How to Create a Business Website From Scratch

Every small business needs a website – but building one is easier said than done. Or, is it? 

I’m not saying it’s a walk in the park, but creating a website for your business is easier than you think. Once you get the backend set up (domain name, web hosting, etc.), you can construct a site with drag-and-drop builders and other tools that make website development a breeze. You don’t need to learn how to code; you just need the right tools and some free time to get started. 

And that’s what we’ll do here. In this post, I’ll teach you how to create a business website using the steps I used to build my own site. We’ll discuss domain names, sitemaps, and other technical things you’ll need to create a professional-looking site for your business. Let’s get started. 

How to Create a Business Website

Here’s how to create a business website in 12 simple steps. 

1. Choose a web builder.

I built my website in about three days, but it would have taken much longer had I not used a website builder.

Website builders help you design websites. They have tools that guide you through the setup, and there are templates you can customize for your business. These platforms remove coding and technical expertise from the equation and save you time by providing pre-built pages ready to publish on your site.

Tip: Thryv’s website builder can help you launch a website in 10 minutes or less. 

Here’s what I look for in a website builder: 

• Drag-and-Drop Builder: Drag-and-drop builders are easy to use because you don’t have to code new elements into your website. If you want to add an image, simply click and drag it onto your landing page. They’re fast, efficient, and easy to use. 
• Pre-Built Templates: Pre-built website templates save you time designing your site. These templates do most of the heavy lifting for you. You just have to add your branding, logos, and other information about your business into the customizable template. 
• No-Code Customization: If you want to customize your website even more, your website builder should have options to edit your templates. Making changes should be easy and not involve code. 
• Lead Generation: The point of having a website is to attract customers. This is called lead generation, or the process of attracting interested buyers to your business. Your website builder should have forms, buttons, and other features to collect customer information.
• SEO Tools: Optimizing your website for search engines will attract more visitors. SEO helps you get discovered on sites like Google and Bing. A good website builder will have tools to help you rank higher on search engines.
• Security Features: Website security is very important for small businesses. These features keep your customer information safe from hackers and internet criminals. When someone completes a form on your site, you should be confident that their information is secure and not being sent anywhere else. 
• Business Software: Your website should be connected to your other business tools, such as your CRM, email software, and customer communication channels. When someone engages with your site, it should be tracked in your business management platform. 
• Real-Time Reporting: It’s hard to improve your website if you don’t track its performance. Real-time reporting lets you know how many people have visited your site, where they came from, what they engaged with, etc.

2. Register your domain name. 

Your domain name is the name of your website. In a URL, it’s the part after the “www” and before the “.com” (or .gov, .edu, etc.). 

To start a website, you need to register your domain name. Domain registrars like GoDaddy and Bluehost sell and manage domains. In other words, these companies help you create a web address for your business (or URL) and ensure no one else uses your website name. 

You must periodically renew your domain name. This ensures that you maintain ownership of your site and it stays online. 

Most domain registrars will also sell SSL (Secure Socket Layer) certificates. Without getting too technical, this feature protects sensitive information like passwords, credit cards, and personal data from being stolen on your site. You’ll need an SSL certificate if you want to accept online payments and increase the trustworthiness of your website. 

3. Get a web hosting plan. 

In addition to a domain name, you’ll also need web hosting. Web hosting stores your website data on a web server. A web server is a system that delivers data to other computers. For example, when you visit a website, a web server processes your request and provides the data for that website. 

Without a web hosting plan, your website data isn’t accessible online. The website will only exist on your computer – you need a web server to share it with others. 

Some domain registrars will provide web hosting plans. There are also cloud storage systems you can use instead. Choose a provider that best suits your business needs. 

A basic plan should work if your website is small and doesn’t get much traffic. If you have a larger site or plan on using ecommerce, you might look for a web hosting provider with features for these specific needs.

4. Connect your business software. 

If your website builder doesn’t provide business tools, you should connect yours manually. Your business management software must be synced with your website. That way, when people visit your pages, their actions are recorded in your CRM and sales tools. That information improves your marketing campaigns and helps you create effective deals. 

For instance, if customers abandon their carts, your CRM will flag this activity for you. Then, you can use email software to send discounts to people based on the products they’ve viewed. These offers are much more effective because you know customers are interested in these products.

If you’re using a website builder (like WordPress) that doesn’t have business management tools, you’ll need to use integrations to connect your software. Integrations connect software together so information flows freely between your CRM, email, and other business tools. 

For example, let’s say we build our site on WordPress but use Thryv for our CRM and MailChimp for email marketing. Integrations would connect these tools so that when someone fills out a form on our site, their information is sent to our CRM and email automation software so we can follow up with this customer. We don’t have to manually add data to each app, which is tedious and time-consuming.

5. Map out your site.

Before you start designing, you should map out what your site will look like. This is where you determine how many pages it will have, how the navigational menu will work, and what links will be featured on your homepage. 

Outlining this in advance is important because it saves you time and makes your site more user-friendly. Customers should easily find what they’re looking for, and there should be direct links to your most visited pages, such as your homepage, product pages, and customer support resources. 

