Once you have a clear business idea, a simple focused plan, and a sense of direction, it’s time to bring your business online.
This is the stage where you start preparing what you will need to create your website.
You don’t have to be a designer or a tech expert. Getting ready simply means gathering the right materials and making a few key decisions so that building your website feels organized and stress-free.
Define What You Want Your Website to Do
Before collecting any content or design elements, think about what role your website will play in your business.
Ask yourself:
- What should visitors do when they arrive?
- What kind of information will they need most?
- Will your website focus on selling products, booking clients, or sharing information?
The clearer you are about your goals, the easier it will be to create a site that supports them.
Pro Tip: A focused website performs better than a crowded one. Start with your main purpose and build from there later.
Outline Your Main Website Pages
You can start simple.
Most businesses begin with a few core pages:
- Home: A quick introduction and overview of what you offer.
- About: Your story, values, or mission.
- Services or Products: What you provide and how people can purchase or book.
- Contact: A way for visitors to reach you easily.
Alternatively, you might want to take a different approach.
If your business is more heavily based on influencing you might want:
- Landing Pages: Pages with a goal of giving or selling a specific product (usually digital).
- A Link Tree: A central place to link all of your socials and landing pages.
- Newsletter Capture: Perfect for building your mailing list before your site launches.
- Surveys: Get insight from your audience so you can better serve them.
Writing a short outline for each page helps you organize your ideas before you start designing.
Gather Your Content and Visuals
Collect the items you will need for your website in one folder or workspace.
Start with:
- A logo or temporary placeholder design
- A color palette and fonts that match your business personality
- Photos or graphics to represent your work or products
- Text for each page, even if it is just a short paragraph to start
Don’t spend too much time on this, it’s very easy to lose an entire day compiling a repository of visuals that speak to you. You can always refine your design and wording later. The goal is to have enough content ready to make setup easier.
Choose the Tools That Will Help You Build
The tools you choose should simplify your work and make it easier to bring your ideas to life. You don’t need advanced design skills or technical experience, just the right setup to help you move forward confidently.
Here are a few reliable tools to help you design, build, and manage your website:
- WordPress is one of the most flexible platforms for building a website. It allows you to start small and grow as your business expands, adding pages, features, or integrations whenever you need them.
- E-Starr Hosting is designed specifically for WordPress, giving you a smooth and dependable starting point. With easy installation and helpful support, you can focus on building your site rather than troubleshooting setup.
- Divi and Elementor offer drag-and-drop page building, making it easy to create professional layouts without coding.
- Canva is perfect for creating graphics, banners, or placeholder visuals to use throughout your site.
- Fluent Suite helps with forms, email marketing, and client communication once your site is live.
You can explore more recommendations on our Resources Page, which includes tools for content creation, organization, and design that align with different learning styles and goals.
Organize Your Files and Information
Keep everything related to your website in one place.
Create a folder on your computer or cloud storage labeled “Website Setup” and include:
- Written content for each page
- Images and graphics
- Login information for tools or hosting accounts
- Notes about your goals and ideas
Staying organized will save you time and reduce stress when you begin building your site.
Review and Reflect
Once you have gathered your materials, take a moment to review what you have created. Look at your content, visuals, and notes as a whole. Do they represent the message you want to share? Are they consistent with how you want your business to be seen?
This reflection helps you spot gaps, adjust small details, and feel confident that your materials align with your goals before moving forward.
Try not to overthink or spend too much time on this step. A growing business is fluid and can evolve as you gain clarity and experience.
Next Steps
Now that you have a solid plan and are prepared for action, it’s time to claim your space online. In our next post, Choose Your Business Name and Secure Your Domain, we will guide you through how to brainstorm a name, check availability, and register your domain and hosting together through E-Starr.
The Guide So Far
This post is part of the Foundations of Business Success series. If you’ve reached this post out of order, you may want to go back and check out the previous posts:
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