Building a Website for a Tech Startup? Here Are Some Things To Consider

Startups and tech companies have unique needs when it comes to their online presence. It’s not just about selling products or services; it’s about selling a vision, an innovation, a future. Websites need to also reflect that. Here are some tips to consider, especially when building a website for a tech startup:

• Scalability: Choose a platform that allows you to update your website as your business expands without requiring major rebuilds or migrations.
• Features for Growth: Build a website with business growth in mind, focus on features that support lead generation, customer engagement, and data tracking.
• Showcasing Innovation: A tech startup website should visually reflect the cutting-edge technology in your products or services. Think sleek design and interactive elements, but most importantly, focus on a smooth user experience.

How Much Is a Website and What Additional Costs To Expect?

Building a website involves various costs, including domain registration, hosting, design, development, and potentially ongoing maintenance. Here is a breakdown of these costs for you to make informed decisions:

• Domain Name: This is your website's address (ex. yourcompany.com). Expect to pay around $10-50 per year.
• Hosting: Where your website's files are stored. Shared hosting is the most affordable option, starting at around $5-10 per month.
• Design: This can range from free templates to thousands of dollars for custom design. We'll explore budget-friendly options later.
• Content: You'll need compelling text and visuals. DIY or consider outsourcing for specific tasks such as image design or copywriting.
• Other Costs: Plugins, security, marketing tools, and ongoing maintenance can add to the total.

In summary, the average cost to build a small business website ranges from $1,000 to $20,000, with the lower end being for basic sites, and the higher end for custom-designed, feature-rich websites built by professionals. Tips on minimizing costs:

• DIY: Many website builders are user-friendly and require no coding knowledge.
• Free Resources: Take advantage of free stock photos, icons, and fonts.
• Use Open-Source Platforms: Open-source platforms (ex. WordPress, Joomla) offer significant flexibility for technically skilled teams looking to create customized websites without incurring high costs.

Building Your Website In-House vs. Hiring Experts

Is it better to build your website in-house or hire professionals? Both options can fit within a startup budget. Before deciding, it’s best to weigh the pros and cons of each approach. Tip: If you think going with a professional design agency is best for you, sometimes you could negotiate flexible pricing and customized service packages, giving you the best of both worlds: top-quality work at a more accessible price. Here are some things to consider when you decide to DIY the process of building a website:

• Pros: Cost-effective, you’ll have full control over the output, if you already have skilled engineers and designers in-house.
• Cons: Time-consuming, requires technical skills, potential limitations on design and functionality, the output depends on how skilled your team is and how much time they can allocate to building a website.

Here are the pros and cons of hiring a professional design agency:

• Pros: Web design expertise, insight into what works and what doesn’t based on previous cases. Going with a professional service saves time, brings in an expert perspective, and allows the startup team to focus on the core business.
• Cons: Unlike the DIY approach, professional service requires a budget. Finding the right agency or freelancer who aligns with your vision and goals takes some effort from your side.

Factors to evaluate before making the choice:

• Budget: If you are bootstrapping your startup business, DIY might be the only option initially.
• Technical Skills: Are you comfortable with website builders and basic coding?
• Time Constraints: Building a website takes time. Can you spare it?
• Desired Level of Customization: Do you need a unique, complex design or a simple, functional site?

How Do You Build a Website Yourself? The Essential Steps

Ready to roll up your sleeves and DIY your website? Here's the roadmap covering all the essential steps of building a website, from choosing a domain name to optimizing for search engines.

#1 Choose a Domain Name:

Your domain name is your business’s online identity. You can purchase domain names from various registrars for around $10-50 per year. Keep in mind the native language of your target audience and make sure it’s appropriate and easy to pronounce across all markets. Your domain name should be:

• Relevant: Reflects your brand mission, and what you do.
• Memorable: Easy to spell and recall.
• Available: Check if your desired name is taken.

#2 Select a Website Builder, or Content Management System (CMS):

When choosing a website builder, consider factors like ease of use, cost, templates, features, and scalability. These are some of the most popular website builders:

• Webflow: Webflow gives you the creative freedom to design pixel-perfect websites with no coding skills, making it ideal for unique and complex projects.
• WordPress: WordPress's open-source nature and massive plugin ecosystem make it versatile, allowing you to build any type of website, from blogs to online stores.
• Wix: Wix's intuitive drag-and-drop interface makes it easy to create a website even if you have zero technical skills; perfect for getting your business online quickly.
• Squarespace: Squarespace offers a decent collection of templates that are easy to customize, ensuring your website looks polished and professional right out of the box.
• Shopify: If you're selling products online, Shopify is your one-stop shop, providing all the tools you need to manage your store, process payments, and grow your e-commerce business.

#3 Sitemap, Design and Layout:

Once you have your domain and website builder sorted, it's time to focus on the look and feel of your site. This is where you'll bring your brand to life and ensure visitors have a seamless experience. Here are the key elements to consider:

• User Experience (UX): Make sure your website is easy to navigate and use.
• Visual Appeal: Create a design that reflects your brand and appeals to your target audience. For a more detailed guide on branding, check out our previous article How to DIY a Brand Visual Identity.
• Call to Action (CTA): Guide visitors towards desired actions (e.g., signing up, making a purchase, scheduling a demo).
• Sitemap: Plan your website's structure and navigation between different pages.
• Template or Theme: Choose a template that fits your brand and customize it to reflect your brand’s visual identity.

#4 Content Creation & SEO Optimization:

Lastly, your website needs high-quality, engaging content that informs the visitors about your products, services, vision, and team. A great website content:

• Informs: Educates visitors about your products or services.
• Persuades: Encourages them to take action.
• Entertains: Keeps them engaged and coming back for more.

Use clear, concise language and visuals that tell your brand story. Utilize free resources such as free Stock Photo Libraries (Pexels, Unsplash, Covver) or free icons and illustrations (Flaticon, Font Awesome, Undraw). Before going live, make sure your website is SEO-friendly, or in other words, visible to search engines. SEO optimization includes:

• Keyword Research: Identify relevant keywords and incorporate them into your content.
• On-Page Optimization: Optimize your titles, meta descriptions, and headings.
• Technical SEO: Ensure your website loads quickly and is responsive across different devices, especially mobile-friendly.

Final Thoughts

Building a website on a budget is entirely achievable with careful planning and resourcefulness. Before we wrap up, remember these key points to build a successful website for your business: define your brand, choose the right platform, prioritize user experience, create high-quality content, optimize for SEO, and maintain consistency. With these tips in mind, you should be able to decide your next steps in building a professional website that will help your startup thrive, even on a narrow budget. If you need expert guidance or a helping hand, get in touch with us, we are ready to support you every step of the way!