The Ultimate Guide to Website Building and Hosting for Small Businesses

Having a website is an essential part of doing business in the digital age, as it gives customers a way to interact with your company and learn more about what you offer. And since 97% of consumers conduct research online before visiting a local business or service area, having a website could be the difference between your ideal customers knowing you exist or not. 

But with so many options available, it can be difficult to decide how to build and host your website. This guide will provide an overview of website hosting, popular hosting solutions, and tips for developing an effective small business website. 

Website Hosting Basics

First things first, what is website hosting? Website hosting is essentially like “renting” space on a server for your website. When someone visits your domain name (like www.yourwebsite.com), they are connected to that server which contains all the content from your website, such as text, images, videos, etc.). Without hosting, no one would be able to access any of the information or pages that you’ve created on your site. The host is responsible for keeping all this information accessible at all times and providing technical support if needed. 

Next, let’s talk about the costs. We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again: Having a small business website doesn’t need to deplete your budget. Hosting your website can cost as little as a few dollars per month or as much as hundreds of dollars per month. It all comes down to your specific needs. If you want a simple website with a couple of pages and minimal content, you’re probably looking at minimal costs. If you plan to have a feature-rich site full of videos and other content, you may be looking at a slightly bigger investment. 

Choosing a Hosting Provider

When choosing a hosting provider, there are several important factors to consider. Here are a few tips: 

1. Explore your options. As with any big decision, don’t just choose the first option you find. Make sure to explore your options so you feel confident that you’re making the right choice. You might consider making a features checklist or a pros and cons list to compare different hosts. 
2. Be sure to ask about uptime guarantees and backup services in case something happens to your site’s data. Additionally, speed, reliability, and customer support should impact your decision.   
3. Consider your storage needs. Depending on your vision for your website, you may need a little or a lot of storage space for the different files you plan to upload. If you think you’ll need a lot of storage and want peace of mind, it might be worth considering an unlimited storage plan. 

Popular Website Hosting Platforms

Now, let’s talk about your options.

One of the most popular web hosting solutions is WordPress—this content management system (CMS) makes it easy for users to create beautiful websites without having any technical knowledge or coding experience. 

Other platforms like Wix or Squarespace allow users to create websites through drag-and-drop functionality, which requires minimal effort and skill levels; however, these services tend not to be suitable for larger businesses with high traffic or eCommerce needs. 

For those who want full control over their websites’ design and features, they may opt for self-hosted solutions like Joomla or Drupal—these open-source CMSs require some technical know-how but give users full control over their websites’ look and feel as well as what content they can show visitors. Keep in mind, you’ll need some technical skills if you decide to go this route. 

Finally, businesses looking for comprehensive cloud-based solutions may choose from various third-party providers such as Amazon Web Services (AWS), Microsoft Azure, or Google Cloud Platform (GCP). 

8 Tips for Building an Effective Small Business Website 

Getting your website up and running is just the first step. If you want to create an online presence that keeps people coming back for more, it’s important to optimize your site. Luckily, creating an effective small business website doesn’t have to be overly complicated—here are some simple tips you can use. 

1. Prioritize page speed. The modern customer cares about speed—a site that loads quickly is key if you want visitors to stay on your site longer. If your site takes more than a few seconds to load, your web visitors might just run to your competitors instead. 
2. Use visuals. Images help give customers an idea of what they’ll find on your site while videos add another level of engagement. Photos, illustrations, and videos will help grab people’s attention. 
3. Use clear headings. Make sure each page has a logical heading structure so visitors know where they are in relation to other pages. Include clear calls to action throughout your site so visitors know what their next step should be. Clear content helps people understand the value your business offers, which makes them more likely to purchase from you.   
4. Improve navigation. Your website should make it easy for people to find the information they’re looking for. No one likes an overwhelming maze of information. Make sure visitors can easily navigate between different sections of your website
5. Keep search engines in mind. Ensure all text on the site uses appropriate keywords so search engines can easily index everything and you show up when your ideal customers search for you.   
6. Incorporate social media. Your online presence is more than just your website. Try to integrate social media buttons into each page so visitors can become a part of your online community and quickly share your posts or products with their friends and families.    
7. Showcase customer reviews or testimonials throughout the site as social proof that others have been satisfied with using your product or service. People are more likely to do business with you if they see raving reviews from happy customers. 
8. Don’t forget about mobile optimization. Many of your website visitors will find you on their mobile devices, so make sure your site looks great across all devices. 

Build a 5-Star Online Reputation

Building a successful small business website isn’t as daunting as it might seem—with proper planning and research into web hosting providers and platforms, anyone should be able to create an engaging online presence that helps bring customers closer. When done correctly, having a sound online presence via a quality website will help increase visibility among potential customers while providing them with the information they need about what services or products you offer. 

Podium helps local businesses modernize their communications, improve their online reputation, connect with customers, and more. Ready to get started? Sign up for a free, no-strings-attached 14-day trial here.