Why a website is just the beginning

Studio Lago Design- Claire Owen Cakes Desktop website view

Why a website is just the beginning

Mar 24, 2023

You’ve got a business so you need a website, of course. And a website is an essential part of establishing an online presence for any business or individual. However, it’s just the beginning of a much larger process. Once your website is launched, that’s the start of something much, much bigger. Just because a website is live, it doesn’t mean anyone is going to know it’s there or just stumble upon it automatically.

It’s important to think of your website as the shop window to your online world, but what I always explain to my clients is that a website is never finished. A website should grow as your business does, but also it will be in need of constant updates, promotion and you’ll need to have ways to make sure it continues to stand out and get noticed.

Here are some reasons why your website is just the start…

Online marketing

Once a website is up and running, the next step is to market it effectively. This includes using various online marketing techniques such as search engine optimization (SEO), pay-per-click (PPC) advertising, social media marketing, and email marketing for example. These are all ways to drive traffic to your website and grow your business. It’s so important to remember that a website needs to be promoted once it’s launched and you’ll need a great and consistent marketing strategy to do this.

Studio Lago Design- Malarkey Cakes Cakes Mobile website view

Content creation

A website is only as good as its content. Ongoing content creation is essential to keep a website relevant and interesting for visitors. This includes creating blog posts, videos, podcasts, and other forms of content that can be shared on social media and other platforms. Google also loves fresh content and your website will perform better if it has new and interesting content that people will interact with rather than out of date and irrelevant information that will put your website users off.

Analytics and optimization

To ensure a website is performing at its best, ongoing monitoring and optimization are necessary. This includes tracking metrics such as traffic, bounce rates, conversion rates, and engagement levels to identify areas for improvement and make changes as needed. How can you know your website is performing if you don’t track these metrics? It’s important to remember that investing in a website is an important business move, but it’s just as important to see that you are making a return on your investment

User experience

A website should be designed with the user in mind, ensuring it is easy to navigate, loads quickly, and provides a positive user experience. Ongoing testing and optimization can help improve the user experience and keep visitors coming back. User experience is also considered important for your website’s SEO and how well it ranks on Google. This can be down to how well your users can do the things they want to do on your site and how easy it is for them to find what they’re looking for.

Studio Lago Design- Abstract Events Desktop website view

A website is just the beginning of an ongoing process to establish a successful online presence. It’s important to remember that your website on its own won’t bring you business. You’ll need to work hard and have a strategy in place for content creation, SEO advertising and driving traffic to your site. A well promoted website and one that’s well designed and considers things like user experience will bring you business.

A website is never finished so testing in terms of user experience and making necessary tweaks and changes to your site is also important.

If you’d like to find out more about how I help business owners create standout branding and websites and help them elevate their online businesses so they can grow and thrive, get in touch and we can chat all about how I can help you.

get in touch

About the designer...

Hi! I’m Katie. Helping busy business owners create bold online brands and stand-out, non-boring websites is my jam. I’m passionate about giving once-upon-a-time-website DIYers, ambitious entrepreneurs and founders back the time to focus on doing the things they love the most in their businesses, giving them clarity in their online presence and the confidence to grow big!

Through this blog and on social media I share my advice and best practices with business owners on how to build strong brands that will start attracting their dream customers and website that work by focusing on strategy and business goals.

When I’m not working with inspiring business owners or designing wedding cakes, you’ll probably find me dreaming of what my next meal will be, the best fruit garnishes for a gin and tonic or where we’ll travel to on our next adventure.

The latest on the blog

How to craft your brand message

Crafting a brand message is essential to connecting with your target audience and establishing a strong brand identity. Your brand message should be clear, concise, and easy to understand. So, what is your brand message and why is it important? Your branding goes way beyond just the visuals and having a brand message that’s consistent across platforms and everywhere you show up is key. You can...

Designing at desktop computer aerial view- Studio Lago Design

The Road to Branding Success: Avoiding These 5 Common Pitfalls

As a small business owner, establishing a strong brand is essential to success. There are several common branding pitfalls that small business owners often fall into that I have seen all too often in action. These can have a negative impact on your brand image and business. Avoid these 5 common branding pitfalls as a small business owner: Inconsistent Branding Inconsistency in branding is one of...

How to keep visitors on your website for longer

As a website designer, one of the most important goals I need to consider when designing, is how to keep visitors engaged and interested in the content on your site. A website that is able to do this will not only increase the time visitors spend on the site, but it will also lead to higher conversion rates and a better overall user experience. Here are some effective strategies that I consider...

What is brand messaging and why is it so important?

As a branding and website designer, I see first hand the importance of brand messaging for small businesses. Brand messaging is the process of crafting a clear and consistent message that communicates what a business stands for and what it offers to its target audience. A strong brand message can help small businesses stand out in a crowded market, build trust and credibility with consumers, and...

How many pages should your website have?

If you're at the stage where you need a website for a new business or perhaps updating to a new and improved one, one of the questions you may be asking yourself is how many pages should it have? This can be a difficult question to answer as there isn't necessarily a one-size-fits-all solution. However, there are a few factors to consider that can help you make an informed decision. What’s the...

Why you should have a clickable email signature

You probably use email as an essential communication tool in your business, to exchange information, make appointments, and to establish and maintain relationships with customers, colleagues, and partners. With all of the email messages that we send and receive, it's important to make sure that we're taking full advantage of the opportunities that email presents. One way to do this is by making...

Studio Lago Design digital business card

Why you should hire a professional branding designer

Branding can be the key to success for any business, big or small. It’s the way your customers perceive you and your business and the experience you offer your clients when they work with you. A strong brand identity can differentiate your business from your competitors, create trust and loyalty with your customers and can make your business instantly recognisable. That’s why it is essential to...

Humanising your brand

As a branding and website designer, I see how important it is to help my clients create a brand that connects with their audience in an authentic way. In such a fast-paced digital world, consumers crave authenticity, connection, and relatability. A humanized brand is one that creates an emotional connection with its customers, and this connection can drive long-term loyalty and repeat business. ...

The importance of brand tone of voice

As a branding and website designer, I get the importance of creating a strong brand that speaks to your audience. But beyond the visual aspects of branding, such as colors and logos, lies a crucial component that often gets overlooked: tone of voice. Your brand’s tone of voice is how your brand communicates with your audience, and it can greatly impact how your brand is perceived. Let’s look at...

Why blog in 2023?

I blog every single week for my business. Some would say that blogging is dead, especially in 2023 when there are so many other tools, platforms and ways to get your ideas out there and promote your business. But, blogging in 2023 can still be so worthwhile. There are many reasons why writing a blog for your business can be a valuable investment. Here are a few potential benefits: Sharing your...