The internet has changed the way we communicate, shop, and explore. We don’t hesitate to ask Google which shops are open or are within our proximity. We head to the internet to do our shopping or reserve items that we can then collect in store. We communicate with businesses through websites and social media. If your business doesn’t have a website, you’re missing out on all these opportunities.

For example, if you’re a local retailer, getting yourself a website could mean people in your town are more likely to find your shop online when researching the local area. There could even be the opportunity to sell your products online or take requests for quotes. You have the chance to proactively reach customers before they’re in the radius of your store and the opportunity to connect with them once they’ve visited you, all through an online presence.

If building a website and getting your business online seems daunting, technical or just too time-consuming, it’s not. Replace the images your mind conjures up when you think of creating a website. Replace lines and lines of code with easy drag-and-drop functions; spending hours trying to buy a domain name with a process that takes minutes; and an overwhelming maze of technical information and thousands of webpages with a simple, guided, step-by-step process.

Getting your business online needn’t be a chore, instead it’s an opportunity to get creative, and one which is very exciting. At the UK Domain we have created a simple seven-step action plan to help your business get up and running with a website in no time. You can view more details on each of these 7 steps in this article here. Or if you’re looking for more detail, why not download your own copy of the UK Domain’s guide to getting online, “Get your business online in four easy steps” here.

Getting online with a website – the 7-step action plan:

Choose a domain name

Domain names are the string of characters that are used to identify websites online, like theukdomain.uk or bbc.co.uk.

Choose a registrar

Registrars are online retailers that sell domain names.

Decide on the purpose and design of your website

Set aside some time to plan what you want your website to do and which design is best suited to your needs.

Choose a website platform

Choose how you’re going to build your website. Are you going to use a web builder? Or you may be considering using a web design agency to help.

Build your website

There are a number of must-have details to feature on your website, including your business name and logo, contact details, and a clear headline on what your business offers customers.

Testing

Before you hit launch, don’t forget to carry out some essential testing across all major browsers and mobile devices.

Get customers to your website and learn from them

Once your website is live, it’s time to start attracting customers to the site. You could do this through social media, SEO, and email marketing. Your website can also provide you with a wealth of interesting and valuable data about your customers, everything from demographics to which products are being viewed the most online.

Learn more about these 7 steps in the full article here. You can also download our free 25-page guide to getting online here. Learn more about how using social media, SEO, and email marketing can help you promote your website and business on www.theukdomain.uk.

This article was brought to you in partnership with the UK Domain.