It might help to create a flowchart like this one:

I used a chart like this to map my navigational menu and website pages. Notice how the homepage is at the top, the supporting pages are below it, and there are links to other related pages. With this chart, I know that my navigational menu should include five options (Blog, About, Donate, Map, Gallery), and those supporting pages will link to other parts of my site (About Me, Blog Posts, Map Updates). 

Tip: Your navigational (or nav) menu is a series of links to popular areas of your site. It’s usually featured at the top of your website pages and looks something like this: 

6. Pick a website design. 

At this point – you’re ready to rock. Your website builder is set up, your domain name is registered, and your web pages are all mapped out. 

Here’s where it gets fun. You get to pick your website design, including its look, layout, and features to promote your products and services. You can do this all from scratch or use one of the pre-built templates provided. 

This is a great time to consider things like color schemes and text fonts. Your site design should be consistent and look the same throughout each page. While the format may differ, colors and fonts should stay the same. You don’t want people thinking they’ve left your site when they click on another page. 

If your website builder doesn’t provide templates, you can download them for free from sites like this one. Keep in mind that your drag-and-drop builder may not support these templates, and they may be harder to customize for your business.

7. Build your core website pages.

I recommend starting with your home page because most people will see it when they visit your site. In fact, some businesses only have a home page and promote all of their products and services with a one-page site. Your home page will make a first impression on many customers, so it should be clean, professional, and easy to navigate.

Once your homepage is ready, move on to other site pages. Depending on what you sell, those might be your product pages or service locations. Your site may also include a blog, company pages, and customer support resources like a knowledge base or community forum.

Here are some common types of web pages that small businesses might have: 

• About Us
• Product/Service Pages
• Service Locations
• Appointment-Booking Pages
• Customer Testimonials
• Blogs
• FAQ pages

This is why it’s important to create a map for your site. You’ll know exactly which pages to create and what should be on them. 

8. Optimize your website for SEO.

SEO can seem overwhelming, but it’s really just a fancy term that means your website is easily discovered on search engines like Google. In other words, when people search for your business, your website should appear at the top of those results. Customers shouldn’t have to scroll through SERPs or see other businesses appear in searches related to your brand.

For example, my website is called “Pedaling4Pups.” If I Google “Pedaling4Pups,” my site appears at the top of those results. 

It also appears when you Google terms like “Great Divide Gear List.”

I used SEO to rank at the top of these search results. People looking for my business (or topics related to it) will see my website when they Google these terms. 

How do you do this for your own business? Start with keyword research. Look for terms related to your brand or industry and optimize your site so search engines know you cover these topics. 

Tip: This post explains SEO in more detail. It’s worth a read if you’ve never built a website before. 

9. Add features that capture contact information.

The purpose of a business website is to increase sales. Whether direct or indirect, your site should teach people about your brand and get them interested in your products and services. 

If you’re selling online, great! Your online store and payment software should help do this. When customers enter their information, that data can improve your marketing strategies. You can follow up later with a new offer or send requests for reviews and testimonials.

If you don’t sell your products or services online, you should provide forms so people can contact you. For example, if I owned an HVAC business, I would include an appointment booking form so people could reserve a meeting with my business. I might also include a “request a quote” option so customers can see how much my services cost. 

By obtaining their contact information, your business can directly communicate with customers. You’ll create effective marketing campaigns based on their history with your business. These campaigns are more effective because they’re data-driven and appeal to specific customer preferences. 

10. Add your website to your online profiles. 

At this point, you should have a basic – but effective – website for your business. Now, it’s time to share it.

While people will naturally discover your site through search engines, you should share it on your online profiles, like social media, online listings, and customer review sites. Not only will that make your site easier to find, but it will improve SEO, too. 

You can also create an email newsletter for your website. Let all your customers know you’ve launched a new site for your business and share a link to your homepage. This creates a great opportunity to start a customer referral campaign. Ask people to share your site with others, and give them a small reward when new customers buy something or book an appointment through your site. That will keep existing customers engaged while attracting new buyers to your business.

11. Update your website often. 

The work doesn’t stop when you launch your website. You need to update it over time to keep people (and Google) interested in your business. 

Fortunately, your website is an excellent place to launch marketing campaigns. You can share new deals, promote your latest products, and provide updates about your company. This content will keep people engaged and give them a reason to return to your site. 

It will also signal to search engines that your website is active and constantly publishing new content. That helps you rank higher because Google sees you as a reliable resource for different topics. For example, if you’re a landscaping company and write a lot about lawn care, Google might show your site when people search for things like “how to care for my lawn” or “best lawn care tips.” 

This is called search engine marketing, and it’s one of the most effective ways that new customers discover local businesses. 

12. Measure your website’s performance.

Most business platforms have built-in reporting tools to measure your website. They’ll track things like visitors, clicks, and form submissions. They’ll also show you which pages are most popular and how people are discovering your website. 

If your software doesn’t have reporting features, you can use tools like Google Analytics and Google Search Console instead. These free resources monitor website performance and provide insights about your customer base. This data is incredibly valuable for updating your site over time.

Creating Your First Business Website

Websites are a digital home for your business. But, unlike building an actual home, you don’t need years of experience to create an effective site. The tips in this post will help you build a basic website for your company. Keep them handy as you navigate the web development process and improve your site over time. If you get stuck, check out the rest of our site for more tips, or consider hiring a web development service to fulfill your company’s needs.