How do you get your business a killer website that is mobile optimized, search engine optimized up and running fast? Work with me. This isn’t my first rodeo. I have a degree in Visual Technology and I also have 10 years of experience working in technology. Most people simply don’t know what they are looking for, and they don’t know what route to take to get an optimized business website going. Many people opt for a “free” website on another website generating service (Vista Print, Wix, to name a couple). What makes those websites sub-par is that they utilize sub-domain indexing and don’t actually get your site ranked so that your customers can actually find you. What’s the right way to build an effective, optimized business website that is worth the time and money? Let’s break it down.
Setting up an Optimized Business Website
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Domain name.
This is the website address that people type in to directly visit your website. For example, my domain name is vallint.com. Domains are usually purchased annually from a domain service provider. Many people get junk mail or spam messages claiming that they need some sort of domain protection to renew their name – read those carefully! I include domain renewal in my annual hosting fee.
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Hosting.
Once you have the name for your optimized business website, you then need to host it on a server. This is where all the data for your website is stored. This file of information is your actual website. Hosting service range from $5/ month and up – depending on what speed, size of server and etc. I charge $35/ month for hosting. This covers my cost and also guarantees you a REAL PERSON to talk to! My server is hosted on a WordPress optimized VPN (virtual private network) that I have set up through a third party. My clients are more than welcome to host their own sites, it is usually less complicated and easier to host on my server.
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Website Development.
I use WordPress, a free Content Management System (CMS) to build websites. I’ve built websites the hard way, and I’ve used a few different CMS to build websites. I prefer WordPress because of its popularity, security, and quality of the finished product. It’s very easy to optimize each website for search and also make it mobile and multi-screen-size compatible with a “responsive” design. I usually purchase a template and then customize it from there. I also have a checklist of tasks to complete before officially launching the website to ensure it is ready to be picked up and indexed for search.
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Activating the “wow” factor.
What you are really paying for when you work with a professional to develop an optimized business website are their experience and expertise. As some one who has worked in technology and marketing for a decade, I know what works and how to appeal to your audience. I also have friends in the industry that specialize in more programming, photography, and other SEO services. Should you want to invest more in your website, I can refer you to the people who are the best in their field.
Developing Content for your Optimized Business Website
After your optimized business website is developed, you’ll want to have a professional logo, photography and copy for the site. I can help advise you on the layout and different calls to action to place on your website to engage your visitors. One of the main functions of a website is to provide validity to your business and gain more prospective customers by educating others on what you do. Setting up a call to action (CTA) on your website can engage visitors and help build your contact base. There are a series of tools and techniques that we can implement to ensure you are keeping your network engaged and not missing any opportunities for more business.
You can also implement tools of your industry on the website. I’ve worked with Realtors to add MLS listings and searches, shop owners to implement a shopping cart for online shopping or any other variety of features that you may need. This is another benefit of working with a WordPress website. There is an entire community of developers that make WordPress plugins or added features that we can put on your website. Some are paid, some are free. I can advise you and show you which plugins are a good investment. I’ll also help trouble shoot and test the website.
Why Vallint?
You get what you pay for. If you are just looking for a quick, easy, cheap website, I’m not a good fit. But if you are proud of what you do, and want to invest in a website that will accurately represent your brand, let’s talk. If you want to see what products and services I offer, check out my Products and Services Page. I also have prices listed on there. See some of the websites I’ve developed on my website design portfolio blog post.