Websites for your Business to Meet Your Unique Needs
I am a 90’s kid, so you can imagine how much technology has changed since the dial-up age. I have witnessed so much technology over the years, and one thing that has evolved is websites! We still need them, but the function has changed, the language has changed, how we utilize them has changed, and frankly behaviors have changed.
We hope with this conversation it will help you consider how to take an informed approach to websites for your business and keeping your consumers in mind. Much of what frightens business owners is that they don’t know where to start and they want to make the right choice. We hope to reassure you CAN make choices on your own and decide what’s best for YOU and your business. You don’t have it have it all figured out up front but you can phase in new versions of the site as your business grows. Think of it as Apple software updates coming, that number incrementally grows with each upgrade. Begin with 1.0 and move forward from there. We hope you will absorb some helpful tips and resources that you’ll takeaway from this conversation.
Heather DeVine and Heather Cox have 32 years combined of website experience! Eekkk..
Websites for your business
Ask yourself: what do I want my website to do for me?
- informative (list services, products, blog)
- e-commerce (sales – product or services)
- booking appointments (calendar dependent)
- donations (take ’em)
- build email marketing audience (sign-up forms)
- combo of needs
Shop for websites that may work for you/your business
- WordPress
- Squarespace
- Shopify
- Wix
Hey, Non-profits, did you know..
With your non-profit status you can get most platform access for FREE or heavily discounted!
- Google Workspace (FREE)
- Canva (FREE)
- Jotform (50% off)
- Grammarly (FREE)
Other things to consider in tandem with the website:
- SEO (Search engine optimization) – Keep in mind that search engines need to find you so you can gain traction with your #1 asset online, your website!
- Google listing (listing for your business)
- Social media (Instagram, Facebook, Linkedin, Twitter, Pinterest, TikTok)
- Lead generating forms
- Email Marketing (e-newletters are a huge way to communicate with our audience)
- Google Analytics (metrics to track activity on your website)
- Accessibility- Web content more accessible to individuals with disabilities (WAVE – audit for accessibility)
- Mobile friendly (a MUST – that’s how most visitors are utilizing to find you)
Platforms I LOVE:
- Google Workspace (Email, Sheets, Docs, Slides, Google Drive)
- Canva (graphic needs)
- Grammarly (great grammar tool that can catch errors in your writing)
- Asana (task manager)
- Unsplash, Adobe Stock (stock photos)
- Jotform (3rd party form management)
- Stripe (credit card processor)
- Wave Apps (bookkeeping application)
Some website takeaways:
- Your website is living and breathing, not just a one and done!
- Ease of use is everything! Clear CTA (call-to-action)
- Shop by demoing sites to make sure the needs you have are met (help centers with reps to walk you through questions)
- Word-of-mouth is powerful, ask your friends what they use
- Consider hiring creative agency’s help or a freelancer, we can’t do everything at a business owner
- One platform isn’t supposed to meet ALL your needs
- Look at reviews of platforms out there, I use Capterra.com
- Remember, your needs will shift and flex based on your business or organization
Co-moderators:
Heather DeVine w/ Transcend Ideas – Marketing and branding agency serving nonprofits and small businesses. (Jackson, WY)
Heather Cox w/ Heather Cox Codes – Website designer, SEO, and social media marketing. (Wilmington, DE) Watch her TEDx Talk (#RIPBossBabe)
