Written by Jonathan Richter
As a small business owner, you’re probably aware that your website is more than just a digital brochure. In 2023, it’s your key to success online. By focusing on the essentials of small business website development, you’ll have a site that not only reflects your brand authentically, but also creates meaningful connections with your audience.
But how do you create a high-quality, affordable website that does all this and more?
In this comprehensive guide, you’ll find answers to your burning questions. Specifically, you’ll gain insights into best practices, understand costs involved, and learn the benefits of professional help over DIY. You’ll also discover what’s crucial in making your website modern, professional and optimized for search engines.
By the end, you’ll have the knowledge to make informed decisions on your website development journey that align with your business goals and budget.
These are questions that clients ask daily, so I’m excited to dive in.
Jump to Section:
- The Significance of Website Development for Small Businesses
- Best Practices for a High-Performing Small Business Website
- Understanding the Costs of Small Business Website Development
- DIY vs. Hiring a Pro: Making the Right Choice for Your Business
- Winnona Partners’ Approach to Small Business Website Development
- Embarking on Your Small Business Website Development Journey
The Significance of Website Development for Small Businesses
In today’s digital age, having a robust online presence isn’t just a nice-to-have—it’s an absolute must for every business. Ultimately, you need a distinctive website that gets results for your business long-term.
The Impact of a Professionally Designed Website
As a small business owner, you might be wondering about the tangible benefits of a professionally designed website. Let’s put it this way: your website is more than just an online business card or brochure. In 2023, your website is a powerful marketing tool that works for you 24/7.
A well-constructed website does more than just showcase your offerings. It elevates your brand, establishes your authority in the industry, and builds trust with your audience. When a visitor lands on your website, the actions they can take should be clear and intuitive.
In fact, a Stanford credibility study suggest that 75% of users judge a company’s credibility based on its website design.
Furthermore, your website serves as a platform for you to communicate with your customers. You can reach them via Google search, address their concerns, and provide them with valuable information.
This ongoing engagement not only drives customer loyalty but also boosts your business’s visibility in search engine rankings.
So let’s say that you know that you sell the best Christmas tree-shaped peanut butter dog cookies. If your website is effective, people should be able to find your company with a simple Google Search!
Driving Business Growth through Quality Web Development
You may already have a website, but if it isn’t well-designed and user-friendly, then it might not be reaching people the right way. Think of your website as your digital storefront. If visitors have trouble navigating, or if the content doesn’t clearly convey what you offer, they’re likely to leave and go elsewhere.
Therefore, quality web development isn’t about having the flashiest design or the latest features. In fact, most over-the-top animations actually slow down your website, which can have a negative effect your website’s ability to rank on Google search.
Instead of flashy animations, your small business website can evoke ‘quality’ by:
- Implementing elegant UI/UX that’s intuitive
- Crafting engaging content that resonates with your audience
- Ensuring fast loading times
If all of these things are done well, then your website should be able to drive traffic, enhances user engagement, and ultimately leads to higher conversion rates. Or better yet, more paying customers!
Do you have additional questions about the benefits of a high quality small business website? Schedule a free consultation with Winnona Partners today to learn more.
Best Practices for a High-Performing Small Business Website
In the fast-paced digital landscape, having a website is only half the battle won. A high-performing website is what truly sets your business apart.
But what does a high-performing website entail? Let’s dive into the critical elements that contribute to a successful and productive website for small businesses.
The Art of Making Your Website Look Modern and Professional
As I mentioned earlier, modern design isn’t just about having a sleek look or flashy animations. In fact, modern design is all about simplicity, and providing a streamlined and intuitive user experience.
A professional website should be easy to navigate, with clear menus that guide visitors to the information they’re seeking.
It should also be responsive, providing an excellent viewing experience on a variety of devices, from desktops to smartphones. After all, you want people who tap on your website from social media links to have a seamless experience.
Beyond functionality, your website should also reflect your brand’s personality. Color schemes, typography, and imagery should align with your brand aesthetic and resonate with your target audience.
But remember, less is often more. A clean, minimal design can help focus attention on your key messages and calls to action. Make sure that you or the development team you work with has a front end developer and UI/UX design experience.
SEO and Web Design Help: How to Find the Right Assistance
A beautifully designed website is great, but it needs to be found by your target audience. That’s where Search Engine Optimization (SEO) comes in. When SEO is done well, your website will reach more potential customers who are specifically searching for your products or services.
Hiring professionals who understand the ins and outs of SEO can make a significant difference. They’ll know how to optimize your site structure, keywords, and content to improve your search rankings.
And with the evolving nature of SEO, it’s important to choose professionals who stay current with the latest trends and guidelines, such as Google’s E-E-A-T (Expertise, Authoritativeness, Trustworthiness, and Experience) principles. With the help of professionals, your website will not only look great, but also perform well in the online market.
Remember, a successful website blends form and function, balancing aesthetic appeal with technical excellence. At Winnona Partners, we’ve been managing SEO for clients specifically since 2018. By leveraging tools like Semrush, we’re confident that we can create a website that elevates your small business to new heights.
Understanding the Costs of Small Business Website Development
Navigating the landscape of small business website development can be challenging, particularly when it comes to understanding the associated costs.
