Set up a business website
Benefits of a website
A business website can be as simple as a page with your business’s brand and contact details to a complete online store.
Some benefits of having a website for your business include:
- having a digital shopfront for your business
- reaching a global audience
- helping your customers to access your products or services anywhere, anytime
- using it for marketing to sell and promote your products and services
- increasing customer engagement
- creating or enhancing your brand and reputation
- improving your business productivity and efficiency.
It’s important to do your research before you build your business website. Choose an option that suits your business and targets your main audience. To stand out from other businesses, find a way to make your online presence unique.
Follow our steps to create a business website.
Engineering. Systems. Management. - Digital case study
Engineering. Systems. Management. is a boutique engineering management consultancy in Adelaide. Through government assistance they identified and implemented digital tools that boosted their efficiency, confidence and customer reach. With assistance to introduce digital tools, Engineering. Systems. Management. found the confidence to build a website and move their training workshops to an online platform. Engineering. Systems. Management. is not only is more efficient, but has wider customer reach.
1. Create a digital business strategy
This can set you up for an effective online presence, regardless of what web options you choose. A digital strategy:
- outlines what you want to achieve using digital technologies
- involves thinking about what your goals are and deciding how to achieve them
- clearly defines responsibilities
- provides a road map for your business's future
- gives you control of your business success.
2. Decide on your type of website
Before you create your business website, you should know what you want to do on it. A basic website or blog can be used to tell your customers:
- where you are and how to contact you
- what products or services you offer.
E-commerce
If you plan to sell your products or services online, then you will need an e-commerce website. E-commerce websites allows you to accept payment online. Check our information on how to buy and sell online if you decide on an e-commerce website. You may want this type of website to supplement your physical shop, or as your only point of sale.
Blogs
Blogs are useful to attract returning customers and new ones to your website. A good blog should provide:
- useful and engaging content
- a positive image for your business.
A bit like a journal, blogs are usually updated regularly. Most successful blogs consist of a regular flow of new, relevant posts to get people coming back.
3. Decide if you want a template or custom website design
You can build a basic website using free or low cost web design packages. These packages can provide you with a template design and a web content management system (CMS) to edit your site with.
If you want a more complex website for your business, you’ll need to hire a web professional.
4. Pick and register your domain name
Your website will need a web address, or domain name. It’s worth spending some time choosing your domain name, as it’s an important promotional tool.
To make sure your customers know you are an Australian business you can register a domain with the .au extension.
5. Choose a web hosting service
You’ll need a web hosting service to make your website publicly available. The hosting service stores your website on a server connected to the internet.
Choose a web hosting service based on your business needs. If you’re using a third party's pre-made website template and CMS, they may have web hosting packages you can choose from.
6. Build your website
When building your website, there are a number of things to consider. These include:
- understanding your customers and how they’ll use your website
- the website design and usability
- making your website accessible
- making your website mobile friendly
- optimising your search ranking.
Search engine optimisation (SEO)
SEO is the set of techniques used to help search engines find, understand and rank your website against similar websites. There are different factors that can help your website rank well. Find out how using keywords and meta description tags can improve your search ranking.
7. Launch your website
It's important to test your website before you launch. Make sure customers can easily navigate around it and successfully buy your products or services.
When you are ready to go live, let your customers know that you are launching your new website. Encourage customer feedback to help you improve your site once it's live.
Other online channels
If you're not ready to commit to a website, there are other platforms your business can use to connect to your customers online, including:
- social media platforms
- e-marketplaces
- online directories, such as business or suppliers' directories.