Launching a new business website can feel overwhelming, especially if you’re doing it for the first time. But fear not! This is the first of a two-part series designed to guide you through the entire process.
Whether you’re a Calgary startup or a small business anywhere in Canada, this checklist covers the foundational steps of getting online. By following these steps, you’ll build a solid online presence that attracts customers – which is crucial, considering research suggests that 97% of people check a company’s online presence before deciding to visit.
In Part 1, we’ll cover everything from planning your domain name to building a beautiful, mobile-friendly design. Let’s get started on your website success story!
1. Secure Your Business Name and Domain
Clarify Your Name: First, make sure you have a great business name and that you’ve registered it if needed. Check that no one else is using it by searching corporate registries and doing a quick Google search. The Government of Canada offers resources on how to choose, register, and protect your name. A unique name helps avoid confusion and legal issues.
Choose a Domain: Your domain is your website address (e.g., yourbusiness.ca). Ideally, it should match your business name. For Canadian businesses, a .CA domain offers instant local credibility and signals you’re based in Canada. Use reputable registrars like Namecheap or GoDaddy to search and register your domain.
- Tip: To own a .CA domain, you must meet the Canadian Presence Requirements (e.g., be a Canadian citizen, resident, or corporation). This is a simple box you check during registration, and it ensures that .CA domains remain authentically Canadian.
- Bonus: While securing your domain, claim your business name on social media platforms (Facebook, Instagram, etc.) for a consistent brand identity.
2. Choose the Right Platform (CMS) and Hosting
Select a Website Platform: Most small business websites are built on user-friendly Content Management Systems (CMS). The world’s most popular choice is WordPress, an open-source platform known for its flexibility—it powers over 43% of all websites. For e-commerce, the Canadian-founded Shopify is a fantastic, all-in-one solution.
- Consider your needs: If you want maximum control and scalability, WordPress is great. If you need a powerful online store up quickly, Shopify is ideal.
Get Web Hosting: If you choose WordPress, you’ll need a web hosting provider to store your site’s files. Look for a reliable host that offers good support and one-click WordPress installation. (If you use an all-in-one builder like Shopify, Wix, or Squarespace, hosting is included).
Decide DIY vs. Professional Help: Building the site yourself can save money, but it requires time. If you’re busy running your business, consider professional Calgary website design services like ours. At WEB NEURO, we handle everything from design to hosting so you can focus on what you do best.
3. Plan Your Website’s Structure and Content
A little planning now saves major headaches later. Outline your essential pages first.
- Homepage: Your virtual storefront. It must immediately communicate who you are and what you offer. You have less than 10 seconds to grab a visitor’s attention, so make it count!
- About Us: Share your mission, your team, and what makes you unique. If you’re a local Calgary business, mention your community roots.
- Products/Services: Clearly describe what you sell. Use high-quality photos and organize your offerings logically.
- Contact Us: Make it incredibly easy for people to reach you. Include your phone, email, address (with an embedded Google Map), and hours.
Craft Your Content: Write in a clear, friendly tone. Highlight the benefits of your services—how do you solve your customer’s problem? Use headings and bullet points to make text scannable, and always double-check for spelling and grammar errors.
4. Design and Build Your Website
This is where you bring your brand to life online.
- Choose a Design/Theme: Start with a pre-made design template (a “theme” in WordPress or a template in Squarespace/Wix). Look for one with a responsive design, meaning it automatically looks great on mobile phones and tablets.
- Add Your Branding: Customize the theme with your logo, brand colors, and fonts for a professional, cohesive look.
- Layout and Navigation: Create a simple, intuitive main menu (e.g., Home, About, Services, Contact). A visitor should be able to find what they need in one or two clicks.
- Images and Media: Use high-quality images. You can use your own photos or find professional ones on free stock photo sites like Unsplash or Pexels.
5. Make It Mobile-Friendly (Responsive Design)
This is no longer optional—it’s essential. With over 60% of web traffic coming from mobile devices (Statcounter), a poor mobile experience will lose you customers.
- Test Your Responsive Design: As you build, shrink your browser window to see how the layout adapts. Is text readable? Are buttons easy to tap?
- Check Your Speed: Mobile users expect fast loading times. Optimize your images and keep the design clean. You can test your site’s performance with Google’s PageSpeed Insights tool.
- Use Google’s Mobile-Friendly Test: For a quick check, use Google’s Mobile-Friendly Test tool to see if your site meets its standards.
You’ve Built the Foundation—What’s Next?
Congratulations! You’ve successfully navigated the core steps of building a beautiful, functional, and mobile-friendly website. You have a digital home for your business.
But what about getting it ready for launch? How do you ensure it’s secure, optimized for Google, and ready to be promoted to the world?
Stay tuned for Part 2 of our series, where we’ll cover:
- Essential SEO basics to get found on Google.
- Critical security and compliance steps.
- A pre-flight checklist for testing everything before you go live.
- How to launch, promote, and maintain your new site for long-term success.
In the meantime, if you’d rather have a team of experts handle all of this for you, we’re here to help.
Schedule a free consultation with our Calgary-based team, or explore our subscription plans that cover everything from design to maintenance.