If you’re thinking about launching a new website for your business, you’re in the right place. Whether you’re starting from scratch or planning to refresh an outdated site, knowing what to prioritise can make all the difference. This guide breaks down the first five essential steps every business owner should take to ensure their website works hard from day one.
There’s a lot of noise out there – conflicting advice, expensive distractions, and flashy features that don’t actually convert. The truth is, getting the foundations right is what really matters. So let’s cut through the fluff and focus on what will move the needle.
Step 1: Define Your Website’s Purpose and Goals
Before diving into colours, fonts, or fancy animations, take a step back and ask: What do I want this website to achieve?
Your goals might include:
- Generating leads or enquiries
- Selling products or services
- Showcasing a portfolio
- Educating or informing customers
- Building trust and credibility
If your answer is “a bit of everything”, that’s fine too – but it still needs structure. Knowing your goals helps shape your sitemap, page layout, and calls-to-action. It also helps you measure success later on using tools like Google Analytics.
Once you’ve nailed down your objectives, think about your target audience. What do they want? What questions are they asking? And what would make them stick around once they land on your site?
Step 2: Choose the Right Platform and Domain Name
Now you know what you’re building, it’s time to choose where it’s going to live. If you’re planning to have your website built professionally, your designer will usually take care of this, but it’s still worth understanding the basics.
Your domain name should ideally be:
- Short and memorable
- Easy to spell
- Reflective of your business name or service
- Ideally include a relevant keyword (like “plumbingleeds.co.uk”) if it makes sense
As for the platform, most small businesses in the UK benefit from WordPress due to its flexibility and SEO-friendliness. Avoid getting distracted by drag-and-drop builders unless you’re on a tight budget and just need a temporary solution.
If you’re unsure, check out our WordPress Website Design service page to see why we recommend it for most of our clients.
You’ll also need reliable website hosting – ideally UK-based for speed. If you’re not sure where to begin, we offer fully managed hosting packages with free SSL and daily backups. It just takes the hassle away.
Step 3: Structure Your Content Properly
This is where things start to come alive.
Many businesses start with a homepage and “about” page, then add more as they go. While that’s fine, the best approach is to plan your full site structure from the start – even if you don’t build it all immediately.
A strong website should include:
- Homepage (clear value proposition)
- Services or Products pages (ideally one page per core offering)
- About Us (tell your story, show your credentials)
- Contact Page (with a form, email, phone number and map if needed)
- FAQ page (helpful for SEO and conversion)
- Blog or Insights section (helps with ongoing SEO)
Also, make sure your site complies with UK privacy laws. That means having a cookie consent banner and a privacy policy that reflects how you collect and use visitor data.
Step 4: Focus on Design and User Experience
A good website doesn’t just look nice – it works. That means it’s easy to use, intuitive to navigate, and looks great on mobile devices.
Here are some key design tips:
- Stick to a limited colour palette that matches your branding
- Use professional, consistent fonts (no Comic Sans, please!)
- Include clear calls-to-action (e.g. buttons that say “Request a Quote”)
- Avoid clutter – white space is your friend
- Use high-quality images that are compressed for speed
Make sure your navigation is simple and clear. Don’t overwhelm users with too many menu options. Think about the customer journey and how people naturally browse your type of service.
If you want help with this, take a look at our Website Design Services which cover layout, user flow, and conversion-focused design.
Step 5: Get Your SEO Basics Right From Day One
Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) shouldn’t be an afterthought – it should be baked into your website from the very beginning.
Here are some basics to cover:
- Page titles and meta descriptions that include your keywords
- Headers structured properly (H1 for page title, H2 for subheadings)
- Optimised images (with alt text)
- Fast loading speed (ideally under 3 seconds)
- Mobile-friendly design
- Internal links to relevant pages
- A clear sitemap submitted to Google Search Console
Writing your own copy? Make sure you use natural language, not keyword stuffing. Think about what your customers might type into Google, and write to answer those queries.
We also recommend setting up Google Analytics and Google Search Console before launch so you can monitor traffic and performance from day one.
Want to know more? Our SEO Services are built specifically to help small businesses in Leeds and beyond attract more visitors and generate leads.
Ready to Launch? Don’t Forget These Final Checks
Before you hit the launch button, go through this quick checklist:
- Test your site on mobile and desktop
- Proofread your content (and get someone else to double-check it too)
- Set up redirects if you’re replacing an old site
- Add your social media links and icons
- Check all forms work and go to the correct email address
- Add a favicon (that little icon that appears in the browser tab)
- Set up basic analytics and tracking
It’s also worth sharing your new site with friends, colleagues, or a test group to get some real user feedback before the big reveal.
Call to Action: Need a Hand Getting Started?
Launching a new website doesn’t have to be stressful. If you want a helping hand with the process – from planning and design to hosting and SEO – I’d love to chat.
We work with businesses across Leeds and the UK, offering bespoke website design packages tailored to your needs and budget. Whether you’re starting from scratch or need a redesign, we can guide you every step of the way.
📞 Call me directly, send a message through our Contact Page, or book a discovery call using the calendar tool. Let’s build something brilliant.
