If you’re a small business, you need a website. There’s just no way around it. I like to think of a website as your online storefront — and if you’re an ecommerce company, it is your storefront.
For business owners who provide services (myself included!), a website is a great place to showcase your portfolio, show off your personality, and reach your ideal client. And for other small businesses, it can be a great place to connect with your audience outside of social media.
Whether you use your website as a portfolio, a storefront, or a place to share news with your audience, it pays to have a dedicated space online to call your own. In this post, we’ll go over how to set up a website for your small business. Plus, I’ll give you tips on how to create a website without coding experience.
Table of Contents
- Can You Build a Website Without a Coding Background?
- When Should You Hire a Web Developer?
- How to Set Up a Website for Your Small Business
- No-Code Tools to Help You Build a Website
Can You Build a Website Without a Coding Background?
I know what you’re thinking: Setting up a website requires tons of coding skills. While it’s true you can build your own website from scratch, you don’t need a coding background to launch your site. And I, for one, am thankful.
Plenty of options exist for people who do not know how to code and want to set up a website. You can use free online tools, like a drop-and-drop website builder, to create your site. Or, purchase a template, upload it to your hosting platform, and fill it in with your copy.
In most cases, setting up a website is painless, especially if you want to keep it simple. The hardest part is choosing which template you want to use.
HubSpot's Free Website Builder
Create and customize your own business website with an easy drag-and-drop website builder.
- Build a website without any coding skills.
- Pre-built themes and templates.
- Built-in marketing tools and features.
- And more!
When Should You Hire a Web Developer?
There are some instances, though, where you might want to work with a web developer to design and set up your website. For example, if you want a 3D animated website and you don’t have the skills to create or code animation, working with a developer is your best bet, as they have the experience to bring your vision to life.
There are other reasons you might hire a web developer, too. Consider hiring a web developer if you:
- Want unique design elements not necessarily available in templates that stand out from the competition.
- Need extra customization, like forums and portals.
- Prefer someone else to handle the technical side of your website.
If you’re not afraid to get into the weeds of building a website (and remember, many website builder programs are no-code!), let’s jump into how to make a website for your business.
How to Set Up a Website for Your Small Business
Your website is your little corner of the internet. It’s effectively a marketing tool that invites your customers and clients to engage with you and your business. Here are the steps to setting up your website.
1. Choose a domain name.
A domain is your website address. Ideally, you’ll want to choose a domain that speaks directly to your brand. For example, my website domain is cassieclarkmarketing.com. When someone reads my website address, they get a pretty good idea of the kinds of services I provide.
With over one billion websites on the Internet, finding the perfect domain name might take a few tries. Consider using hyphens, synonyms, or keywords to change your domain name and stand out. Plus, adding keywords to your website address can help with SEO.
Pro Tip: If you’re stuck on developing a domain for your website, I found using ChatGPT helpful. Just enter your ideal domain name and ask the AI generator to suggest alternatives.
2. Choose a hosting platform.
Once you’ve chosen your domain, you’ll need to pick a hosting platform. I like to think of hosting platforms as a building. Your website will be inside of the building. Think of the Empire State Building, for example. Plenty of companies call the Empire State Building their home office, but they don’t actually own the building. Instead, they just rent a space from the building owner.
The same logic applies to hosting platforms. The hosting platform is your Empire State Building, and you’ll rent a space to host your website, typically by paying a monthly or yearly fee.
There are plenty of hosting platforms available, like GoDaddy and Siteground. Whichever hosting platform you choose, you’ll be prompted to register your domain name. This means that once your domain is registered, it’s yours to use, and you can officially set up your website.
Side note: You can host your website on Wordpress.com. Depending on your hosting plan, this may be a cheaper option. However, cheaper does not always mean better, as certain plans have limited features. Before choosing a website host, take some time to brainstorm your website goals (like scaling and growth).
