In the age of online shopping and an abundance of virtual business, your website has the power to generate more income than ever before.

In the United States alone, online shopping generated $59.8 billion in adjusted sales according to statistics published in February 2019. Online businesses continue to grow from work with affiliate programs, e-commerce sites, and even popular Instagram accounts.

Let's face it — storefronts are great, but if you are a modern entrepreneur, you know the importance of a robust online presence. Between easily accessible SEO resources and the wealth of affordable web designers available, you can bring your business's website to the next level. Use these web design and SEO tips to build a dynamic website or give your already existing one a makeover. 

Web Design for Beginners

We cannot stress enough the importance of your website in the contemporary online landscape. Your site is the customer's introduction to your brand and product.

With these key steps, you can put your best foot forward online.

1. Hire a Web Design Service

If you have the means and want to support a local business, we recommend hiring a web designer. They work remotely all over the country. From Michigan web designers to firms in New York City, these website experts have the technical abilities that you may lack. They will help you establish a consistent aesthetic and structure that you can use moving forward.

2. Research Your Software

Whether you hire a web designer or build your site yourself, research your software before committing to it. A company like WordPress may provide more resources for a blog, for example, than Wix. If you're a photographer a company like Squarespace may offer more gallery features for your work than Weebly. Make sure the software is the right fit for your business's needs.

3. Create a Consistent Aesthetic

Creating a consistent and cohesive aesthetic gives your customers an understanding of who you are. This look and style should be present in your social media and branding choices as well. The aesthetic of the website will give your brand a personalized feeling that allows your customers to better connect with your business.

SEO Made Easy

Now that we've covered the website itself, let's discuss SEO, also known as search engine optimization. SEO allows your site to pop up when potential customers research specific keywords or topics related to your products and services. These key steps will help you improve your SEO.

1. Figure Out Your Ranking

Your “ranking” refers to your site as it appears when someone researches related keywords or topics. If your website promotes a wellness blog, for example, and someone researches a related search term, you want your website to appear early in the search engine results. You can figure out your ranking by simply typing in the search terms that should lead customers to your site.

2. Make Connections

A big part of gaining higher rankings involves getting other reputable websites to mention your page and/or product. If you spend some time fostering relationships with other writers from reputable sites, ideally they will mention your product in their articles, thus bringing you new customers.

3. Hire an SEO Consultant

Between building a branding strategy and improving the quality of your product, you may not have time to focus on improving your SEO. If you have the means, hiring an SEO consultant is a worthy investment.

Final Thoughts

By developing your SEO and creating a user-friendly, aesthetically pleasing website, you will ensure positive, consistent customer traffic. Building an online business can be time-consuming but these simple steps will take your online presence to the next level.