9 Things To Know Before You Build a Website for Your Business

If you’re a new small business owner ready to get your brand out into the world, a big step toward making your business findable online is to FINALLY get your website launched! Getting ready to build your website can feel like a massive undertaking - so take a breath - you don’t need to know everything right away. But you do need to understand a few foundational pieces that will save you time, money, and frustration as you design (or DIY) your home on the internet.

Is Building a Website Easy?

For me? Yes. :) That’s why I do it for a living.And while there’s no real “build a website easy” magic button, it can feel easier for you once you are equipped with the right information and can make the right decisions the first time.

There’s nothing worse than going all in on a web design plan only to find out that the final product isn’t functional for your business; or worse, that you hate the look, the feel, and everything about it.

Lucky for you, there are many different options when it comes to building your website. You can hire a designer like me (which is probably the easiest route). You can buy a template and customize it yourself. Or you can DIY it from scratch - which is not recommended, but always an option.

Here are 9 important things I wish every entrepreneur knew before diving into website building.

The Uses of a Website Go Beyond “Having an Online Presence”

Your website has many uses - and one of the most important uses of a website is giving people a reliable place to learn who you are and how you can help them.

It’s not just a digital business card, although that analogy is helpful. In this age of social media, many people still believe that having an Instagram profile with a link in bio is enough to sell their services or products. But it’s important to understand that while yes, many people will find you through social media, especially if you have a great content strategy - when someone discovers you on Instagram, it’s like they just ran into you at a party for the first time.

Before they ever give you money, they will want to know :

• Who you really are

• Whether you’re legitimate

• If other people are saying good things about you

All of that information should live on your website.

And because not everyone is on social media (and algorithms definitely don’t help you get people off the platform), having a website you own is essential. It’s where you can drive organic Google traffic, educate potential clients, showcase your portfolio, and publish long-form content like blogs.

Your website is the headquarters of your brand - and its final job is to guide a visitor toward taking action: booking, buying, or reaching out.

What Does It Cost to Build a Website?

This is one of the most common questions people bring to my design consult calls. And if you’re just starting out, I’m going to guess your budget isn’t massive.

When planning your build a website cost, here’s what to consider:

• Designer fees (anywhere from $500 to five figures)

• Domain name (annual cost)

• Hosting (monthly or yearly)

• Templates, apps, plugins, or integrations

• Email marketing tools

• E-commerce or digital product add-ons

  
  

The days of $20K+ custom-built websites are gone (thank goodness). Technology now makes web design more efficient and more affordable - while still producing high-quality, professional sites.

What About Platforms? Should You Build a Website on Wix? Showit? Shopify? Or Something Else?

There are many CMS (Content Management System) options available. The most common beginner-friendly platforms include:

• Wix

• Shopify

• Squarespace

  
  

And even my favourite - Showit.

What I love about these platforms is that DIY updates are easy. You can hire a designer to set it up and then maintain it yourself; which is what I typically do with most of my clients. Many small business owners choose to build a website on Wix because it offers drag-and-drop design, built-in email marketing, blogging, and online course capabilities at a lower cost than many other platforms.

Each platform has its pros and cons, and the best one depends on your business model and long-term vision.

It’s Important to Know the Fundamentals of Web Page Design

Before you DIY your site, familiarize yourself with the fundamentals of webpage design, including:

• Color theory + contrast

• Use of white space

• Simple navigation

• Mobile responsiveness

• Clear hierarchy

• User-friendly layout

A big part of this process is understanding your website’s goals. Is your priority:

• Getting people to read your blog?

• Encouraging email sign-ups?

• Providing quick access to your services?

Design with your target audience’s needs in mind, and keep things simple. Your homepage, especially, is not where people convert — it is where they choose where to go next.

Whether you’ve decided to DIY your website, it’s important to know what type of content you’ll need to populate the template you choose. You can download my free copy guide, where I walk you through much of this. 

A Gentle Reminder About Your Homepage

Your homepage should introduce your brand and lead visitors toward the next step — About page, Services page, Podcast, Blog, or Email Opt-In.

Why a Blog Is Still Your Best Website Blog Strategy

A blog is your best website blog strategy for long-term SEO and discoverability.

With AI shifting how search results appear, Google values:

• Conversational, natural language

• Expertise and experience

• Helpful, human-led content

Blogging shows your authority, builds trust, and helps you answer questions your audience is actively Googling. I’ve been blogging since 2012 and can say confidently — it still works. 

Having a blog strategy in place can be super helpful for product-based businesses too as having a medium where you can speak to the benefits, integration and highlights for each of your products is a great way to educate your audience and invite them to go deeper into your brand.

What You Need to Know Before You Build a Website for E-Commerce

Before building your website e-commerce setup, know that selling products online requires more planning than a simple service website.

You’ll need:

• Individual product pages

• A secure checkout flow

• Shipping + tax setup

• Payment processing

• Refund / return policies

• Product photos and descriptions

• Inventory or fulfillment tools

Choose a platform with built-in e-commerce tools (Wix and Shopify are very popular). Don’t piece-together payment systems and email automation manually - it leads to headaches later.

Why Your Mobile Website View Matters More Than You Think

We are living in a mobile-first world! Not only are most people accessing your website on their phones, Google now crawls the mobile view of your website before the desktop version. This means:

• Your mobile layout affects your SEO

• Your mobile menu must be easy to navigate

• Your images must be optimized

• Your buttons must be large and clear

When you build your website, design with mobile first, not last.

How Do I Build a Website From Scratch?

If you’ve been searching how to build website from scratch, here’s your step-by-step:

1. Map out all the pages you need

2. Choose the CMS or platform

3. Write your website copy

4. Add imagery + branding

5. Build the layout

6. Test on mobile

7. Publish + optimize

And if at any point these decisions feel overwhelming - that’s literally what I’m here for!

Next Steps: Ready to Build a Website that Converts?

You don’t need to be a designer or developer to have a website that works. You need structure, strategy, and clarity about your client’s journey.

Download my FREE resources:

👉 Ready to start planning out your website content? Download My Free Website Copy Guide👉  Got a Website you're not sure about? Book a Free Website Audit

You can also listen to this blog as a podcast! Check out my show, "Analog Girls, Digital World" here: