Whatever your sector of activity, a professional website is an essential tool for any company wishing to prosper. A website gives you the visibility you need to allow your customers and prospects to find you easily.

The creation of a website should not be taken lightly. It must have a qualitative web design and present relevant and useful content. To be credible, some rules must be respected to produce a professional and efficient website.

What is the importance of creating a professional website?

A company with a dedicated website gives a much more professional and credible image than a structure that does not have one.

Internet is now the window of the world!

To exist in the eyes of consumers, you must have your place on the web. A professional website allows you to position yourself as an expert in your field which, mathematically, will bring you more visitors.

Create a website with a specific objective

Before starting the construction of your professional website, define its main objective: to position yourself locally, to acquire new customers, to increase your notoriety, to inform about your company…

This exercise is important because it is the basis for the entire creation of the website. There are several types of websites: showcase, e-commerce, one page etc. Defining your main objective will allow you to choose the right type of website for your company.

The different steps to start building your professional website

In order not to forget anything, we have prepared a small checklist of all the important elements to check before and during the creation of your website.

To know more about the prices, read our article “How much does it cost to create a website?

The choice of the domain name
Choosing a domain name (or NDD) should not be done in haste because it will have an important impact on your site later.

If your company already has a name and the associated DLD is available, then go for it!

If not, here are a few tips to help you choose the right NDD:

A short (preferably) and unique name;
A name that is easy to remember and to write;
A name that refers to your theme;
A name containing a keyword relevant to your field of activity;
A relevant extension .fr, .net, .com etc. according to your field of activity.

Which website hosting should I choose?

Shared hosting: the same server is rented to several other people. This is the most affordable solution;

VPS hosting: your website is stored in a virtual server which is itself stored in a physical server. A physical server can host several virtual servers. This is a good compromise between shared and dedicated hosting.

Dedicated hosting: rent a complete server, you have a server all to yourself. More secure and more efficient than the previous one, it is also more expensive;

Cloud hosting: your site is stored on several different servers to balance the load. If one server fails, another will take over to ensure the availability of your website.

How to choose a CMS?
The CMS is a software for creating a website, editing and publishing web content.

There are hundreds of different CMS; some are more dedicated to blogs, while others are able to create a complex corporate website.

To make the right choice, it is advisable to get in touch with a professional such as a developer or a digital agency. They will be able to advise you on the best choice to make to create your professional website.

Web.com is a Website builder design tools. Create a unique and professional looking website using web.com website builder flexible drag & drop website design and a simplified editing interface. With mobile-friendly and fully customizable layouts, your site can stand out.

Think about setting up a blog

A blog offers several advantages:

It supports your professionalism by highlighting your expertise;
It influences the natural referencing of your site;
It encourages more sharing and interaction on social networks;
Regularly updated, it allows you to stand out from the competition.

Have quality content
All the texts, images, videos etc. of your website must be of the best possible quality. Quality content is the one that engages, that generates shares and interactions on social networks, that increases your website traffic and your conversion rate.

Think about the user experience
Internet is not only available on computers, it is also available on tablets, TV and smartphones. You have to keep this in mind to design a responsive, fluid and intuitive website on PC as well as on all other media.

Also work on the loading speed of the site so that it is as short as possible. On average, a site that takes more than 3 seconds to open is not consulted.

Do not forget the mandatory administrative pages
All websites must display mandatory information which are :

The General Sales Conditions (GSC);
The mandatory information of the company;
Regulations on the processing of personal data and use of cookies.

Create a site that respects the environment
It is possible by respecting 5 points:

Avoid unnecessary site animations;
Avoid using energy consuming features;
Prefer a host close to your target;
Choose renewable energy to power your site.

Think about the payment system
If your website is dedicated to the sale of products or services, you must set up the payment system(s) you accept: credit card, crypto currency, PayPal, check, bank transfer, cash etc.

The possibility of sharing on social networks
Sharing buttons are important details that should be included on your website. In this way, visitors will be able to share content that they have enjoyed. This way, your content is available to dozens or even hundreds of people.

Video optimization is important
It’s no longer necessary to demonstrate that video has been on the rise for many years. This type of content is very appreciated by Internet users, which is why you must have some on your website.

However, it is imperative to optimize them in order to avoid the interminable wait for loading which penalizes the referencing of your site, its performance and affects the number of visits.

Maintain your professional website
Owning a website does not mean creating it and letting it do its life alone. To continue to be efficient and qualitative, it is essential to maintain your site by regularly updating it and correcting any computer bugs.