A website speaks volumes about a business. It reflects the professionalism and excellence of the company. The mere appearance of a website can indicate whether a business is trustworthy and credible.
Businesses hire experts to provide them with an informative and well-designed website. A good website is not only good-looking and functional, but it should also have the ability to grow your business.Â
Here’s a guide to the key factors you might need to consider when choosing the right website design platform for your small business.
Small Businesses + Bigger Goals
Even if you are a start-up small business it doesn’t mean that your goals should be small also. You can pair up your small business with bigger business goals.
Small Businesses with bigger goals usually prioritise their small business website presentation to the market to achieve their objectives. They intentionally invest in their website so their business can make a noise around their competitors.
It could be your aim to improve brand recognition, enhance conversion rates, or optimise your customer interactions, in any case, the optimal web design platform is the cornerstone to your BIG Goals.Â
If you are interested in making website visitors become customers, there should be a smooth shopping flow with much less complication and confusion. This is why clients wish to connect with companies that simplify their existence, especially when purchasing online products.
1. Budget Consideration
Budget is crucial in website design decisions. Budget consideration in choosing the right web design platform is divided into three parts: the initial setup budget, ongoing maintenance, and upgrades & security costs.
- Initial Setup: It’s either you assess what you can afford, or save up to avail your desired platform. Web Design Platforms are different in cost and features. Some platforms offer free basic options, while others will require you to pay a certain upfront fee. Make sure that the amount of what you will pay for is worth it.
- Ongoing Maintenance: This budget is very important as you have to keep your website looking healthy and working smoothly. This usually includes hosting fees, domain renewals, and regular maintenance tasks.
- Upgrades & Security Cost: Consider adding a budget for future expenses such as planning for feature upgrades for your web design platform and or ensuring strong security. Other platforms include these in their package cost while some charge extra for these.
2. Evaluate Ease of Use
The most essential part of any website- it must be user-friendly. Any visitor of a site would want to face a digital platform that is very easy to use and understand, like Wix and Squarespace that has easy to drag-and-drop builders.
If you want a more complex yet provides greater flexibility, WordPress can be an option for custom web design. These platforms are manageable especially if you will be the one to handle your site.
Also, make sure that your chosen web design platform is mobile-friendly, as many audience has more access to their phones rather than their computers or laptops. In this way, they will have a good user experience.
3. Flexible & Customised Options
A customised website usually stands out from others. Ensure that your chosen web design platform is customisable, flexible, and has a variety of templates. Quickly check if fonts, colours, and layouts can be easily adjusted based on your branding. Choose the website with extensive customisation options that will enable you to communicate your brand effectively, and engage your audience.
4. Scalable & Growth Potential
If you have a long-term plan for growing your business, you should consider opting for a web design platform that can scale with your business. This should include additional resources such as plug-ins, and features so that in the future it will not be a hassle to migrate your whole website load to a new platform, and will also save you from additional costs.
5. Check SEO Capability
Not all web design platforms are Search Engine Optimisation – SEO friendly. Ensure that your chosen web design platform is capable of customisable URLs, meta tags, and responsive design. There is even a web design platform that has built-in SEO tools to help optimise your website effectively.
6. eCommerce Features (if applicable)
If you plan to sell products or services online, strong eCommerce features must be part of your chosen web design platform. Opt for platforms that have easy yet secured payment processes, inventory and monitoring management, and customisable product pages. Shopify is one of the most famous eComm-focused sites that is affordable and can help you sell directly to your target customers.
Check-out our eCommerce Website Development Services
7. Test Before You Commit
This is a must-read when planning to start a web design platform. Some sites offer demos and free trials, so it is wise to take this opportunity to check on its features and interface. This will give you a better experience with the platform to see if it will fit your needs in your business. It is best to take some time to try it first before paying then see afterwards that it doesn’t fit your requirement.
Conclusion
Choosing a web design platform is crucial for your business, so it’s essential to think carefully before making your final decision. If you’re a small business starting to grow, consider the following factors when selecting your web design platform.
Consider your budget, evaluate the ease of use, check flexibility and customisation options, ensure that it is scalable and has growth potential, verify its SEO capabilities, look for robust eCommerce features, and take advantage of trial periods to test the platform before committing. These considerations will guide you to make the most of your investment and help your business grow exponentially.
Your website is the gateway for your market to learn about your brand, become engaged, and eventually convert into customers. Investing in a high-quality website is essential.
Don’t get stuck with a platform that doesn’t meet your needs or one that’s too complex. If you’re handling the website yourself, take the time to study the platform and maximise its features.
If you have an extra budget, consider hiring experts to create a professional and effective website for you like 21 Webs.