There’s no way around it, a business website or online store is an essential investment.
But how much should this investment cost, and how can you make the most out of your budget? Let’s break down the factors that determine the costs of website development. Along the way, I’ll provide some tips to manage your budget effectively.
What You’re Investing In: Costs of a Unique Business Website
Investing in a website is akin to investing in a virtual storefront for your business. The costs involved can vary significantly, based on several factors.
Some key considerations include:
- The number of pages
- The complexity of the site
- Any specific functionalities you need
- The level of customization
What do I mean by website “functionalities”? This refers to things like contact forms, web funnels, booking systems, or customer relationship management (CRM) integrations.
As with any investment, it’s important to focus on the value that your website will bring. For instance, let’s say you’re an insurance advisor who makes an average of $1,620 per new family insurance policy you sell. Let’s also say that your 5-page website costs $5,000 to develop, the standard price we charge for business websites. That means your website only needs to convert four clients total to make a profit, and you’ll nearly break even after converting just three clients.
Alternatively, you could start with something as simple as a landing page. We develop high quality landing pages for $1,000, meaning that you’ll get a positive ROI after converting just one client.
When it comes to investing in your website, try not to think of it as just a one-time expense. Rather, consider it an ongoing investment in your business’s growth and success.
Making the Most Out of Your Website Development Budget
Budgeting for a website can feel daunting, but with careful planning, it’s possible to create a high-quality website that delivers value without breaking the bank.
Here are a few tips:
- Prioritize your needs: Determine what pages and functionalities are essential to your business and start from there. Extra features and content can be added over time as your budget allows.
- Choose a reputable web development team: This isn’t an area where it pays to cut corners. A good development team will be upfront about costs, deliver a high-quality product, and offer ongoing support.
- Plan for ongoing costs and improvements: Remember that there will be costs associated with maintaining and updating your website. Be sure to factor these into your overall budget. We generally keep these costs very low ($400 or less per year).
At Winnona Partners, we understand that every dollar counts for small businesses. That’s why we’re dedicated to providing affordable and high-quality web development services that drive real results. We’re here to help you get the most out of your website investment.
If money is tight, perhaps starting with a landing page will be the best way to jumpstart your business presence online. Or maybe there’s one particular service or topic you want to rank for. If that’s the case, then it’s worth building several pieces of content surrounding that to maximize your digital footprint.
You can learn even more about our pricing and what to expect on our Website Development page.
DIY vs. Hiring a Pro: Making the Right Choice for Your Business
When it comes to developing a website for your business, one key question often arises: Do it yourself or hire a professional?
This decision isn’t a simple one. It depends on various factors, such as your budget, your technical skills, the complexity of your website, and how much time you can devote to the project.
Understanding the Time and Effort in Website Building
If you’re considering building a website yourself, it’s essential to understand the time and effort it entails. Sure, there are plenty of user-friendly website builders out there that can make the process seem simple. For instance, WordPress.com, SquareSpace, Wix, or Shopify are “no-code” solutions that allow you to build a simple website with drag and drop templates.
But a professional-looking, high-functioning website involves more than just choosing a theme and adding some text.
To build a website that truly reflects your brand and appeals to your target audience, you need to consider elements like responsive design, navigation, load times, SEO, and more. Plus, once the website is up, it needs regular updates and maintenance.
As you can see, the DIY approach can take months or even years to perfect. And that’s assuming that you’re constantly focused on making improvements and measuring results after the website is published.
Now let’s consider the agency perspective. We can launch a full client website in 30 days once we agree on the navigation and content strategy.
To help you decide which approach to take, ask yourself:
- Do I have the necessary time and skills to manage this?
- Am I prepared to keep up with the latest trends and best practices in web development?
- Do I already have the tools in place to measure the success of my website?
When to Consider Professional Help
If thinking about all these jobs feels too much, maybe it’s time to think about getting professional help. A professional web development team can build you a custom website designed with your specific business needs and audience in mind.
Plus, they can follow development best practices to ensure your website is easy for search engines to find, loads fast, tracks important data, and works smoothly on all devices.
I firmly believe that developing a website shouldn’t just be a guessing game. Without a strategic plan in place, website development can be like shooting darts with a blindfold on. In fact, creating a high quality website that drives traffic and gets results takes years of experience.
Hiring a professional doesn’t mean you lose control over your website. Instead, it gives you the chance to collaborate with experts who can turn your vision into reality. As a result, you’ll be free to focus on what you do best: running your business.
At Winnona Partners, we offer a unique approach to website development. We focus on providing a stress-free experience for our clients, handling everything from design and content creation, to ongoing maintenance. Get in touch to learn how we can help you build a website that drives your business success.
Winnona Partners’ Approach to Small Business Website Development
At Winnona Partners, we understand that building a business website is no small feat. It’s more than just an online representation of your company – it’s a powerful tool that can drive growth and success.
When we started in 2014, we, too, were navigating the uncharted waters of website development. We learned from each experience, honed our skills, and built a process that prioritizes quality and effectiveness. Today, we’re equipped with a solid game plan to deliver top-notch, result-oriented websites to small businesses.
