How to make your own website: a guide for light entrepreneurs

A website is an important part of running a business today, whether you're offering services or showcasing your expertise. A website is a business card, a portfolio and a marketing channel. This guide is for you, the light entrepreneur who wants to create your own website but is not sure where to start.

1. Why is a website important for a light entrepreneur?

Your website is often the first place potential customers find you. They allow you to showcase your expertise, tell them about yourself and your services, and provide an easy way for them to contact you. They also help you stand out from the competition and build your brand.

2. Steps to creating a website

Creating a website is not as difficult as it may seem. Here are the steps to get you started.

2.1. Define your objectives and target group

Before you start building a website, it's important to think about what you want to achieve and who you want it to reach. Do you want to attract new customers, sell products or share information? Who is your target audience and what kind of things are they looking for? With this in mind, you can design the content and structure of your website to best serve its purpose.

2.2. Choose your domain and web host

The domain is the address of your website, for example ”omakevytyritys.fi”. A web hosting is a service that provides space for your website on the internet. When choosing a domain, you should consider that it is easy to remember and spell, and that it is related to your business or industry. When choosing a webhosting service, you should consider that it is reliable, fast and that it provides enough space and support for your growing business.

2.3. Choose a website platform

Website platforms such as WordPress, Webnode, Wix and Squarespace make it easy to build pages without having to know how to code. WordPress is one of the most popular platforms because it's flexible and offers a huge number of plugins and themes that allow you to customise your pages to your liking. Wix and Squarespace are also good options if you want visually beautiful pages quickly and effortlessly.

2.4. Choose a theme and build your pages

The theme determines the look and feel of your website. Most platforms offer predefined themes that you can customise to suit your needs. Choose a theme that matches your company's style and offers a good chance of presenting your content clearly. Structure your pages logically: the most important information, such as your company presentation, services and contact details, should be easy to find.

2.5. Create content

Content is the core of a website. Write clear and concise introductions about yourself and your services. Use images and videos to support the text and create interest. Remember, it's worth optimising your content for search engine optimisation (SEO) to make it easier for customers to find you. This means, for example, using appropriate keywords and keeping your page structure clear.

2.6. Test and publish

Before you publish your pages, test them carefully. Check that all links work, that pages load quickly and that they look good on different devices, such as phones and tablets. This step is important to ensure your customers get a good first impression.

3. Further development and maintenance of the website

A website is never completely finished. It is worth updating them regularly, adding new content and monitoring visitor statistics. This will allow you to continually improve your website and ensure that it serves your customers as well as possible.

3.1. Update your content

Keep the content of your website up to date. Add new references, update the blog or add new services. This will not only keep your customers informed, but also improve your search engine visibility.

3.2. Monitor visitor statistics

Tools like Google Analytics help you track how many people visit your website, where they come from and what they do on your site. This information can help you make improvements and target your marketing more effectively.

3.3. Security and backups

Take care of the security of the site, especially if you collect customer information. Use strong passwords and keep your site's software and plug-ins up to date. Also take regular backups so you can restore pages if something goes wrong.

4. Summary

Creating a website can seem challenging at first, but with the right tools and careful planning, it's entirely possible even without previous experience. The key is to start by thinking about your goals and target audience, choosing the right tools and platform, and keeping your website up to date. A website is an important part of marketing and branding for a light entrepreneur, and can help you grow your business significantly.

Now that you know the basics, let's get down to business! If you need help, many providers also offer website building as a service, but building your own website gives you full control and the opportunity to learn new things.

Good luck!

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