Non-technical guide to setting up your first website

Look, we get it. You might be thinking, "Can't I just use Facebook or Instagram?" Sure, social media is great, but here's the thing:

1. A website makes you look legit. It shows you mean business.
2. You're in control. Unlike social media, you decide how everything looks and works.
3. You won’t wake up one morning to find you’ve lost all your followers because the social media company decided to close or suspend your account — yes, this happens!
4. It's your own little piece of the internet.

Plus, when someone googles your business name (and trust us, they will), you want them to land on your website, not your competitor's!

Before we get into the nitty-gritty how to create a website for a business, let's talk about domain names. Think of it as your address on the internet. It's usually your business name followed by .co.nz or .nz or even .kiwi.

Here's a pro tip: If you can, grab both the .co.nz and .nz versions. It's like buying insurance for your online identity. You don't want some other joker using a similar name and confusing your customers!

Before you start building, think about what you want your website to achieve. It's like planning a holiday — you need to know where you're heading before you start booking flights!

Whatever it is, write it down. It'll help keep you on track when you're deciding what to put on your website. So, grab a cuppa, sit down with a pen and paper, and jot down three things you want your website to do for your business. Keep it simple — we're not trying to take over the internet here!

Now that you've sorted out your goals, let's figure out what your website actually needs. Think of it like packing for that holiday — you want to bring everything you need but not lug around a bunch of stuff you won't use.

Right, time to give your website some bones! A good structure makes it easy for visitors to find what they're after. Here are the pages most business websites need:

• Homepage: Your digital storefront. Make it clear what you do and why you're awesome at it. This is the page people will generally see first.
• About us: Tell your story. People love to know who they're dealing with.
• Products/services: What you're offering. Be clear and specific.
• Contact us: Make it dead easy for people to get in touch. Let them know where you are located — people trust New Zealand-operated businesses more.

FAQs: Answer common questions to save time for you and your customers.

PRO TIP: Sketch out a simple 'sitemap' — that's just a fancy term for a list of your pages and how they link together. It'll help you visualise your website before you start building.

Let's talk about your website's address — your domain name. It's like choosing a name for your first-born; you want to get it right! Your domain name is what people type into their browser to find you, like jumpstarter.co.nz. 

PRO TIP: Before you settle on a domain, try saying it out loud. It might not be the best choice if it's hard to spell or sounds odd when you say it.

Got your domain name? Great! Now your website needs a home on the internet. That's where hosting comes in. All your website content — files, pages, blog posts, product descriptions and photographs — needs to be stored online so people can access it. A hosting company provides you with some space on their computers called servers to keep all this information accessible on the internet. Think of it like renting a space for your digital shop or office.

Most Kiwi businesses starting out do well with shared hosting — it's the cheapest option where your site shares a server with others. It’s similar to renting an apartment or a hotel room — only you have access to your own space, but you share the building with other people. As you grow, you might consider upgrading to a virtual private server (VPS) or dedicated server — it’s like renting a villa all for yourself.     

Some hosting companies offer extras like automatic backups or website builders. These can be handy if you're new to this.

PRO TIP: Don't just go for the cheapest option. Read reviews and consider starting with a monthly plan so you can switch if needed.

Alright, decision time! Should you roll up your sleeves and build the website yourself, or call in the pros? Let's break it down:

DIY website design can save you a good chunk of change upfront. Thanks to free website builder tools like WordPress and Wix, and paid ones like Squarespace, even us non-techies can whip up a simple website. It's a bit like those flatpack furniture kits — with some time and patience, you can create something pretty decent.

But here's the catch: if you're after something more sophisticated or custom, you might find yourself spending more time than you bargained for. And let's be honest, that's time you could be spending running your business.

On the flip side, hiring a professional web developer does mean opening your wallet quite a bit wider. But you're paying for their expertise and time. They can build you a website that not only looks beautiful but also has some custom functionality that’s not available out of the box. For example, if you want to have a complex quote-building system, or if you need to have a shipping cost calculator that does correct maths on large combined orders, accounting for the size and weight of different products, you may need some professional help.

Remember, whether you go DIY or pro, make sure you end up with a website that truly represents your business and serves your customers well.

PRO TIP: If you do go the DIY route, start with a simple design and add features gradually. It's easier to build up than to start with something complicated!

Your website's up, but now you need to fill it with words that'll make your visitors stick around. 

