Choosing a Platform
A website is vital for any business, as a large share of marketing happens online. However, a startup entrepreneur may not have the resources to pay professionals for site design and development. This blog is intended for anyone who, for one reason or another, wants to build a business website themselves.
Building a website from scratch without experience is no walk in the park. You should allocate at least thirty to fifty hours, a minimum budget of a couple hundred euros, and plenty of coffee.
WordPress
WordPress is the world's most popular CMS, or content management system. It is an open-source platform used by as many as 35 percent of all websites. The platform offers extensive freedom and can be used to build virtually any kind of site. Numerous themes and plugins enable extensive customization even without coding knowledge. It is also completely free.
- Can be used without a coding background
- Many free and paid plugins
- Flexible platform that is easy to customize to your needs
- Plenty of resources and tutorials, comprehensive developer documentation
- The Gutenberg editor makes site editing easy
- On the downside, it can be somewhat complex for beginners
- You are fully responsible for your site, including security, backups, and updates
Wix or Squarespace
- Can be used without a coding background
- Easy to set up and many different site templates available
- Does not require a separate hosting plan, extensive help center
- Sites are usually slow or technically clunky for larger setups
- Limited features, poor scalability
- The site cannot be directly transferred to another provider
- Opportunities for search engine optimization are partially limited
Of these options, I highly recommend WordPress for its free cost, openness, flexibility, and technical superiority. However, I recommend weighing which option is best for your specific use case.
Choosing and Registering a Domain Name
The first and most important rule is that a domain name should never be too long. It should also not be obscure or difficult to remember. A .fi domain is recommended. In certain cases, .com, .net, and .org are also excellent options.
Ordering Web Hosting
Web hosting is a service through which your website is connected to the internet. By ordering hosting, you rent server space connected to the internet where you place your website. When choosing hosting, do not simply go for the cheapest option, as speed and performance are important factors for search engine visibility and user experience.
It is best to order hosting from a Finnish provider that offers managed WordPress service. In my experience, Zoner's WP-CLOUD and Seravo's WP service are fast and reliable. Both hosting services also come with WordPress pre-installed, so you avoid the hassle of manual installation.
- Is a domain included in the price?
- Is the storage HDD or SSD? SSD is faster.
- Maximum data traffic – how many page loads and visitors per month.
- If hosting promises unlimited capacity at a very low price, site resources are likely shared and performance will suffer.
- Is WordPress pre-installed or does the control panel include a WordPress installation tool?
Compelling Content
Calling content king may be a cliché, but there is solid truth in the saying. Without good content, there is no good website. Content is the reason a visitor is on the site in the first place.
The good news is that you are the best person to tell the story of your business and services. Just boldly pick up a pen or put your fingers on the keyboard and start writing! Do not censor anything – put every thought down on paper. Once you have squeezed everything you can think of out of your soul, it is time for editing.
Effective text is clear and concise. When editing text, consider whether the information is essential from the customer's perspective. This is especially true for the front page, where information should be well-organized. Longer, more free-form thoughts can be saved for the blog. Blogging truly pays off, as search engines favor blogs and it is also a great way to demonstrate your industry expertise to visitors.
Mastering Themes
WordPress offers thousands of different themes that function essentially as visual and functional toolkits. Some are free, others paid. In web developer circles, these themes are known as pre-built themes and are generally treated with fairly universal disdain. This is perhaps somewhat unfair, as the extensive selection also hides several gems.
Explore the selection boldly and read reviews. If we were to offer one recommendation, it would be to check out Elementor and particularly its lightweight starter theme, which serves as an excellent foundation for building your site's appearance.
Do Not Over-Design the Layout
Visual design is often the hardest part for amateurs to get right. With websites, it is not just about what looks good but also about what works. Even top-tier designers can fall into the trap of focusing solely on aesthetics and style while completely forgetting usability.
Since you are likely not a visual design professional, we advise avoiding complex visual elements. Even with colors, caution is warranted. A minimalist, simple style is a safe choice. Black and white work perfectly well, perhaps with a single accent color. Clarity is what matters most. It does not matter if the site does not knock visitors' socks off.
It is perfectly fine even if the site looks mostly like a Word document. The main thing is that the visitor finds the information they need. Visually lightweight pages are also lightweight to load, meaning they are fast. Simply by skipping all the gimmicks, you can stand out positively from your competitors.
Or let a professional handle it?
If DIY isn't enough, we'll build you a professional site, starting from €1,450.