Despite their inherent ‘do-it-all’ nature, entrepreneurs occasionally grapple with problems they can’t solve. A common early problem is how to build their first business website.
Sure, it’s possible to muddle through and create a basic website. But, if you really want the site to portray the business in the best possible light, the input of a web developer can be invaluable to achieving the goal.
“The developer’s job is to create a website that reflects your business’ service or products, while freeing your time to focus on the day-to-day,” said Maria Konstantinov, Developer at Digital Agency Studio Tuman.
“Working with a developer ensures that your site follows the best practices for SEO, is effective on mobile devices, and remains up-to-date, all which are crucial for a successful web presence.”
5 Reasons You Should Hire a Web Developer
The first choice a start-up faces when launching a site is which platform to host it on. WordPress, Shopify and Squarespace are the three most common choices, with each providing their own strengths and weaknesses. WordPress is by far the most popular of the trio, but it’s also the one that requires the most input from a developer. Think of WordPress as a ball of clay. It can be moulded and stretched into almost any shape but this generally requires input of a developer to make it fit for purpose and aesthetically pleasing. Below, we’ve listed 5 reasons you should hire a web developer to assist with your business website.
It’s a Time Saver
You’ve likely heard the adage that everything is possible if you’re willing to put in the effort. For a start-up business, the effort you put into blundering through a website build can undoubtedly be better spent on other areas of the business. In fact, every minute you spend learning how to build a website is a minute stolen from developing your business.
Your Website Will Work
Enlisting the services of an expert means you’ll receive a quality product that’s responsive, works and can be easily updated. A bad website creates a poor first impression on potential customers. Is this something you’re OK with? Developers offer ongoing support and the technical expertise to make updates as required.
Think Mobile
The number of mobile visits to websites continues to increase each year. It’s vital your site is designed with mobile in mind. With mobile-friendly designs constantly iterated upon, your site will need to be compatible with as many mobile devices as possible. A web developer will understand these trends and will account for mobile when building your site.
Consider the SEO
Once the website is built, the task of getting it in front of customers begins. When building a site, a developer understands search engine optimization and can build the site to be SEO friendly. If your site isn’t optimized from the start, it will be difficult for visitors to find you, causing your business to miss out on potential customers.
Future Proofing
A developer will build your website so that it can be easily iterated upon in future. The URL structure will follow a logical pattern and it will be easy to amend going forward. If you’re looking to quickly grow or scale upwards, having the ability to grow your site alongside you is invaluable. You don’t want a scenario where, down the road, you’ll have to build a whole new website to suit your new situation.
Find Out More
Interested in learning how to get your first website off the ground? Small Business BC offers a range of services that can help. Attend our Creating Your First Business Website seminar, or book a one-on-one consultation with our website expert as part of our Talk to an Expert advisory series.