Designing a new website? Read Revelate’s step-by-step guide to getting your new website successfully up and running.
In today’s digital age, having an online presence is crucial to succeed in any industry. The good news is, setting up your first website is a straightforward process that anyone can accomplish with the right guidance. Whether you’re a small business owner, entrepreneur, or simply looking to showcase your personal brand, this guide will take you through the essential steps to establish your online presence and get your website up and running.
From choosing a domain name and hosting provider to designing your website and optimizing it for search engines, this guide covers everything you need to know to create a professional and effective website. With easy-to-follow instructions and expert tips, you’ll be able to launch your website in no time and start reaching your target audience. Don’t wait any longer to unlock the potential of your online presence – follow this guide and take your first step towards digital success!
First Steps
Choosing A Domain Name
Choosing a domain name is the first step in creating a website. It is the web address that users will type in to access your website, so it should be memorable, easy to spell, and related to your brand. The domain name should also be unique and not too similar to competitors’ domain names. The importance of choosing the right domain name cannot be overstated, as it plays a significant role in branding, marketing, and search engine optimization (SEO).
A poorly chosen domain name can make it difficult for users to remember and find your website, leading to lost traffic and potential revenue. A digital agency can assist in choosing the right domain name by conducting market research and competitor analysis. They can also suggest domain names that align with your brand, and are SEO-friendly.
Which Platform To Use?
As a business owner, choosing the right CMS for your website is crucial. It determines how your website performs and how easy it is to manage. Different platforms will suit different business needs and there is no one size fits all solution. The first consideration is if you are offering products or services or a mix of both as there are several platforms specifically geared towards e-commerce that will make it easier to maximise product sales. There are also other platforms better suited to sites offering a service.
A successful online presence starts with the right CMS, it is the foundation of your online business, make sure to choose one that offers the functionality and flexibility you need to thrive in the digital world. Revelate works with a range of the most popular and effective platforms and can advise you on the best option for your business.
Website Design
When looking at options to design your website the most important factor is your desired audience. They are the people that will be using your site and judging your company based on it. It’s important to present your company and website in a way that makes sense to the customer and inspires trust in you. A bright and colourful website with cheerful animation would be perfect for a children’s creche but would obviously be very unsuitable for a corporate solicitor.
A good website design is a combination of your unique brand, customer expectations and our advice based on what we know works from our experience and research. A good place to start your research is to look at companies in similar industries both here and abroad that have had success online to get some ideas of what you would like.
Hosting Options
A reliable hosting company is key as it will avoid all manner of problems down the road. Ideally you are looking for a host that can offer a service that has consistent uptime and will have a proper backup/fall over service that will kick in when necessary.
It’s also important that the host can supply a server that is fast and powerful enough to cope with the demands of your customers traffic. A slow server will mean that your website will always loads slowly, frustrating your customers. Different types of sites require different set ups so it’s important to consider you’re own sites needs when picking a hosting package.
We have 2 regular hosting companies we work with that can guarantee the level of service you need to be successful.
Website Security
SSL Certificates
SSL encryption is a crucial security measure that ensures that the data exchanged between your website and your users is secure. SSL creates a secure, encrypted connection between your website and your users’ browsers, ensuring that any sensitive information, such as credit card details or personal data, is transmitted securely. SSL encryption is often identified by the “https” at the beginning of a website’s URL, and it’s essential for any website that handles sensitive information. It is a part of GDPR that all websites that handle any customer information have SSL protection and most payment processors won’t work with a website that does not have SSL.
Content Delivery Network
A Content Delivery Network (CDN) is a network of servers located all over the world that work together to deliver website content to users quickly and efficiently. By distributing your website’s content across multiple servers, a CDN helps to reduce the risk of cyber attacks and increases website speed and performance. Essentially, a CDN acts as a buffer between your website and potential attackers, making it much harder for them to breach your website’s security. It blocks brute force attacks against your site and most offer a firewall to prevent attacks.
Regular Updates
Another essential way to protect your website is to regularly update your CMS, plugins, and other software. Hackers are always looking for vulnerabilities in software, and outdated software can leave your website at risk. By regularly updating your website’s software, you’ll ensure that any security flaws are patched, and your website is protected against known vulnerabilities. Revelate can ensure that security vulnerabilities are patched out or provide hot fixes if there are no official patches available. Additionally, be sure to use strong passwords and two-factor authentication, and limit access to sensitive areas of your website to only trusted users. By taking these measures, you’ll significantly reduce the risk of cyber attacks and keep your website secure.
Content Strategy
Basic Content
There a few key parts required for any website which need to be supplied by the client:
- Company logo
- Product images / descriptions
- Reviews
- Photo of the business location
- About Us information
- Customer reviews / testimonials
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Service descriptions
- Pricing information
- Returns policy
- Delivery prices
- Contact information
Having a plan to get these essential elements together early can speed up the development of your website and enable us to launch your website sooner.
Research
To create content that resonates with your audience, you need to understand their needs, preferences, and pain points. Conducting market research, analyzing competitors’ content, and gathering feedback from your target audience can all help you better understand what kind of content will engage and motivate your audience.
Once you understand your audience, it’s time to start creating a content strategy. How you focus your content, what type of media you use and how you deliver it all make a huge difference in making your strategy a success. Your content should be informative, helpful, and engaging, and it should be tailored to your audience’s preferences and behaviors.
Excellent Execution
Project Scope
A clear project scope is an essential element of a successful web development project. It sets the foundation for what the website will accomplish, defines its features and functionalities, and establishes the project’s timeline and budget. With a well-defined scope, the project team can better align their efforts, prioritize tasks, and avoid scope creep, ensuring that the final product meets the client’s needs and expectations.
Roadmap to Success
When you deal with Revelate, or any other design agency, it’s important to agree a roadmap for the project ahead. It outlines the key milestones, tasks, and deadlines for the project, ensuring that the team stays on track and can quickly address any issues that arise. A roadmap also provides a clear communication tool between the project team and the client, helping them to manage expectations and keep the project moving forward.
Client Feedback
Feedback is critical to the success of a web development project, as it allows for iterative improvements based on user and client input. By collecting feedback at various stages of the project, the development team can make informed decisions that align with the project’s goals and the client’s needs. Feedback can come from a variety of sources, including user testing, surveys, and stakeholder meetings, and should be incorporated into the project roadmap to ensure that it is addressed appropriately.
After Launch
After the website launches, Revelate can support the site in a variety of ways. These include providing ongoing maintenance and support, updating content and features, and improving the website’s search engine optimization (SEO). We can also provide analytics and reporting to track website performance, identifying areas for improvement and optimizing user experiences. This is how we can ensure that their website remains relevant, up-to-date, and competitive in an ever-changing digital landscape.
