Having a dedicated website for your business means your customers can find information about your products or services at any time, from anywhere.
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.
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:
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:
Answering these questions will help you plan a website that meets your business needs and supports your goals.
Whether you’re creating a website yourself or outsourcing it to a professional, we’ve put together a series of key questions and considerations to help you get the right website for your business needs.
Download our free Build a website booklet to help you get started.
Creating a website generally involves these steps and processes:
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.
It can be tempting to rely on social media platforms as the primary way to promote your business and communicate with customers. While you can build a strong following through your social media platforms, this approach alone can be risky. A business website provides you with a platform you are 100 per cent in control of and reduces the chance of being cut off from your customers due to social media shutdowns.
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.
If you decide to outsource your website development, be mindful of the common issues that can lead to business disputes.
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.
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:
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.
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.
Read the Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman (ASBFEO) information on getting the most out of your digital marketing service provider.
If you already have a website, it’s worth conducting regular reviews to check:
Learn about analysing your marketing performance.
Download and complete our website skills self assessment checklist to help you identify potential areas for improvement in your business.
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