As a woman entrepreneur, you’ve built your business on social media, connected with clients or customers, and achieved success by showing up authentically online.
Now, you’re ready to expand beyond social media and establish a website—a powerful step in growing your brand and giving your business a more permanent online home. But before jumping into the world of website platforms, it’s essential to think through a few key questions to ensure you choose the one that truly fits your business and lifestyle.
Understanding the goals you have for your website and evaluating your comfort level with technology are two critical steps. These questions will help you clarify what you really need from your website platform and set you up for a successful launch.
Question 1: What Is the Purpose of Your Website?
The purpose of your website will guide every decision about how it’s structured, how often you update it, and the tools you’ll need to support it. Here are some common website goals for entrepreneurs moving beyond social media:
- Creating an Information Hub
Are you looking to share valuable content, educate clients, or establish a place to demonstrate your expertise?
A website designed as an information hub can serve as a resource for your clients, helping them understand your work and giving you a platform to share knowledge.
For example, you might want to include a blog, a section for case studies, or a resource library to showcase your skills.This type of website needs features that allow for regular updates and content management.
While an information hub site may take a little more time to set up initially, it can become a valuable asset that clients return to and a space where you can deepen relationships by offering ongoing value. - Supporting E-Commerce Needs
Perhaps you’ve created products, resources, or courses that you’d like to sell directly to your clients.
If you’re interested in offering downloads, digital products, or physical items, your website will need e-commerce capabilities to handle transactions, manage sales, and provide a seamless buying experience.
Building an e-commerce-focused site may require some additional setup to ensure everything runs smoothly, but this setup can pay off by creating a passive income stream.
It allows clients to purchase products on demand, whether they’re buying digital templates, scheduling services, or signing up for courses. - Establishing a Digital Business Card
If your goal is to create a simple landing page to serve as a digital business card, then your needs are straightforward.
This type of website allows potential clients to get to know you, find your contact information, and sign up for updates or newsletters. It’s a great solution if most of your client interactions still happen on social media, but you want a more permanent space to house your business information.
A digital business card website can include a brief bio, a contact form, links to your social media profiles, and a way for clients to join your email list. It’s a fantastic option for those looking to establish a professional presence with minimal setup and maintenance.
Question 2: What Is Your Comfort Level with Technology?
Your comfort with technology will have a huge impact on the platform you ultimately choose. Different website platforms vary widely in terms of customization options, setup requirements, and ongoing maintenance needs. Here’s how your tech comfort level comes into play:
- Complexity and Customization
Are you like me and you enjoy working with new technology tools and figuring out how things work?
If you’re someone who likes hands-on involvement and enjoys digging into details, you might appreciate a platform with more customization options. This type of platform lets you tailor every part of your site to your vision, but it may require more time to learn and configure.
On the other hand, if you find technology a bit intimidating or simply don’t have the time to learn every aspect of website building, a platform with built-in design features and templates may be a better fit. These platforms make it easy to achieve a professional look without needing technical expertise, and they often come with support options if you need a hand along the way. - Time and Maintenance
Think about the time you realistically have for ongoing maintenance. Are you interested in regularly updating your site, or would you prefer a set-it-and-forget-it approach?
Some platforms require regular backups, updates, and security checks, while others handle much of this behind the scenes.
Also, time feels differently when you are doing something that you enjoy versus something that is a struggle. It’s important to understand how you’ll be able to arrange your time If your schedule is already packed. - Support and Resources
Having a platform with strong support can make a big difference, especially when you’re starting out.
Alternatively, having someone like me that can help you select your product and get it up and running, makes a big difference. If you’re highly tech-savvy, you may not need as much support, but most new website creators benefit from a solid support system.
Bringing It All Together: Aligning Your Goals and Tech Comfort Level with the Right Platform
The purpose of your website and your level of comfort with technology should work hand-in-hand when choosing your platform.
The truth is, that you already know what you want. In your minds eye, without reading any of the flashing advertisements or watching any fast moving “look how easy this is” sales funnel videos, you have an idea of what you want your site to do, and how you want it to look.
Write that down. Get your vision onto paper before the noise of the platform advertisements get to you. Here’s why, they distract you with what they think you want, and sometimes that aligns because that’s spot on, or sometimes it aligns because it would be nice, but not necessary.
Understanding your vision will help you remain focused when you’re researching the website platforms or when you’re talking to a consultant.
Remember, there’s no one-size-fits-all solution. Your website should be a tool that supports your business, reflects your brand, and integrates smoothly into your workflow. Taking the time to assess your goals and your tech comfort level will help you choose a platform that not only meets your current needs but also has the potential to grow with you as your business evolves.
Ready to expand your online presence beyond social media? With a clear vision for your goals and the right support, you can launch a website that truly reflects your brand and sets your business up for long-term growth.
I’m happy to help you make your website vision a reality!
Going at it alone? Read this first WHO OWNS YOUR ONLINE STORE