If you run a business, at some point, building your company website will have to become a priority. However, before diving into the design and construction process, you may want to take the time to consider a few factors. Making these considerations could help you to build a website that’s fast, affordable and effective. Here are the three factors worth considering before creating your website.

Which web host should I use?

The data that makes up each website needs to be stored on some kind of server. It’s possible to store this information on a private server that you own, however buying or renting a private server is expensive and probably only worthwhile if you also plan to store other data here.

The solution for many people is to use a web hosting service. These companies store the data for multiple websites on a server that they rent or own. There are free hosting services available; however, these may not always be reliable and could result in slow loading times and inadequate security. Finding a company that specializes in small business web hosting is likely your best option. You may have to pay a small monthly fee, but you’ll have a website that’s both fast and secure. There are premium web hosting services out there, but these may only be worth using if you’re planning on building a huge website or one that needs substantial amounts of security beyond your average server.

What domain name should I choose?

When building your company website, it’s worth considering your website address. Web hosts are often able to sell these to you, providing the web address is not in use. It’s possible someone may own your ideal domain name, but may only be willing to sell it for an inflated price. Decide whether the domain name is worth the amount that the seller wants, or whether you could find an alternative domain name.

Many experts believe that the best domain names are no more than three words and easy to spell (avoid substituting letters for numbers). Make sure that the words don’t spell out something else when bunched together. For example, kidsexchange.com could read as ‘kid sex change’ rather than ‘kids exchange, which could be disastrous to your brand.

Should I build it myself or hire a professional?

There are also multiple ways to build a website. While few people have the programming knowledge to code their own website, there are now many content builders available such as WordPress that don’t require you to use any coding. Not only are these websites easier to build and customize, but some are also free. Of course, conduct your research to determine which option works best for you.

Having a website designed professionally can give you more freedom when it comes to its appearance and functions. The website may also load more quickly as you do not have to rely on as much code. However, the cost to go this route is likely to be more costly and may be more of a challenge when you want to make a quick change.

Consider what your priorities are when it comes to your site. If you’re on a tight budget and don’t want anything too complicated, you may be better off building it yourself. However, if you want something more elaborate and are prepared to pay more money, a professionally designed website might be more suitable. Good luck!

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