Now, let's talk about the pictures on your website. They're not just there to look pretty — they're telling your customers about your business without saying a word.

You've got a couple of options here. You could use your own photos (just make sure they're sharp and well-lit), or you could use stock images — stock images are someone else’s images that you can buy a license to use. But if you go overboard with stock photos, your site might end up looking a bit... well, stock standard.

If you're after some top-notch stock images, check out Unsplash or Pixabay. They've got some great stuff that is free or low-cost, so it won't break the bank. Just be aware that really good free images from these sources have probably been used on many websites and blogs all over the world already.

But here's a little insider tip: there's this thing called "real people" stock imagery. You can find it on sites like Truestock. These pics might cost a bit more, but if you want that authentic Kiwi vibe for your homepage, they could be just the ticket. It's like the difference between a generic postcard and a photo of your actual neighbourhood — worth considering if you want to really connect with your local customers!

PRO TIP: Whatever images you choose, make sure they reflect your brand personality. If you're a fun, quirky business, don't fill your site with stuffy corporate photos!

Now for a bit of the techy stuff — don't worry, we'll keep it simple!

1. Mobile-friendly. Your site needs to look good on phones and small screens. Most website builders do this automatically these days.
2. Fast loading. Nobody likes a slow website. Use small image files, and don't go overboard with flashy features.
3. Security. Be sure your website displays the padlock icon in the address bar — that way, visitors know your website is secure! Learn more about keeping your website and your customer data safe — check out Own your online resource for more guidance.

Will your business be selling goods online? You’ll want to consider using an e-commerce platform (such as Shopify or WooCommerce) that can tick off these extra requirements:

• Secure payment system
• Clear product photos and descriptions
• Easy-to-use shopping cart
• Straightforward checkout process
• Clear shipping and returns policies.

PRO TIP: Before you launch, get some friends or family to do some test orders, make sure everything works smoothly. Check out all the automatic emails customers receive from your e-commerce system — are they informative? Can you improve them and make the tone truly yours? More often than not, these emails can be customised. 

Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) helps people find you on Google, by improving your ranking in search results. Keywords are words or phrases that people typically use when searching for information related to your business or content. To find your keywords, think about what search words your target audience might use on Google to find your products or services, and make sure your content is relevant to them.

Launching your website is the biggest part, but don’t forget that it will need a little bit of ongoing love to stay running smoothly:

• Regularly update your content.
  • Keep existing content up to date: This shows search engines that your site is actively maintained and provides current information.
  • Publish new content regularly: This gives search engines more content to find your business and provides fresh information for your audience. 
  • Both practices signal to search engines that your site is active and relevant, which can improve your ranking in search results.
• Update your website systems and plugins — updates often address security vulnerabilities. If an update is available for your chosen platform or plugin, back up your site first, and then update to keep both you and your customers safe. 
• Set up automatic, regular backups. Configure automated backups to run in the background regularly. Keep multiple versions spanning several weeks — this can be a lifesaver if your site gets hacked or infected, as older backups may still be clean. Having a four-week-old clean backup can save you from a lot of stress and work if recent backups are compromised.

PRO TIP: Set a monthly reminder to review and update your website.

Let's chat about website analytics — your website's report card. It's not as scary as it sounds, promise!

Think of analytics as a window into how people use your website. It shows you how many visitors you're getting, which pages they love, and how they found you. Google Analytics is a popular (and free!) tool for this. It's like having a smart assistant watching your website 24/7 and taking notes.

For example, you might discover tons of people visit your 'About us' page — maybe it's time to spruce it up? Or you might see most visitors come from Facebook — could be a sign to focus your marketing there.

But remember, this info is only useful if you actually look at it and use it. It's like owning a fitness tracker but never checking your step count!

You don't need to become a data whiz. Just aim to understand how your website's doing so you can make it work harder for your business. Who knows? You might discover you really enjoy it!

PRO TIP: Don't get lost in all the numbers. Focus on a few key metrics that match your business goals. Want more calls? Watch how many folks visit your contact page.

Congratulations! You've made it through our guide to setting up your business website. Remember, your website is a powerful tool for your business — it's working for you 24/7, even when you're asleep or on holiday.

Don't forget to secure both your .nz and .co.nz domain names to protect your online identity. And whether you've gone DIY or professional, make sure your website truly represents your business and serves your customers well.

Good luck, and here's to your online success!