Make a Website for Your Small Business in 3 Easy Steps

Cut through the clutter and just get started.

Congratulations! You're one step closer to making a website for your small business. You may have read articles that swept you off your feet with technical terms and build-it-from-scratch advice. This is not that. But before you hop right into it, you'll want to answer one all-important question.

Why do you need a website?

Many small businesses need an outlet that will allow them to sell products, build their reputation, and monetize their content. Does this describe your business too?

Once you answer this question, you're ready to make a website in three easy steps.

1. Choose a website builder

This part is easy but impactful. You're free to do as much or as little research as you like, but be aware that once you build your website, you're pretty much stuck with it. Making a new one will mean starting from scratch, and nobody wants that.

Here are some website builders that make things easy for small business owners:

• Shopify: For small business owners who want to sell things through their website.
• Wix: For small business owners who want total creative freedom.
• Squarespace: For small business owners who want to make clean websites fast.

It's that simple. Website pricing plans will consist of monthly or yearly subscriptions. They hover around the $20-$30 per month range, and website builders always offer discounts.

Check out the best e-commerce solutions for small businesses to compare features.

Once you subscribe (or try the free trial), you can design your website or pick a domain name.

2. Pick a domain name

You'll need a unique domain name people can use to search for your business. Website builders will typically help you pick one. Note that you will have to pay for the privilege of using the domain name for as long as your website is running.

Don't worry about accidentally launching a website in progress. You'll need to hit a big "publish" button before the public gets access to your site.

3. Design and publish

Designing the site will take you a while. Since this article is about making things easy, the websites I've recommended make the design process smooth. If you're a beginner, it's hard to go wrong with Wix, Squarespace, or Shopify design tools.

Tools typically include a zero-code editor, drag-and-drop features, and a library of stock photos. There will be plenty of guides to answer frequently asked questions.

Once your website is pretty enough, you can publish it. Publication makes your blog, products, etc. show up in Google searches.

That's all

At this point, you can pat yourself on the back. You've landed. Your website is up and running, and you're officially online.

Too basic for you? If you're feeling especially ambitious, consider reading this step-by-step guide on how to build a website from scratch (no coding required). It'll take longer to get set up, but you'll have more control over the design and upkeep of your site.