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8 Actionable Tips For Launching Your Startup’s Website

2022-01-19by Juliette Anderson

Launching a startup might be a dream come true for you. However, it requires being prepared for the challenges that might come your way. After all, running a business is not for the faint of heart.

 

According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, about 20% of businesses fail during the first two years. One of the culprits is not establishing their online presence.

 

If you want your business to succeed, you need to make the most of the Internet. This is where having a robust business website can be helpful.

 

That said, we have listed eight actionable tips that you can follow to launch your startup website:

1. Plan your website

The very first step that you need to go through before launching your site and going live is planning.

 

This requires researching your competitors, identifying your target market, and developing a content strategy. Planning your website also includes learning about the latest technologies in web development and design, digital marketing, and more.

2. Choose your domain name

The next step you should take is choosing a domain name. Although this might sound relatively simple, this is important. That's because your domain name is often the very first thing that people will hear or see on your site.

 

That's why you must choose a domain name connected with your business.

 

Most startup owners make the mistake of choosing the wrong domain name. Choosing something unrelated to your business, brand, or the specific industry you're in can cause a lot of confusion and might even affect your performance in the long run.

 

Remember that the domain you use should identify your business and clients worldwide.

 

Here are some tips:

 

  • Go for short domain names. The easier it is to type, the easier it is to remember.
  • Your domain name should influence how users refer to the site you created.
  • It should catch the attention of a prospect.
  • It should contain relevant keywords. The closer your domain name is to the niche of your business, the more effective your SEO efforts will be.
  • It would help if you didn't infringe any copyrights with your domain name. Otherwise, you can land in deep trouble.
  • It should be 100% unique.


3. Decide on the hosting plan

You should also decide on a specific type of hosting plan that you want to be in. Ideally, you should choose a web host plan that you think will best suit your startup's website needs.

 

Here are the different types of website hosting:

 

  • Free hosting is becoming common lately.
  • Shared hosting is a cost-effective and more popular option, especially for small business owners.
  • Virtual Dedicated Servers (aka Virtual Private Server) is considered an upgrade from shared hosting in cost and quality.
  • Dedicated hosting plans are where a site owner rents a whole server for themselves. Doing so provides flexibility and security.


4. Select a content management system

A Content Management System (CMS) is specifically designed to simplify web content production. With the help of a CMS, you can now publish a blog post even if you don't know how to code.

 

It also allows you to build various web pages and customize their design based on your startup's branding strategy. A CMS also provides you with a platform to manage your videos, images, and other media types.

 

Today's most popular CMS in the market are WordPress, Shopify, and Squarespace. Ideally, you should pick a CMS that best fits your business's needs and specifics that will allow you to make an informed decision.


5. Consider the design and usability

A great website design builds user trust. Having a functional design will ensure that people will find the right content or information that they're searching for.

 

Now, think about how you can streamline the sales process on your website. Think about how you can use your website to capture new leads from potential customers.

 

Ideally, you should:

 

  • Create usable site navigation placed consistently on every page. You should also place sticky navigation that always stays on the page.
  • Try to avoid using flash programming to take away your customer's attention from your most important content.
  • Come up with a sitemap or a representation of the architecture of your site.


6. Develop a content marketing strategy

It doesn't matter whether your site contains images, texts, or videos, make sure that the content is relevant to your business.

 

Ideally, you need to develop high-quality content that will reflect your brand and convey the right message.

 

You wouldn't want your content to misrepresent you or your startup. Otherwise, your website will have high bounce rates that can lead to a loss of revenue.

 

So, if you're selling software, make sure that you're not talking abstractly to users but explaining to them what the software does. Your goal is to sell them the software that they need, and that's exactly what they came for in the first place.


7. Optimize for mobile

According to Business Insider, the number of people using mobile devices has outpaced people using desktops in 2014.

 

That's why when building a site, always think mobile-first. This means ensuring that your website and content are accessible on smaller screens.

 

For the desktop version of your site, you might consider adding more to the overall experience. You might want to throw stunning imagery, more whitespace, and credibility. The important thing is to be creative. You have more space to be creative in the desktop version of your site.


8. Test everything

Finally, before you launch, make sure that you test everything.

 

  • Check the links. Ensure that all the hyperlinks, both internal and external, are working.
  • See how your site looks in different browsers.
  • Do a speed test.
  • Make sure that contact forms work.
  • Proofread your site. Ensure that you show it to trusted friends or co-workers before it goes live, take in a couple of suggestions, and review everything.

 

The secret to running a successful startup is planning. This includes ensuring that you establish your business's presence online and offline. That way, your target market would know that products and services exist.

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Author

Juliette Anderson

Juliette Anderson

Juliette Anderson is an Outreach Community Specialist for an e-commerce fulfillment company that specializes in partnering with online sellers who have an average parcel weight of 5+ pounds or greater. She works hand-in-hand with e-commerce stores to achieve optimal sales for four years already. Her specialty lies in social media marketing and paid promotions.

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