In the first few stages of building your company you’ll need to launch your company online if you want to achieve success.
Given the fact that we live in a technological era, not using the internet and social media platforms to your benefit could spell disaster for your startup before it actually begins to take its first steps. So here’s what you should know about launching your business online. You need to name your startup, secure your email account and create your website so that the operations of your company run smoothly. So, let’s talk about websites, domain names, social media and even the almighty cloud.
So how does it feel when you hear the phrases like “cloud-based computing”, “image resolution” or “meta-tags”? Do you feel a bit anxious or nervous? If you’re anything like most entrepreneurs, you probably love the Internet. But then again, who doesn’t? It makes our life a lot easier and you don’t have to go to school for years to learn all the complicated aspects.
But don’t fret; launching your business online is far easier than you might think. Just follow these three easy steps and you’ll have something to impress someone in no time.
- Name your company. Come to think of it, naming your company is probably the hardest step when launching a business. The lucky ones already have an available name ready to go. In most cases, starting a business is something most people dream about for decades. So it’s safe to say you know how it’s going to be named. Yet, that doesn’t stop most of us from stressing about the business name like we would stress about naming our first born. And then you start to ask yourself. Is the name too playful? But what if it isn’t? Does the name have to spell exactly what the company does? How will it look on a billboard? What if I become the laughing stock of my friends and family? Is the domain name available? If not, what then?
Yeah, that’s a lot to consider. But in all honesty, it’s worth it. By choosing the right name you ensure it will keep inspiring you and make you keep going even through the rough patches. Moreover, the name can make it easier for customers to remember who you are and what you do.
The good news is that you shouldn’t worry as much about domain names given the fact that the internet is constantly changing. Over time, it has become less and less important. In the past, the pool you could choose from had only a handful of domain name endings that were actually important. All domain names possess the same quality: they are unique. And the moment a person buys a domain name, it’s taken. And if you’re facing this problem you have two options. Either you come up with something else or try to buy the domain name by paying top dollar to the person who owns it. It shouldn’t come as a surprise that for the popular domain name extensions, a lot of the great names are taken. It’s not all bad news. You have plenty of options. This year, over 700 new domain name endings have entered the market. Name such as .lawyer, .photography or .guru are now at your fingertips. So what does this mean? Well, it means that there’s a good chance that regardless of the name of your business, you have plenty of options for a domain name to match it.
If you’re interested in seeing a list of all the names that will be available, make sure to check out the domain extensions over at GoDaddy.
- Next you should probably get an email address. You might be inclined to think: “Wait! I already have an email address. Why do I need a new one?”. Actually, I do, too. Most of us have an old one we created a decade ago which we use for everything. And I understand where you’re coming from. Still, by having a domain name for you company, you will want an email address for your business. And you’re going to put it everywhere: business cards, social media profiles, etc. You don’t need an ordinary email address but rather a branded one. It shows that you’re a professional.
The only tip I could offer you here is to ensure you get an email account that has the capability of growing on you.
- Last but not least, start building your website. I saved this step for last simply because it may feel daunting to some. While there are a lot of options, probably, the safest bet is to go the simple way. Just use a plain old website builder, work on your coding skills, or, if you prefer and have the money, hire someone to do it for you.
It’s all about the type of person you are? Still, for me, speed is the way to go, especially given today’s technologized world. So instead of buying books about HTML5, try and create something that can be put together in a few days.
There are a lot of simple website builders out there. Just use Google and type in “simple website builder” and see what your options are. The website builder should have the following characteristics: reliable, inexpensive, easy to customize, breathtaking templates, 24/7 support and social integration. Focus first on content marketing and fill your website with useful information and details about your product or service. Afterwards you can use SEO and SEM techniques in order to increase your websites visibility.
Now your company is live. Pretty easy, right? No rocket science knowledge required. Just stick to these steps and you’ll be just fine. Good luck!