4. Choose a CMS.
When you sign up for a hosting plan, you will also be promoted to choose a content management system (CMS). This is the backend of your website, where you can make changes to it. You’ll need to choose a CMS before you can do anything else with your website.
The most popular CMS is WordPress. However, there are tons of alternatives. If your hosting provider gives you options, take some time to look into each CMS to find one you like the best. Some are easier to work with than others. And some have extensive knowledge bases to help you navigate through any challenges.
You will need to integrate your CMS into your hosting account. Typically, this is just the click of a button and isn’t very complicated. From there, you can launch into designing and setting up your website.
5. Choose a website template.
Let’s continue thinking about websites in terms of buildings. Think of a website template as your paint and interior design. This is what your visitors will see when they visit your website.
You might have access to free website templates depending on your hosting platform. WordPress offers a free template library to its users. Other hosting platforms, like Wix and Squarespace, offer customizable drag-and-drop templates, too.
Alternatively, you can purchase a template and upload it to your hosting platform. For example, back in my blogging days, I purchased a WordPress template from an Etsy seller. Once I downloaded my digital file, I followed her instructions and uploaded it to my website. It was a painless process, and I had a brand new website in no time — no coding required on my part!
6. Create your website pages.
Your website will likely feature multiple pages. You might consider creating:
- A dedicated homepage
- A services or products page
- An about page
- A contact page
You’ll need to write copy for these pages. If copywriting is not your thing, consider outsourcing this work and hiring a writer. Or, you can do it yourself with the help of an AI writing assistant. Just make sure your copy isn’t too robotic. Most of us can spot AI content a mile away!
As you set up your web pages, consider if you want to write and update a blog on your website. Fresh content can keep your visitors coming back for more, plus the right keyword strategy can help boost your SEO.
If you want to add a blog to your site, consider writing and posting an initial post to see how it’ll look on your homepage as you add in new content.
7. Optimize for SEO.
It’s important to keep SEO at the forefront of your mind as you build your webpage. SEO is essential to incorporate into your web pages because you want the search engines to understand the intent of your content.
Be sure to:
- Sprinkle in relevant keywords, but don’t overuse them
- Optimize your content and graphics for quicker loader speeds
- Optimize your website for both desktop and mobile
For more info and helpful tips on SEO, check out our guide: The Ultimate Guide to SEO in 2024.
8. Publish your website.
Once your website is optimized and you’re satisfied with your content, it’s time to publish it on the Internet.
Before you hit “publish,” take time to ensure your site works properly. Most platforms allow users to view their websites in “view mode.” This means you can look at your website from the front end and see everything a visitor sees.
Be sure to test your website from both a desktop and mobile device, as the smaller screen sizes can affect website performance.
Pro Tip: I repeatedly tested my website from my mobile device before officially publishing it. It can take a few tweaks before you get the display right, but it’s worth the effort to ensure everything displays correctly.
Testing It Out
As I mentioned earlier in the post, I am not a web designer, which means I am the perfect person to share my experiences because I set up my website myself.
Here’s what I did to create my website.
1. I researched hosting platforms.
Personally, I use Siteground to host my website. I chose this platform because several blogger friends recommended it. Upon signing up for a hosting plan, I also registered my domain name through their services. Being able to register my domain through my hosting provider made it much easier for me to navigate.
My initial choice for a domain name was already registered. Siteground suggested several available domain names, which was nice.
HubSpot's Free Website Builder
Create and customize your own business website with an easy drag-and-drop website builder.
- Build a website without any coding skills.
- Pre-built themes and templates.
- Built-in marketing tools and features.
- And more!
2. I chose a CMS.
My blogger friends also recommended I use WordPress for my content management system. My friends told me that most web designers create website templates and plugins with WordPress in mind. So, I took their advice and integrated WordPress into my website.
You might find you like another CMS better. There are tons of WordPress alternatives. I suggest researching each CMS before you choose to integrate one into your website.
