The year 2020 was a peculiar year for everyone, and the economy was greatly impacted. Dealers had to swiftly adapt, those who weren’t online had to embrace the trend or face the possibility of closing down.
Being able to sell and stand out online is a valuable opportunity, especially during these uncertain times. Whether it’s micro, small, or large companies, entering the digital market is a viable option (despite the competition) with plenty of untapped potential. Even if you are a modest brand, blogger, or influencer, establish a website. However, before making that choice, familiarize yourself with the advice we provide so you can create a contemporary, appealing, and optimized website that can transform visitors into customers.
1. Analysis
Prior to embarking on the website development process, it is crucial to assess the strategies implemented by your competitors, identify the gaps, and determine ways to differentiate yourself from other online platforms.
Create a comprehensive list of features and functionalities that you believe would enhance the user experience and provide value to your customers. Avoid hastily requesting or creating a website out of desperation. If you have recently considered leveraging the digital landscape to generate revenue for your business, focus on creating a distinctive customer journey that captivates their attention and fosters a deep connection with your offerings.
2. Step is to analyze the domain's availability
Ensuring domain availability is a crucial task. Initially, verify if it aligns with our brand name and decide between .com or .pt – What differentiates them?
The domain represents your brand on the internet, serving as the gateway to your website (typically your company/project/brand) and should possess the chosen extension.
Regarding the extension selection (.com or .pt), our recommendation is to choose based on your intended market. In other words, if you target the Portuguese market, registering .pt indicates that your company operates in Portugal. On the contrary, if your niche is international or represents the majority of your business activity – or if you strategically plan to expand there – opt for .com. This signifies that your brand caters to the international market.
Afterward, select the domain. It simply refers to your brand’s internet address – the one users enter in their browser, such as www.marcabis.pt. The domain enables users to locate the information you provide to your customers. Still confused? Allow us to explain how websites are organized on the internet.
Web pages can be compared to books, each containing diverse information. The “library” in this context refers to the server where your website will be hosted. Certain companies own sizable computers (similar to those depicted in movies) and offer storage space or compartments in which we can place our desired information, like books. But how do we access the information within these “books”? It is through the domain. When you enter the domain in your browser (commonly Chrome, Firefox, or Internet Explorer), which we’ll refer to as the “browser librarian,” it searches the library’s compartments or shelves to find the specific book or information you seek. This process occurs within milliseconds, ensuring that you and other users can access and consult the information swiftly.
Consequently, when you engage a developer or website development company to create a website for you, their initial question will be – do you already have a domain name? This is crucial because it is necessary to verify if the library has availability for that name. It’s possible that someone has already published a book with the same name, which may conflict with the desired information. If the name is already in use, there are alternatives such as alternative extensions. For instance, if www.marcabis.pt is unavailable or expensive, you can consider .com or even .net. This way, you can have a domain with the same name as your brand. However, it is vital to accurately inform your customers about this to prevent them from accessing a different website unintentionally.
3. Choose a good hosting company
What does hosting mean? Hosting refers to the server where your website will be stored. Let’s talk about the library mentioned earlier. Select a reliable library that ensures your site is accessible all the time. You have the option to choose from free or inexpensive hosting providers, but this will affect the performance of your website. How so? For instance, there are limitations on the number of files that can be uploaded (such as images or videos), there might be server failures and interruptions, leading to frequent unavailability of your site, or it may take longer for your site to display information. This is because, in the case of free or low-cost hosting, the server is shared with other customers, causing an overload on the system.
In reality, managing a website is not a simple task, which is why we recommend a reliable hosting service to ensure website security, regular backups to prevent data loss, responsiveness during periods of high web traffic, fast loading speed, and the availability of technical support whenever additional assistance is required.
4. Design (UI/UX)
Website design extends beyond aesthetics, encompassing factors such as typography, high-quality visuals, color scheme, and brand identity. A website that prioritizes user experience (UX) not only focuses on its visual appeal but also ensures seamless navigation. In essence, your customers/users should have a delightful browsing experience on your web platform. How can this be achieved? By incorporating all the aforementioned elements (captivating images, etc.) and ensuring the website is intuitive and user-friendly. When developing a web platform, it is crucial to design it with the end-users in mind, rather than solely catering to personal preferences. The platform should be meticulously planned, featuring an interactive menu that facilitates easy navigation. Above all, it is essential to ensure that the platform is responsive and adapts seamlessly to any device used by the customers.
On the other hand, the user interface (UI) component determines how users interact with the platform. It involves careful selection of buttons, colors, icons, fonts, sizes, formats, and even the content itself, as all of these elements significantly impact user interaction. Both UI and UX work in tandem to achieve optimal design outcomes. For instance, when a designer chooses a color for an icon, it is not merely for aesthetic purposes. Colors influence the user’s engagement on the site. Vibrant colors, for instance, can cause visual fatigue, prompting users to navigate away from the platform. Consequently, if users encounter an excessive use of bold hues upon entering the platform, they are likely to retreat, resulting in missed sales opportunities.
5. Responsive Design
Point 4 of our discussion focuses on the user’s interaction with the web platform and emphasizes the importance of responsiveness. Why is this crucial? It can be summed up in the following statement: “The website is not designed for you, but for your customers.” Hence, it is imperative to consider that the platform should be accessible from any device that can connect to the internet.
Now, let’s delve into the meaning of responsiveness – it refers to the website’s ability to adapt automatically to various devices such as desktops, tablets, or smartphones (any electronic device capable of internet access). When we talk about adaptation, we mean that the information presented to the user should remain consistent across different devices, adhering to the same principles discussed in previous points.
It’s important to note that a responsive website serves as a gateway to search engine indexing. This implies that search engines like Google will recognize your site as suitable for displaying when users search for services or products that your site offers.
6. SEO Techniques - Relevant Content
The foundation of marketing is the belief that “Content reigns supreme.” By providing valuable and enriching content to your target audience, you will instill trust in your offerings. For instance, imagine you own a self-established pastry shop and aim to attract a larger customer base. If you create videos showcasing recipes of the delectable treats available at your shop, you will create anticipation within the customer. By following the recipe process, they will develop a heightened perception of the end product they are about to consume. Furthermore, not only will they share the recipe with their loved ones because they genuinely enjoy it, but they may even attempt to recreate it themselves. However, their attempts will never fully replicate the unique touch that your products possess. Ultimately, it becomes more convenient for them to visit your pastry shop and indulge in your specialty treats. Thus, by sharing the recipe with the customer, you are actively involving them in the creation process of the sweets they enjoy.
This is the essence of content creation – it establishes a profound connection with the audience, making your product stand out.
Moreover, by exclusively producing high-quality content and optimizing it with SEO (Search Engine Optimization) techniques, your website can achieve prominent positions on search engines. In fact, it may even secure a top-ranking position on Google or another search engine. And being ranked among the top positions on Google translates to one thing – an influx of more customers.
7. Delegate to a digital marketing agency
Do you see the numerous stages involved? However, it’s not an insurmountable task.
If you desire a professional platform with continuous support, make a request and assign its development to a digital marketing agency. By relying on this strategic collaborator, not only do you offload all the bureaucratic work, but you also ensure the utilization of appropriate resources at the appropriate juncture, ensuring that your brand/business/company is being showcased online in the most optimal manner, outshining the competition.
Engage with a UNMA creative to gain insights into the creation of a web platform (website) by clicking here.
And in the meantime… Have a joyful holiday season and prosperous sales.