Business websites

Visiting your website is often one of the first steps potential customers take before deciding to buy your products or services.

A dedicated website makes it easier for customers to find key information about your business, products and services, before taking the next steps.

A business website can help you provide information and value to potential and existing customers, reach audiences beyond your local area, and offer online sales, bookings, and other services.

Identifying your website requirements

The type of website you need will depend on what you’re selling and who you’re trying to reach, but in most cases your website should:

• outline your products and services.
• include engaging content such as images or videos that are relevant to your target audience and how you can serve them.
• help people to find your business or get in touch with you.

You can also use your website to feature reviews and testimonials, share the stories behind your business and enable an e-commerce platform if you sell your products online.

If you’re just getting started, you’ll need to think about:

• What is the purpose of your website?
• Do you intend to sell products or services online?
• What do you want people to do after visiting your website?
• How much budget and time can you allocate to creating a website?
• How will you keep the information on your website up to date?

Answering these questions will help you plan a website that meets your business needs and supports your goals.

Setting up a new business website

Creating a website generally involves these steps and processes:

• Registering your domain. This is your website address and may also appear in your email address (for example, yourcompany.com.au’).
• Planning your structure. Identify the pages your website should include and create a simple sitemap to show how they will be organised. Common website pages include About Us, Contact Us, Products and/or Services, Frequently Asked Questions and Terms and Conditions (eg: for refunds or repairs).
• Content development. Write the content for your website pages and prepare any photos or videos you need.
• Web design. This refers to the look (branding) and layout of your website, as well as the experience for users as they navigate it. You can design your website using a template or have a custom built design.
• Web development. This involves the coding and building of your website behind the scenes to give it the structure and functionality you need. This will typically be done using a Content Management System (CMS).
• Hosting. You or your developer will need to set up hosting through a provider, which is how your website is connected to the internet.
• Digital marketing. This includes promoting your business through a range of online channels which can involve free content, paid advertising, emails and campaigns.
• Search engine optimisation (SEO). Using specific keywords and phrases on your website can help people to find your business through search engines, as well as AI tools and summaries. 

Depending on the type of website you need and how much time or money you’re willing to invest, you may be able to complete some or all of these steps yourself or hire professionals to do it for you.

While outsourcing your website will cost you money, trying to manage everything yourself can be time consuming, time that may be better spent on other areas of your business.

Choosing a website professional

Your website is an investment in your business and your brand, so it’s important to consider quality as well as cost when selecting a provider.

While cheaper options may seem attractive, they can sometimes lead to issues later if support or functionality is limited.

Working with a local website developer may cost more, but it can make it easier to get support and resolve issues when needed. On the other hand, choosing an overseas service provider might save you money upfront, but if something goes wrong, you could be left without avenues to resolve the issue.

We’ve developed a guide to choosing a website professional to help you make the right decision for your business and situation.

Common website development issues to avoid

If you decide to outsource your website development, be mindful of the common issues that can lead to business disputes.

Payment and delivery of your website

Try to avoid paying for your website in full upfront. This gives you no room to move if you run into issues later. Instead, look for a payment schedule that includes a deposit and staged payments aligned to project milestones.

Your provider should give you a schedule which details the key milestones of your website and when these should be delivered.

For example, the process may include domain registration and hosting setup, followed by planning the website structure and content. They’ll need to schedule in design, build and development time and then final testing before your website is complete – so this should all be outlined as part of the schedule.

By being informed and making sure you are comfortable with the terms, you can help avoid digital platform disputes.

Ownership of your website and domain

Your developer might register your domain and create a website on your behalf, but ownership and control should sit with you once the website is launched.

Make sure this is confirmed in writing and ask any questions upfront before the project begins to confirm the ownership of your:

• Website
• Domain name
• Content copyright

To get the most out of your relationship with your website service provider, it’s important to consider your relationship with them from start to finish. Make sure you have clear terms on how the agreement will end, including how access, logins and passwords will be transferred to you.

Be cautious if you’re presented with a contract which states that your supplier retains ownership of your website or domain, even after it’s launched. This could lock you in, meaning only they can make changes to your website or domain. It could also make switching providers difficult and costly in the future.

On-going maintenance and support

Like any business agreement, it’s important to carefully review the contract terms and conditions before you commit. If you’ve been promised ongoing maintenance and support after you launch your website, make sure the costs are clearly outlined, whether it’s an hourly rate, monthly fee, or another arrangement. Don’t sign an agreement you’re unsure about or uncomfortable with.

Optimising an existing business website

If you already have a website, it’s worth conducting regular reviews to check:

• Functionality – Check for broken links, images that load too slowly or display issues, particularly on mobile devices.
• Accessibility – Make sure your website is easy to navigate, with content that is clear and easy to read. For example, dark text on a light background offers good contrast.
• Content – Ensure your content is relevant and up to date and remove any products or services you no longer offer.
• Design – If your website looks dated, updated images or simple design changes could freshen up its appearance.
• Search engine optimisation (SEO) – You could make some simple changes such as adding keywords and phrases to help your site get found by search engines and provide accurate AI summaries.

Learn about analysing your marketing performance.