3. I bought and uploaded a website template.
For my blog, I purchased a website template from Etsy. Etsy has tons of WordPress-friendly options to choose from, regardless of your website's intent. If you choose to purchase a template from there, be sure to read the description, especially if you want to set up an e-commerce store, as not all themes will support this.
I used the Divi theme for my small business website. Divi allows me to customize my website however I want it. However, I’ve personally found Divi less than user-friendly, so if you’re looking for a quick and easy way to set up your website, Divi is not it. There are plenty of other options online, though.
4. I wrote my website copy and established my pages.
I spent some time editing (and editing and editing) my web pages before I published my website. Nailing down your copy can take some time, and I’m more of a perfectionist than I want to admit. There are resources you can use, like hiring a writer or using an AI writing assistant, to write your copy. Don’t forget about keywords, too!
5. I tested my website on a mobile device.
I initially made the mistake of launching my website before testing it on a mobile device. As it turns out, my website’s graphics were jumbled on a mobile device. Fixing the issue took quite a bit of time and patience. If you plan to purchase a ready-made template, be sure to read the description. Most templates will make a note of the template's mobile capabilities.
6. I published my website — and I still make changes.
Although my website is now live on the internet, I’m constantly updating my website and making changes. Much like housework, I’ve found that a website is never done. And that’s okay!
If you’re ready to get your business up and running, launch your website. As they say, you can build the plane as you fly it.
No-Code Tools to Help You Build a Website
I’ve talked quite a bit about WordPress being an easy no-code tool to build a website. WordPress is quite popular and, in my opinion, is one of the easier tools to use. However, it’s not the only no-code tool available.
Here are five other website builders to consider for your small business website.
1. Wix
Wix is a no-code website design tool and a hosting platform. Using Wix as a hosting platform, small business owners can register a domain name and access enterprise-grade security for their websites.
I like that Wix also offers over 900 website templates and an AI website builder. Using the templates and AI, you can set up a website for your small business in no time.
2. HubSpot’s Website Builder
If you’re already using HubSpot for your CRM, it only makes sense to use HubSpot’s free drag-and-drop website builder, too. Users can use this tool to create their own website with a custom domain in minutes. Drag-and-drop the features you want on your website, or use any of the hundreds of templates available.
3. Squarespace
Like Wix, Squarespace is a website builder tool and a hosting provider. It is a great option for small businesses with e-commerce stores. You can set up your website on Squarespace in minutes using any of its templates.
I like that Squarespace also allows users to contact a web designer. This option is great for business owners who want a custom website or are stuck in the design process.
4. WebFlow
WebFlow is a drag-and-drop website builder that gives you the power to design a website from scratch without the fuss of writing your own code. Users can use this tool to design websites or landing pages. If you’re looking to launch an online store, WebFlow can help you do that, too.
I like that WebFlow offers its own CMS, too. Using WebFlow’s visual canvas, you can easily write, edit, and post new content without worrying if the image on your page is positioned incorrectly.
5. Dorik
Ready to harness the power of AI and let it build your websites for you? Now you can with Dorik. Doirk is a no-code website builder; just enter your prompt and let AI do its thing. Dorik also offers AI options for your website copy. With just a few clicks, you can generate copy for all of your web pages in a matter of seconds.
I also appreciate that Dorik offers an AI image generator. Sourcing photos for a website is a pain, and if you’re not careful, it can land you in hot legal water. The AI image generator reduces that risk, and you can generate relevant images for your website in no time.
Set Your Small Business Up for Success with a Website
Setting up a website is a must for your small business, and you can create one without needing to take a crash course in coding. Plenty of no-code website builder tools are available, and I’ve found many of them to be easy to use.
If you’re ready to set up your website, follow the steps in this post. Or, check out the HubSpot drag-and-drop website builder to quickly get up and running.
HubSpot's Free Website Builder
Create and customize your own business website with an easy drag-and-drop website builder.
- Build a website without any coding skills.
- Pre-built themes and templates.
- Built-in marketing tools and features.
- And more!
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