So you have a small business? Awesome! Ever thought about having a website? It’s like having a cool online store where you can show off your stuff, get more people interested, engaged and let everyone know you exist. Let’s dive in and see how you can do this without spending lots of money.
However, hiring a professional web designer can be expensive and time-consuming, especially if you have a limited budget. Fortunately, there are ways to make a website for your small business on a budget, using WordPress.
WordPress is one of the most popular and user-friendly platforms for creating websites. It allows you to customize your site with thousands of themes and plugins, without requiring any coding skills. You can also update and manage your site easily from any device. In this article, we will show you how to make a website for your small business on a budget, using WordPress.
Step 1: Choose A Domain Name And Hosting Service
The first step to make a website for your small business is to choose a domain name and a hosting service. A domain name is the address of your website on the internet, such as www.yourbusiness.com. A hosting service is the company that provides the space and resources for your website to run online.
You can register a domain name and get a hosting service from various providers, such as GoDaddy, Bluehost, HostGator, etc. The cost of a domain name and hosting service can vary depending on the provider, the plan, and the features you choose. You can find some affordable options that suit your budget and needs.
For example, Bluehost offers a special deal for WordPress users, where you can get a free domain name for the first year and a hosting service for as low as $2.95 per month. You also get access to WordPress installation, updates, and support from Bluehost.
To choose a domain name and a hosting service, you need to:
– Visit the website of the provider you want to use, such as Bluehost.com.
– Click on the button that says “Get Started” or “Start Your Website”.
– Select the plan that fits your budget and requirements. You can compare the features and prices of different plans on the website.
– Enter the domain name you want to use for your website. If the domain name is available, you can proceed to the next step. If not, you can try another name or use a different extension, such as .net, .org, .biz, etc.
– Fill in your personal and payment information and complete the purchase.
Step 2: Install WordPress On Your Website
The next step to make a website for your small business is to install WordPress on your website. WordPress is the software that powers your website and allows you to create and edit content, design and customize your site, add functionality and features, etc.
If you use Bluehost as your hosting provider, you can install WordPress automatically with just a few clicks. You need to:
– Log in to your Bluehost account and go to the dashboard.
– Click on “My Sites” and then on “Create Site”.
– Enter the name and tagline of your website. These are not permanent and you can change them later.
– Click on “Next” and select the domain name you want to use for your website.
– Click on “Next” again and wait for WordPress to be installed on your website.
If you use another hosting provider, you might need to install WordPress manually using FTP or cPanel. You can follow the instructions from WordPress.org or from your hosting provider’s website.
Step 3: Choose A Theme And Customize Your Website
The third step to make a website for your small business is to choose a theme and customize your website. A theme is the template that defines the appearance and layout of your website. You can choose from thousands of free and premium themes available on WordPress.org or other websites.
To choose a theme and customize your website, you need to:
– Log in to your WordPress dashboard by typing www.yourdomain.com/wp-admin in your browser’s address bar.
– Go to “Appearance” and then “Themes”.
– Browse through the available themes or use the search box to find one that suits your business niche, style, and preferences.
– Click on “Install” and then “Activate” to apply the theme to your website.
– Go to “Appearance” and then “Customize” to modify the theme settings, such as colors, fonts, logo, menus, widgets, etc.
– Click on “Publish” to save your changes.
Step 4: Add Content And Pages To Your Website
The fourth step to make a website for your small business is to add content and pages to your website. Content is the information and media that you want to display on your website, such as text, images, videos, etc. Pages are the sections of your website that contain different types of content, such as home page, about page, contact page, etc.
To add content and pages to your website, you need to:
– Go to “Posts” and then “Add New” to create a new blog post. You can use the WordPress editor to write and format your content, add media, and insert links. You can also use categories and tags to organize your posts by topic.
– Click on “Publish” to make your post live on your website.
– Go to “Pages” and then “Add New” to create a new page. You can use the same WordPress editor to create and edit your page content. You can also use templates and blocks to add different elements and features to your page, such as headings, lists, buttons, forms, etc.
– Click on “Publish” to make your page live on your website.
– Repeat the process for each page you want to add to your website, such as home page, about page, contact page, etc.
Step 5: Add Functionality And Features To Your Website
The fifth and final step to make a website for your small business is to add functionality and features to your website. Functionality and features are the things that make your website more useful, interactive, and engaging for your visitors, such as contact forms, social media icons, newsletters, online stores, etc.
To add functionality and features to your website, you need to use plugins. Plugins are extensions that add new capabilities and options to your WordPress website. You can choose from thousands of free and premium plugins available on WordPress.org or other websites.
To use plugins, you need to:
– Go to “Plugins” and then “Add New” in your WordPress dashboard.
– Browse through the available plugins or use the search box to find one that meets your needs and goals.
– Click on “Install Now” and then “Activate” to enable the plugin on your website.
– Go to the plugin settings page or the WordPress customizer to configure the plugin options and preferences.
– Click on “Save Changes” or “Publish” to apply the plugin to your website.
Some of the most popular and useful plugins for small business websites are:
– Contact Form 7: This plugin allows you to create and manage multiple contact forms on your website. You can customize the form fields, design, and email notifications. You can also integrate the plugin with other services, such as Mailchimp, PayPal, Stripe, etc.
– Yoast SEO: This plugin helps you optimize your website for search engines. It helps you improve your site’s speed, performance, readability, keywords, meta tags, sitemaps, etc. It also gives you suggestions and feedback on how to improve your SEO score and ranking.
– WooCommerce: This plugin allows you to create and run an online store on your website. You can sell physical or digital products, manage inventory, shipping, taxes, payments, etc. You can also customize your store’s appearance and functionality with various themes and extensions.
– Jetpack: This plugin adds a suite of features and tools to enhance your website’s security, performance, design, and marketing. You can use Jetpack to backup your site, protect it from spam and malware, speed it up with caching and CDN, add social media sharing buttons, email subscriptions, analytics, etc.
Conclusion
Making a website for your small business on a budget is not as hard as it might seem. With WordPress, you can create a professional-looking and functional website without spending too much time. All you need is a domain name, a hosting service, a theme, some content, some plugins, and some creativity. We hope this article has helped you learn how to make a website for your small business on a budget using WordPress.
