A website development guide for small businesses helps you organise your thoughts before starting a project. Not by focusing on design colours or a pretty button, but by asking what the website needs to do for your business. One business might need more enquiries. Another might need a clearer presentation of its services. A third might need a place where customers can take their time to check prices, processes and examples before getting in touch.
People want to know where to start, how much it might cost and how not to get lost amongst all the options. This guide brings together the main topics into a single pathway, so you don’t have to read through them at random.
The first step is the goal
Before choosing a design, platform or features, it is worth defining the purpose of the website. If the purpose is unclear, it is easy to end up with elements that look nice but do not work. This is discussed in more detail in the article how to clarify the website’s objectives.
For a small business, a few clear answers are usually enough. What do you offer, who is it for, why can people trust you, roughly how much does it cost, and what should the customer do next? If these answers are missing, even a more expensive website can come across as weak.
The price depends on the clarity
Website development is often judged by the final cost, but it is the preparation that has the greatest impact on the outcome. If the text, services, images and structure are prepared in advance, the project progresses more quickly. If everything has to be worked out as we go along, the price may rise. It’s worth starting with this article to understand the logic behind pricing how much a website costs.
The choice between a template and a bespoke solution also affects the price. If you just need a decent start, a template might be a sensible option. If the website is to actively sell products, collect enquiries or highlight several services, it’s worth reading whether to choose a template or a bespoke design.
- Make sure you have a list of services before you start
- Decide who will approve the text and design
- Put the necessary pages together in advance
- distinguish between essential functions and those you may want later
Content must be tailored to the individual
A business website shouldn’t just be a pretty showcase. It needs to explain things clearly. If a customer doesn’t understand a service, price or process, they often neither ask questions nor wait around. They simply leave. That’s why it’s worth preparing your content – this is discussed in more detail in the article how to prepare content for a website.
Website design starts with the pages, but it doesn’t end with the menu. You need to understand where a visitor comes from, what they read and what the next logical step for them is. Here’s a useful article on website structure planning.
It is important for small businesses not to overdo it
A common mistake is trying to create everything at once: a large number of pages, complex animations, and lots of features that nobody will use just yet. It’s better to start with a clear foundation and leave room for growth. For a small business, a website should be easy to maintain, rather than becoming yet another daunting task.
Before you start, it’s worth reading and What you need to know before commissioning a website. There’s more there about preparation, decision-making and the issues that most commonly cause delays during a project.
- Start with the most important services
- Don’t create pages just for the sake of it
- Get your photos and draft texts ready
- Leave room for SEO articles and future expansion
If this topic is relevant, it is worth moving on to How much does a website cost?. Alongside this topic, it’s also worth taking a look at What should you know before commissioning a website?.
When is it worth starting with a simpler solution?
Not every situation requires a large website from day one. If a business is still testing its service, doesn’t have much content, or wants to start communicating quickly, a simpler solution may be the sensible choice. The important thing is not to pretend that this is the final version for all time. Such a start must have clear boundaries and room to grow.
For example, a small service-based business might start with a home page, a few service descriptions, a pricing structure and a few articles. Later on, you can add case studies, frequently asked questions, new services or more extensive SEO content. This way, website development becomes a phased process rather than a single big leap.
- whilst the service direction is still being checked
- when your budget is limited but you need to get off to a good start
- when there isn’t much content yet
- when it’s important to have a clear online presence quickly
How website planning reduces the need for subsequent amendments
Website planning often seems like an extra step, but in reality it saves time. If, before the design phase, it is clear which pages will be included, what information they need to contain and what the visitor is expected to do, fewer decisions will need to be changed as the project progresses.
It is worth distinguishing between two types of budget here. One is financial, the other is in terms of time and effort. Even if the price of a website seems reasonable, the project may end up costing more over time if there is a lack of solutions, content or approvals. The question of price often masks a very practical need: how to prepare properly so that you don’t end up paying for the same work twice.
- Number the pages before starting the design
- prepare at least a rough outline of the texts in advance
- decide who has the final say on decisions
- distinguish between the functions of the first stage and ideas for the future
What this guide should help you decide
This guide is not intended to convince you that everyone needs the same solution. Its aim is to help you understand what type of website would currently be beneficial for your business. A business website can serve as a simple online presence, a channel for enquiries, a content repository, a catalogue or a sales platform. The structure, content and budget all depend on this choice.
If, after reading this, it is at least clear what not to do in the first stage, the article has already done part of the job. Sometimes the best solution is not to add more, but to clearly do away with the excess.
If you’d like to work out what sort of website would actually be useful for your business, please get in touch. We can take a calm, measured look at your objectives, the scope of the project and the first stage, without any unnecessary solutions.