How to Build a Better Website for Your Startup

Canada is a nation of go-getters. Entrepreneurism is in our DNA. In a recent GoDaddy survey, 77% of young Canadians said they would like to be their own boss.

Successful businesses all seem to have great websites combined with robust social and digital strategies to help them stand out from the competition, break through the noise, and build a growing company.

At the heart of a successful online strategy for any small business is that great website. But the idea of building your own website from scratch may seem daunting to many people.

Every business is unique, with different goals and needs. No matter the size of your business, however—or your level of technical expertise—there are a variety of options to help you get your business online, whether you want to do it yourself, have someone help you do it, or have someone do it for you.

Here’s a few things to think about as you consider your approach.

Do it for me

Small business owners have lots on their mind at all times, and sometimes adding website building on top of that can be daunting.

In this case, it can be beneficial to hire an expert to help you build a professional website that will allow your business to shine.

This allows you to focus on other areas of the business without having the stress of creating a website.

Do it with me

Some small business owners have a vision for their website—but need help realizing that vision. In this case, it’s important to choose a partner that provides good customer service.

You want to have helpful customer support readily available when you need it most.

Do it yourself

When you’re building a website yourself, it’s important to think about what it takes to stand out in today’s crowded online market. One tool is the GoDaddy Website Builder, which allows entrepreneurs to create a website in under one hour. You can personalize a website using thousands of combinations of options for style, color, fonts, and images.

With today’s web building tools, entrepreneurs have the ability to make changes and updates whenever and wherever, including on their mobile phone. Building your own site is budget-friendly and allows you to have full creative control. It might require a little more attention, but you get to stay in the driver’s seat.

Tips for creating a great website

Keep it simple: Think of your customers and how they will interact with your website. If you were a customer, what would you want to see?

Make sure that your website always provides an easy, fast and reliable user experience. Don’t forget to make valuable information like store location, hours and contact information obvious.

Make it attractive: They say pictures speak a thousand words, so use attractive images to cut down on copy. Customers come to your website to research your product before making a purchase, so make it hard for them to scroll away.

With a library of Getty photography, GoDaddy’s Website Builder has thousands of images to choose from, or you can upload your own images. If you are using your own photos, make sure that they are the proper resolution for the best aesthetics.

Make your website work for you: You are a busy entrepreneur who is always on-the-go, so build a website that works for you and your business. It is great to build websites on your desktop, but look for a mobile-first option, so you and customers have more choice. Making quick edits and revisions on your phone while in transit is always a plus. Having a mobile site also ensures that you show up in Google, which will drive more people to your site.

No matter what approach you choose, consider now is the time to grow your dreams and life-fulfilling ventures, starting with building a website.

Jill Schoolenberg is GoDaddy’s country manager for Canada.