There was a time when a business didn’t have to have a website. In those days – it was a “nice to have” – not a “must have”. Oh how times have changed.
Today – your business HAS to have a presence on the web to be taken seriously. Even that sketchy shop off the back alley on the wrong side of the railroad tracks has a website these days.
Getting started creating your own web presence is deceptively simple. These are the basic tools you’ll need to get started.
Step 1: Register a Domain Name
First you’ll need to register a domain name for your business.
Not sure what name you should choose for your business website. Check out this article about how to choose a GREAT Domain Name.
It’s ridiculously easy to register a domain name – yet there are still business owners who are relying on the latest “free” website or a free social media presence or even a free blog to represent their business.
“I’m not good with computers” may have been an excuse in 1999 – but it’s no excuse today.
Once you’ve registered a domain name- now you need a website to go with it.
Step 2: Create a Website.
Creating your own website starts with hosting. If you stopped by this page earlier - you would have found a link to what was at the time a reliable hosting company that I had used for almost 5 years. That link is GONE now. Why? Because good hosting can go bad quickly.
I offer my clients worry free hosting through Acumen Web Services. My clients host with me – and then allow me to keep my eye on how our hosting company is performing.
Two years ago, I began seeing “warning” signs from my previous host. So I began searching for a new hosting company. However, I couldn’t use just any hosting company because I develop WordPress powered sites for my clients. During that 18 month search, I’ve been verbally abused – accused – and misused. I’ve transferred tester blogs to these hosting companies to discover problems and then move the sites back to my original host only to discover that my updated security minded blog had somehow picked up an “infection” in a plugin.
That’s right – you can do everything right when it comes to installing WordPress. You can keep your plugins updated and because your hosting company hasn’t minded their P’s and Q’s – your WordPress blog can still be breached.
If you don’t know how to find out where I’m hosting my blog without me telling you – you should probably be using my hosting services.
Get your hosting – install a WordPress blog – keep it updated with every security update not only for the core code – but also the plugins AND the theme.
Step 3: Internet Marketing Basics
Once you’ve got your site up then you’ll need everything else.
Marketer’s Choice offers a great “all in one” package to get you started capturing leads and converting web visitors to customers or clients.. Start with the autoresponder… then when you’re ready to start selling product, you can upgrade your package. Once product is selling you can upgrade again and get digital delivery AND an affiliate program.
If you’ve got a “do it yourself” attitude about making the web work for your business – be sure to check out the essential business blogging tools we offer here.
