21: From Scratch: What to do when (re)Launching your Website

Summary

This podcast episode focuses on how to get started with a website from scratch. Meredith’s husband offers practical tips for selecting a domain, choosing a website platform (such as Squarespace), and ensuring your business appears in online directories like Google My Business. He emphasizes keeping things simple in the beginning and building credibility through consistent online presence. These steps are essential for improving your website’s SEO and generating traffic for your business.

Blog Post: Building a Website from Scratch – A Step-by-Step Guide

Creating a website from scratch can be daunting, but it doesn’t need to be complicated. Whether you’re a small business owner or photographer, starting a website is an essential step to establish your online presence. The key is to get the basics in place, focus on building credibility, and improve as you go. Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you start your website and ensure that it gains visibility online.

1. Choosing a Domain Name

Your domain name is the foundation of your online presence, so make sure it’s relevant to your business. You can purchase domain names through various providers like GoDaddy or Google Domains. Google Domains offers an advantage because it avoids upselling tactics and provides a more straightforward purchasing process at a reasonable price of around $12 per year. Once you have your domain, you're ready to start building your site.

2. Using Squarespace for a Quick Start

If you’re new to websites, Squarespace is a fantastic option for getting up and running quickly. It offers visually appealing templates that look professional on any device and require minimal technical skills to manage. You can set up a basic site that includes:

• Your business name

• A high-quality image representing your service

• Your contact information

For photographers, showcasing a few of your best shots along with a clear description of your services will help create an immediate impact. Squarespace takes care of the technical issues, allowing you to focus on the essentials and get your site live in no time.

3. Getting Listed in Google My Business

Having a website is only half the battle. You also need to ensure that potential customers can find you. Setting up a Google My Business listing is crucial for this. It’s like the modern-day phone book, helping your business appear on Google search results and maps. Once you’ve added your business, Google may send a postcard to verify your address. This step is important to confirm the legitimacy of your business.

4. Building Credibility with Local Listings

Apart from Google My Business, there are thousands of other business directories online, such as YellowPages, Yelp, and Superpages. To improve your visibility and credibility with Google, it’s essential to have your business listed across multiple directories. Services like White Spark and SEMrush can help you automate the process of getting listed in various directories. Unlike other services, White Spark allows you to own your listings, giving you more control over future updates.

5. The Importance of a Simple, Action-Oriented Website

Your website doesn’t need to be elaborate from the start. It should offer a simple, clean layout that showcases your services and allows customers to contact you easily. Ensure you have at least one call to action, such as "Contact Me" or "Schedule a Session." Also, include at least 200-350 words of text to provide useful content and make the page more SEO-friendly.

Key Points to Remember:

• Domain: Choose a relevant domain from a provider like Google Domains.

• Website Platform: Use Squarespace for quick and professional-looking results.

• Google My Business: Set up and verify your business listing to appear in search results.

• Local Listings: Get listed in multiple directories to improve your online credibility.

• Keep It Simple: Focus on clear calls to action and basic content that showcases your services.

By following these steps, you’ll create a solid foundation for your website and increase your chances of being found by potential customers online.

Resources

• Link to setting up Google My Business

• Link to White Spark for local directory listings

• Link to SEMrush for managing business directory listings