What essential items do you need for any website?

A website is essential to maintain your public or business identity. Whether it’s a personal, professional, or a small business website, you have to ensure that it has all the necessary items to make it appealing, engaging, and informative.

Certain elements in a website must be given utmost attention. Your website must contain all the necessary items to make it a perfect one, from customer testimonials to contact information.

Creating a website is similar to building a house. A website must be completely built with essential parts.

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Some essential items to consider before starting your website

1. Get a good domain name

Your website address, or domain name, is the first thing you should consider. Look at your domain name as your identification card. It’s the first thing you need to create the best impression on the online public. More, it will serve you well in terms of Search Engine Optimization (SEO).

To create your domain name:

  • Make sure you can spell it easily.
  • Do not use slang, esoteric, or too cryptic word.
  • Make it shorter so people can remember and type it quickly.

Consider the correct domain extension. As much as possible, use the .com domain name, unless it is more proper to use the alternative extensions like .org, .edu, or .gov.

Make the name memorable and catchy. Do not use nonsensical domain names. Do not use hyphens and numbers because these things are difficult to remember, especially if you vocalize the domain name.

To develop an appropriate name, you may google it to check if there is no duplication of the name. You can also check with USPTO.gov to determine that it does not carry trademarks that are registered.

You may check if buying the website address has a reasonable price in terms of the cost. Make sure you can come up with an SEO-friendly URL that contains keywords and geo-location. 

2. Choose a superb content management system

Your content management system (CMS) is what you use to manage and create your online content. Pick a software program or application that can cater to your needs. Check the one that suits your personality or style. Make sure that the CMS is user-friendly and cost-effective.

Some popular CMSs include WordPress, Drupal, Joomla!, Squarespace, and Wix.

Interestingly, the history of WordPress as a superb CMS is difficult to dispute, considering that it raked up more than 76.4 percent as the most commonly used CMS in the entire world, citing a recent study.

Wordpress website

3. Buy a secure website hosting

Choose a website hosting provider or host that gives you advantages in terms of services and technical support.

Your website host stores your domain name when visitors check or visit your website. Thus, you have to consider the website hosting provider’s dependability, integrity, and trustworthiness. Famous website hosting providers include SiteGround, GoDaddy, Bluehost, DreamHost, and InMotion.

The typical cost of hosting your website can be from $2 to $100 plus per month. This depends on the type of tech support being offered by the host. Discounts can be given to you if you buy an annual plan compared to a monthly plan.

Selecting a “virtual private server” (VPS) can cost you from about $20 to $50 per month. The amount is affordable as “shared hosting” plan.

Always check if the hosting company has a hotline or chat support for easy access whenever a problem occurs on your website.

Ensure the server security if you access it through Secure File Transfer Protocol (SFTP). Daily backups of your server contents should be available. There should be an easy method for Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) certificates.

However, choosing a “dedicated server” plan can cost you $100 to $2,000 per month. While this plan is expensive, this will also give added value in terms of optimum performance of your website.

Server-side programming language usage in 2016

4. Pick the best e-commerce platform

Picking the right platform is always an advantage on your website. Your e-commerce platform can help you a lot in term of profits and promotions. Make sure that the e-commerce platform is innovative and exciting . Your business model allows you to select the ideal technology for you. These e-commerce platforms include WooCommerce, Shopify, Shopify Plus, Business Squarespace, Wix, and GoDaddy Online Store.

5. Regularly create unique and quality content

Plan the content of your website to ensure that a high rank in search engines. Having fresh, relevant, and quality content allows your readers to return to your website repeatedly.

6. Have webmaster tools on your website

Install Google Analytics, Google Search Console, Bing Webmasters Tools. These webmaster tools allow you to monitor the traffic of your data. It gives you information on the number of visitors from daily, weekly, and monthly, and average time spent on the website, among other essential things.

7. Show the description of your website prominently

Introduce your website or business clearly to the public so they will not be confused about it. Your main homepage, banners, and introductory blurbs at the top of your web page should contain the services or things you offer or do.

Also, your “About Us” must be readily available so that the readers can know more about you.

8. Match your easy-to-read fonts with wonderful graphics designs

Design or come up with beautiful graphics for your website. Ensure that the fonts you are using are also friendly to the readers’ eyes. Your fonts and graphics can help you a lot in drawing attention to your website. And be consistent with preserving your brand.

9. Display your contact information 

The contact information of your website should be seen clearly and easily. Add the “call-to-action” to inform the readers of what you expect them to do when visiting your website.

Important pages that should be found easily on your website are: 

  • Home
  • About us
  • Products/Services 
  • Sitemap 
  • Management team
  • Contact us
  • Terms of use 
  • Privacy policy

10. Apply Search Engine Optimization to your website

Search Engine Optimization can do wonders for your website. It allows your website for indexing and ranking. By the time your website is indexed and ranked by search engines, it gives you an optimal result level. You must couple this with beautiful design and unique/updated content.

Conclusion:

You need to remember all these items before making or launching your website. Once your website is already up, you must ensure that your contents are quality and updated. Make sure to have a trusted hosting provider and updated webmaster tools. Finally, your SEO is your ally to help you with profits and promotions.