system for your needs.
Related: How to Create a Fantastic Online Store Using the OceanWP Theme
6. Select an excellent e-commerce platform.
If you intend to sell products on your website, you must first determine which e-commerce platform to use. There are numerous platforms to choose from, but not all of them are built to scale or are appropriate for your needs. You get what you pay for, as with most things in life.
If you run a business website, you must ensure that the platform you use is dependable and sturdy. You don’t want to deal with customer complaints because you chose an ineffective platform.
Related: WooCommerce vs. Shopify: An In-Depth Comparison of E-Commerce Platforms
Before deciding on a platform, consider the following:
Is it search engine friendly? While there are many low-cost and simple-to-setup e-commerce platforms available, not all of them are SEO-friendly.
Is it accessible via mobile? We live in a mobile-first world, and if your platform is even slightly clunky, you will lose revenue.
Is it a reliable and secure platform? One of the most important factors for customers to consider when purchasing is the security of their personal information. Your platform must be completely secure, and this must be communicated to potential customers.
Will it be scalable? We all have high expectations for our businesses, and while not all of them succeed, a good number do. When selecting an e-commerce platform, make sure it can grow with your online business.
How do the systems function? One of the most important aspects to look into is how well the platform handles product and order management. You need it to be quick so that you don’t waste time on the back end and can focus on providing the best service to your customers.
Your Online Store Is Deserving of Hosting for WooCommerce On the world’s largest e-commerce platform, you can sell anything, anywhere, at any time. Plans are available here.
7. Design a beautiful, engaging, and user-friendly website.
Apple is usually the first company that comes to mind when you think of a design that matches usability. They have successfully combined both of these into a hugely successful business.
Users value good design, and when it’s combined with solid usability, you’ve got a winner on your hands. People want to return to this site. A site where people want to buy.
Google has always said that you should design websites with the end user in mind — and this is as true today as it has ever been.
Here are a few pointers for creating sites that exude design excellence.
Understand your target audience and design for them — what features do they want, and how design-savvy are they?
Don’t skimp on the price. You get what you pay for when it comes to design. Don’t try to save money. Employ the services of a seasoned designer (like team of pros at DreamHost).
Take a look at the competition. Investigate some high-performing sites in your niche. Google will rank websites based on their niches, and design is essential. Take note if your competitors’ websites are succeeding with simple colours and designs. Then improve yours.
8. Make your website search engine friendly.
Optimizing your site for search engines is one of the simplest and quickest ways to help it succeed. While search engines are intelligent — and they are getting better at understanding the meaning and context of web pages, their content, and users’ intent — they still require our assistance.
In most cases, keyword research is the first step in optimising for search engines. This will assist you in determining the types of keywords you should be optimising for.
Among the most popular keyword research tools are:
KWFinder
Keg is a keyword.
Keywords abound (a Chrome plugin with free and paid options)
Try Semrush if you want to take a more sophisticated approach to keyword research. It’s an excellent tool for advanced digital marketers, but it’s also usable by those with less experience. We’re so excited about it that we’ve set up a free 14-day PRO trial for our readers!
The keyword research section of Semrush works similarly to most other keyword research tools; however, in addition to keyword suggestions, search volume, and difficulty scores, you also get global volume data, keyword variations, and questions related to your starting keyword. You’ll also learn about the current state of the SERPs.