In terms of our web development process, Winnona Partners websites are built using the React framework. That means that technically, the websites we create are web apps. In addition, we leverage third-party tools like Google Analytics and Semrush for measuring results.
Our approach is strategic, backed by years of experience and a deep understanding of the online landscape in various industries. We’re not just building websites; we’re helping you build your business.
Introducing the 3-C Framework
Our 3-C Framework is at the heart of our web development strategy. This stands for Content, Clarity, and Conversion, the three critical components of a successful business website.
Content is all about creating valuable, informative, and engaging information you provide to your visitors. It could take the form of blog posts, service descriptions, or customer testimonials.
Clarity refers to the structure, navigation, and overall user experience on your site. It ensures your website is not only aesthetically pleasing but also easy to use and navigate. However, clarity is also relevant from a content standpoint.
Having content is great. But even more important is using the right language to speak to the right people at the right time. Just like Donald Miller states in his bestselling book Building a StoryBrand: “People are drawn to clarity, and away from confusion.”
Lastly, Conversion is focused on turning your visitors into customers or leads. Through strategic CTA placement and creating an intuitive user journey, we aim to boost your website’s conversion rates.
This integrated approach ensures that your website is not only engaging but also highly functional, driving tangible results for your business.
“WONDERFUL experience!”
Jonathan at Winnona Partners is brilliant, so kind, patient, always had the best suggestions and could not have been more helpful. My website is done—-beautiful, simple, elegant and gets out there exactly what I wanted people to know about me, my team and what we do and love doing it. WONDERFUL experience!!! Love these guys!!!
– Joann Taylor, Taylor Design Consultants
Affordable, Quality Web Development with Winnona Partners
At Winnona Partners, we believe that high-quality website development shouldn’t break the bank. That’s why we offer affordable solutions tailored to your unique business needs and goals. With client calls and keyword research, we’ll make a website solution that benefits your business most today.
Winnona Partners is located in Atlanta, GA. All of our software is built in-house in the US, which allows us to work directly with you. This means there’s no risk of communication breakdowns or challenging time differences which you’re likely to find with outsourcing.
Our team members often wear many hats. In fact, most of the time my business partner Chris Waterbury and I handle all aspects of the website project.
This includes roles such as:
- Requirement Analyst
- Project Manager
- Content Creator
- Writer
- SEO Specialist
- UI/UX Designer
- Integration Specialist
- Front End Developer
- Back End Developer
- QA Engineer
When it comes to developing software, we believe in providing a stress-free experience from the initial design stages to the launch and beyond.
Remember, investing in a quality website isn’t just about having an online presence. It’s about creating a platform that drives growth, engages your audience, and establishes your business’s credibility.
Experience the Winnona Partners difference and discover how we can help take your business to the next level. Schedule a free consultation today to learn more.
Embarking on Your Small Business Website Development Journey
You have come a long way. You understand the value of a well-crafted, professional website for your small business. You are ready to take the plunge.
I know that navigating the world of website development may seem daunting, but it doesn’t have to be. Here, we’ll outline the final steps you need to consider as you embark on your small business website development journey.
Getting Your Business Ready for Website Development
As you get ready to embark on this journey, remember, content is king. Understanding your business, your audience, and the message you want to convey will be paramount.
In addition, I encourage you to reflect on the user experience for someone visiting your website. In other words, think about your customer’s journey on your website from their perspective, not just your own.
Most business websites are entirely too focused on talking about themselves and the history of their business, but to a potential customer this is boring and irrelevant!
Instead, you want speak directly to your customers in a way that’s engaging, informative, and compelling.
Furthermore, make sure your website’s design and navigation are clean, modern, and intuitive. Include plenty of CTAs throughout your website, and make sure to limit the amount of friction it takes for them to reach you.
So even though a website is a representation of your business online, remember that conversion is the ultimate goal. Each element on your website should guide visitors towards the desired action. Common examples of CTAs include making a purchase, requesting a quote, subscribing to a newsletter, or reaching out for a consultation.
For most small businesses, converting website visitors into clients or customers requires a lot more than a simple contact form. You may need to reach people who are at various stages of the buyer’s journey. This means moving people through various stages of awareness with informative web pages, blog posts, and other strategic content resources.
Your Next Step: Choosing Winnona Partners for Your Website Development
Why is Winnona Partners your ideal choice for this journey? Because we don’t just build websites. We create online experiences that reflect the essence of your small business while targeting your desired audience. We use the 3-C Framework (Content, Clarity, Conversion) to make your website a powerful tool for business growth.
Not only will your site be aesthetically pleasing and user-friendly, but it will also meet the new E-E-A-T Google ranking factor. Your site will also stand a better chance at ranking for important search topics with the help of Semrush keyword tools.
With Winnona Partners, you’ll enjoy an affordable, stress-free website development process. As a result, you’ll be free to focus on what you do best – running your business. Meanwhile, we’ll take care of creating an online presence that stands out, attracts, and converts.
Ready to take the first step towards infinite business growth? Schedule a free consultation and explore how Winnona Partners can help bring your vision to life.
Your journey towards a successful small business website begins here!
