Every small and large-scale business has a website today. Chances are the saloon in your area has a website, your favorite coffee shop has a website, the cloth store from where you purchase your fancy dresses has a website. Today, a website serves as the digital face of a business.

As per the latest numbers, 56.5 billion web pages are indexed through Google. And the number of active websites on Google has exceeded 200 million. These numbers and the fact that your competitor has a business website would be enough to convince you too that you need a website.

But, before you start building a website, here are a few things to consider. After all, you have a particular objective behind building your website, don’t you want to fulfill that?

Things to Consider Before You Start Building Your Website

1. Your Website’s Purpose

First things first. For what purpose are you building a website? Is it for brand building, selling a product( in case it’s an e-commerce website), or it’s just a company portfolio website?

In order to create functionalities and an appropriate design for your website, you must have a clear purpose in mind. Only then should you expect the desired results.

2. Domain & Hosting

In case you are not a techy person, have you ever wondered why some domain names and hostings are expensive while some cost peanuts?

The thing is, premium hostings that provide great technical support and an infinite bandwidth are usually expensive. But they offer an exemplary experience to the visitors; no server issues, upload as many images and videos as you want to, enhanced security, and effective data management.

As far as the domain name is concerned, it can have an impact on your visibility. Domain names that describe your business and have a high-volume keyword related to your business are usually expensive.

If you really want to boost your business, invest in both. However, if it’s just a portfolio website and you are expecting only a few thousand visitors on a monthly basis, then mid-level hosting would be enough.

3. Content You Will Be Producing for Your site

This one area needs your 100% attention. Content is the king. If you want to enjoy higher visibility on Google. But what if your website is supposed to have more visuals than text, and the layout you have designed lacks space for them? 

The layout and design of an entertainment website are much different from a finance blog. Likewise, if you are creating an e-commerce store, it will look much different from a restaurant website. And the type of content appropriate for both would be different.

4. Number of Pages You Need

A simple website may have only 5-10 pages while an enterprise-level website can have as many pages as it needs. It all comes down to your plan; the services you want to put on your website, blog section, the home page, contact us page, and so on.

In short, you must have a clear idea about the information you want to display on your website. 

5. Mobile Site or Responsive Site

One thing is for sure, most people will access your website on mobile. A study says 95% of people use their mobile devices to search for local products or services. So now you are left in a dilemma, whether you need a mobile site or a responsive site?

If you already have an established business, you should invest in a separate, mobile-friendly website for your users. Otherwise, at the least, you should make your website responsive so it can adapt to any device. 

6. Content Management System

A content management system is a must today. And if you are looking for the best CMS options, WordPress is arguably the best choice. However, if you feel Joomla, Magento, or another CMS is a better option, go with that.

You can also create a custom content management system for your website. But for that, of course, you need a solid command of web development.

7. Why Are Your Competitors Successful?

And lastly, don’t forget to do competitor research. Explore their website, see every page. Of course, you must have done this research to collect inspirations for your website’s design and layout. But don’t just take inspiration for design and layout.

If their website is getting traffic, see what is unique about it. Do you feel you can provide a better User Experience? If yes, how? Don’t rush, take your time, and be clear about your strategy.

It’s not just about creating another website in food, health, beauty, or any other industry, but reaching the top spot in the SERPs.

Summary

When investing in website development, consider your objective and plan everything accordingly. Don’t forget to do competitor research so you know who you are competing against. 

And if you feel you don’t have the skills or are not sure how to proceed ahead, consult an experienced web development agency. Lack of planning and strategy will never yield the desired results that you had expected.