You have the perfect business idea and are now planning to create ripples in the cybersphere as well with a well thought out, user-friendly, SERP preferred website. Sounds like a plan!
Well, before you set out in the endeavour to create the best website ever, allow us to make the path a little easier for you with our special website development checklist that will help you patch up any chinks in the armour.
Ranging from ensuring cybersecurity with the right SSL certificate to user-friendly UI and UX, we have got you covered. Read on to know more.
1. Choose & Buy A Suitable Domain Name For Your Business Website
The first thing to consider in the ideal website launch checklist would undoubtedly be securing your preferred domain name. A business is known by its brand name so give it the weightage it deserves and quickly secure a quirky and apt domain name asap!
Stick to easy-to-remember and short words; no one will connect with long and tedious words that are irrelevant to the product or service you offer. Also, know that domain hoarding is on the rise, so don’t wait too long to secure your perfect domain name.
2. Invest In The Cybersecurity Of Your Site Connection With An SSL Certificate
Hackers and scammers are on the prowl for confidential information such as credit card and debit card details. If you wish to launch an ecommerce website, you need to be extra vigilant in ensuring your site’s security.
Customers will not be comfortable sharing their PII (Personally Identifiable Information) with an unencrypted site connection. They will always look out for the secure padlock sign and https in the website URL before purchasing.
In layman terms, HTTPS = HTTP + SSL. SSL or Secure Socket Layer refers to a digital security protocol that offers an encrypted and secure channel for conducting confidential exchanges. The HTTPS protocol is a more secure one than the unencrypted HTTP protocol, where the data is exchanged in plain text. Investing in SSL certificates can be a beneficial task especially when you buy low priced SSL certificates like cheap rapidSSL certificates.
Apart from ensuring unmatched security for the domains and subdomains secured, Google prefers sites with HTTPS protocol enabled. This is because Google gives more weightage to sites that are safe and take the requisite measures to secure confidential customer data.
You can invest in a cost-effective cheap SSL certificate from the house of trusted Certificate Authorities or reliable SSL resellers.
3. Select The Perfect Website Host
The website host or server that you choose to go with will, in turn, have a bearing on the storage for your scripts and technology, website speed, etc. It would be best to choose the right server in the developmental stage itself.
These can be built locally, rented or come free with the platform you choose.
4. Curate & Publish Quality Content
Developing premium content that meets the users’ specific needs and queries in the related field is an art and a science. It would be best if you struck the perfect balance between informative and saleable content without appearing too pushy regarding your product or service.
Keyword stuffing is another blunder that should be avoided as SERPs easily filter out such content. Duplicate content can also affect site rankings. To gain authenticity, stick to maintaining a keyword density of one per 150 words.
Optimized content has a greater chance of reaching your target audience. Choosing the right keywords is another factor you need to chalk out in detail. Go for ones that people generally search for while looking for a product or service in your niche.
For example, if you sell socks, you could go for keywords like buy socks, quirky socks in India, socks for men, buy printed socks, etc.
5. Develop A Solid Search Engine Optimization Strategy (SEO)
When you build your dream website, you will want it to rank in the first position on the first page of SERPs. It is a known fact that people rarely look past the first or second page of Google while searching for results online. It might seem like an uphill battle for new entrants, but you can always lay a firm foundation with the best-in-class SEO strategies. Hire SEO executives, or maybe get in touch with an agent who can chalk out the perfect SEO game for you!
Some pointers can be;
- Develop meta descriptions for each page on your site
- Invest in reducing site load speeds to less than two seconds
- Get into thorough keyword research and implement the results of that in your alt text and written content
6. Be Social Media Savvy & Generate The Right Online Buzz
You cannot sideline social media marketing in today’s hyper-social media-friendly age. Linking your social media accounts is the first step towards increasing visibility.
An integral part of off-page SEO practices, it ensures that your customers can connect with you on various platforms. Post relevant content on your socials and respond to all negative or positive comments to engender great brand goodwill in the cybersphere.
7. Fix Broken Links
Nothing irks site visitors more than landing on error pages. Fix those errant broken links and get friends to help you spot these as well! For example, if a particular product is out of stock and may be replaced later, you can always consider linking that product to the relevant collection. This will ensure that the customer is redirected to many similar products. More options, more purchases! Pretty win-win situation, we say.
Parting Shot
With the online sphere birthing a considerable number of websites daily, you need to step up your game if you want your website to stand out amongst its competitors. Right from selecting and buying the aptest domain name, installing an SSL certificate to rule out data interception, and curating the best possible quality content for your website, we have endeavoured to enlist the significant factors you should consider in your quest for publishing your dream website. Got more ideas to share? Hit us up in the comments box below!
