{"id":4539,"date":"2016-04-04T10:47:33","date_gmt":"2016-04-04T15:47:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.findlaw-admin.com\/ability-law\/smallbusiness\/business-operations\/build-a-business-website.html"},"modified":"2024-06-06T03:25:47","modified_gmt":"2024-06-06T08:25:47","slug":"build-a-business-website","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/smallbusiness\/business-operations\/build-a-business-website.html","title":{"rendered":"Make a Website for Your Business"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Make a Website for Your Business<\/h1>\n
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\n By Susan Buckner, J.D.<\/a> | Legally reviewed by Aviana Cooper, Esq.<\/a>\n | Last reviewed\n
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Editorial Note: We earn a commission from affiliate partner links on FindLaw. Commissions do not affect the editorial integrity of our legal content.<\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n \n

\n \n <\/i>\n Legally Reviewed\n <\/summary>\n\n
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This article has been written and reviewed for legal accuracy, clarity, and style by FindLaw\u2019s team of legal writers and attorneys<\/a> and in accordance with our editorial standards<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n\n

\n \n <\/i>\n Fact-Checked\n <\/summary>\n\n
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The last updated date refers to the last time this article was reviewed by FindLaw or one of our contributing authors<\/a>. We make every effort to keep our articles updated. For information regarding a specific legal issue affecting you, please contact an attorney in your area<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n<\/section>\n

Nearly every business today has some online presence. It may be an informational website that tells customers about products or services. Perhaps it’s an e-commerce site that lets customers buy products directly from the maker and pay for them securely. Social media pages let users and site owners interact with each other and possibly charge fees for the opportunity. Wherever there is a business, there is probably a website letting consumers know about it.<\/p>\r\n

Having a small-business website is no longer optional. What type of web presence should you have? What rules and regulations should you follow when creating a business website? Read on to learn how to optimize the internet for your business needs.<\/p>\r\n

Website Building 101<\/h2>\r\n

In the early days of the internet, companies’ websites were little more than online billboards. Small-business owners rushed to the nearest website developer and slapped their contact info on a webpage. They gave almost no thought to attracting new customers to the page. Free websites today provide similar services, with nothing more than a name and a street address or phone number.<\/p>\r\n

Things are much different now. You need to tailor your website’s design to your market. Your landing page (often called the homepage) must draw users further into the site. Search engine optimization (SEO) terms must conform with sophisticated algorithms used by Google and Bing. Before you start your own website, you should decide what you need your site to do.<\/p>\r\n

Identify Your Business Type<\/h3>\r\n

Do you sell a product, such as shoes or hair care products? Or are you in the service business, like being an attorney or a mechanic? Are you selling things that people must go to a physical store (perhaps your store) to buy, or can they order them from you online? Will you use an existing retail platform like Shopify, Squarespace, or Wix to help you handle transactions?<\/p>\r\n

The type of business you operate will define the website you need. A service site should be information-rich and contain one or more FAQ sections that aim to answer frequently asked questions. Product sites will need e-commerce features. Your business plan will help to define the type of website you create.<\/p>\r\n

Identify Your Website Goals<\/h3>\r\n

If you plan to use your business website to generate income, you need an e-commerce platform that gives customers a complete catalog of your products. E-commerce websites don’t need to be as complex as Amazon, but they must be user-friendly and guide customers easily through from the product to the purchase point.<\/p>\r\n

If your goal is attracting potential customers or clients to your business, your site must contain information to draw customers in. Web design for these sites usually includes contact forms and links to other pages on the site that customers may find helpful.<\/p>\r\n

And if you’re in the legal field, FindLaw can help you get the word out about your services as an attorney. At lawyermarketing.com<\/a>, you’ll find business development solutions that can be tailored to your practice. FindLaw aims to empower solo, small, and midsize law firms to successfully build their brands and connect with legal consumers to grow their practice.<\/p>\r\n

Domain Names<\/h3>\r\n

A domain name<\/a> is the key part of your website’s Universal Resource Locator (URL). When people talk about a web address of "www.something-or-other.com," the domain name is the "something-or-other" in the middle. The domain extension \u2014 .com, .net, .biz, .us, .org, etc.<\/a> \u2014 is also considered a part of the domain name. You need a domain name<\/a> that’s similar to your business name, reasonably short, and unique.<\/p>\r\n

You can search domain names at the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers <\/a>(ICANN). If your proposed domain name already exists, you must think of another. Things to avoid with your domain name:<\/p>\r\n