4 Key Factors to Consider before Setting up a Website for Your Business

Have you thought of these 4 elements for your business website?

The internet has precipitated sweeping changes across cultures and redefined how we socialize, communicate, learn and most importantly, how we do business. With the number of people accessing the internet on a daily basis ever increasing, the need for any business to have an online presence has never been greater. If you are in the process of setting up a website for your business, there are several factors that you should mull over. Here are a few to get you started.

Domain Name

Choosing a domain name may seem straightforward but it can be more complicated than you realize.  Millions of domain name have already been registered and there is every chance that the name of your choice name is on that list. If it’s taken, you may have to adjust it to avoid confusion and potential lawsuits. As you do this, always keep in mind that your domain is your business brand. Therefore, your brand should be reflected on the domain. As a rule of thumb, keep the name short to make it memorable. Avoid using hyphens. They can be counterproductive. If possible always use a .com top-level domain (TLD).

Web hosting

The secret to selecting the right web hosting package lies in understanding your specific hosting needs. Ask yourself, what do you want to achieve through it? For instance, if you are building an ecommerce website where you will accept card payment, store and process confidential customer data, you must host your website on a PCI compliant server. For a simple website, you may have to choose between shared hosting and a managed hosting like WordPress hosting. Once you have figured out the right hosting package, investigate host reliability. Your website is only as good as its host. Keep away from hosting providers who cannot guarantee uptime.

Web Security

Web security is critical, especially if you are to run an ecommerce business. Statistics show a clear pattern that financial gain is the primary driving force for most hacking activities. With hackers getting better with time, everyone is at risk. Most probably, it’s only a matter of when, and not if, an attempt is made on your site. Better cover your bases before that happens.

As a bare minimum, consider purchasing an SSL certificate. There are several types of SSL certificates in the market. In general, the nature of your business should dictate the level of encryption to install. For example, the extended validation (EV) SSL has the highest level of encryption and also verifies the identity of the owner. Also, consider putting up multiple layers of security. The more the number of walls hackers has to breach, the more futile their mission becomes.

Content

Digital content marketing has redefined advertizing and completely altered how businesses reach out to their customers. It has proved to be a potent tool to build a brand, build a customer base and generate leads. Therefore, any business that seeks to stand out in a crowded online space has to develop a content marketing strategy. It will be wise to think about, and even develop a content marketing strategy before your website is online. Do your research and plan to employ as many strategies as you can find out there. Building quality links is a good way of improving search engine rankings. However, avoid linking or mentioning competitors.

In summary, this is not an exhaustive list. There are other factors to consider that may be equally important. However, these four constitutes a solid foundation that must be laid right of the bat before anything is built on it.

Thanks to Steve Caddick for sharing their advice and opinions in this post.Steve Caddick is the owner of Web World Promotion. He has more than seven years’ experience in Web design and digital marketing. You can connect with Steve on LinkedIn.