In this digital age, having a website for your side hustle is a must-have for success!
Your website is like a storefront that people can visit online to learn about your business and products/services, and to connect with your brand. It’s the first place people go to find you, so making a strong first impression is key.
Your website also provides a platform to showcase your work, build credibility, and reach a wider audience beyond your immediate network. Plus, having a website helps establish a professional online presence, which can attract new customers and increase revenue.
This week we’ll guide you step-by-step through building a website for your side hustle.
We’ll explain why having a website is important and how it can benefit your business. We’ll also cover the essential elements of a successful website, like design, user experience, content, and functionality.
You’ll learn practical tips and best practices for creating a website that stands out from the crowd and engages your target audience.
And the best part? This newsletter is beginner-friendly, so you don’t need to be an expert in website building to get started.
What you can expect this week:
- Trends: How important is having an online presence for your business in 2023? Let’s find out.
- Strategies: So how do you get started building your website? Follow these strategies step by step!
- Tool of the Week: This week we bring you a tool that powers over 40% of websites worldwide – and the best part? It’s free!
Trends
How important is it to have a web presence in 2023? Should you go for a .com domain or a .net? Which platform is the most popular for building websites? We’ve laid out all the hard data for you below!
Small business web presence in 2023
As more and more people around the world shop online, small businesses and side hustles also need to go online to stay competitive.
When it comes to the number of small businesses that have websites, Zippia’s research shows that: 73% of small businesses have their own website. 81% of shoppers choose to research a business online before making a purchase, with 55% searching for online reviews and 47% searching for the business’ website.
Popular CMS platforms in 2023
WordPress is used in 28,183,568 websites on the entire internet. Interestingly, 7,877,750 of these websites are in the US (BuiltWith, 2021). We’ll talk about WordPress more in our Tool of the Week!
Leading top-level domains in the world
The top 10 domain name extensions, which represent a combined 370.7 million registrations, include .com (150.3 million), .tk (Tokelau, 27.5 million), .cn (China, 24.7 million), .de (Germany, 16.6 million), .net (13.4 million), and .uk(United Kingdom, 10.8 million) (Verisign, 2020).
Strategies
With the stats out of the way, let’s talk about how to build your very own website for your side hustle!
Define your purpose and goals
Before you jump into building your website, it’s important to figure out why you want one. Your website’s purpose is the main reason it exists, and it should align with your business goals.
For example, if you’re a freelancer offering design services, your website’s purpose may be to show off your work and attract new clients. If you’re an online store selling handmade jewelry, your website’s purpose may be to sell your products and make more money.
To figure out your website’s purpose, ask yourself these questions:
- What do I want my website to do for my side hustle?
- Who am I trying to reach with my website, and what do they want to see?
- What are my business goals, and how can my website help me achieve them?
- What makes my business unique, and how can my website showcase that?
- What does my website need to have to achieve its purpose?
Answering these questions will help you define your website’s purpose and set goals for its development. Once you know your website’s purpose, you can start creating it with the end goal in mind!
To ensure that your website meets its intended purpose, it’s essential to set SMART goals. SMART goals are Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound. Setting SMART goals for your website helps you define what you want to achieve, how you’ll measure success, and when you expect to achieve your goals.
For example, a SMART goal for your website might be to increase online sales by 20% within six months by optimizing your product pages and running targeted social media ads. By setting a SMART goal like this, you can measure your progress, identify areas for improvement, and adjust your strategy accordingly.
Setting SMART goals for your website helps you stay focused and motivated, and it ensures that your website serves its intended purpose. Remember to regularly track and evaluate your progress towards your SMART goals to make sure you’re on track to achieve them
Choose a domain name and hosting provider
Your domain name is the address that people use to find your website online, so it’s essential to choose a good one. A good domain name is easy to remember, easy to spell, and relevant to your business.
Your domain name also plays a role in your search engine optimization (SEO) efforts, as search engines use it to understand what your website is about. Additionally, a good domain name can help establish your brand identity and make your website more recognizable.
Factors to consider when choosing a domain name
When choosing a domain name, there are several factors to consider. Firstly, make sure it’s easy to spell and remember. Avoid using numbers, hyphens, or other special characters that can confuse people.
Secondly, make it relevant to your business, so that people can understand what your website is about just from the name.
Thirdly, keep it short and concise, as longer domain names can be harder to remember and type. Lastly, check for availability and avoid infringing on someone else’s trademark.
Different types of hosting providers
After choosing your domain name, you’ll need to select a hosting provider. Hosting providers are companies that provide the technology and infrastructure to make your website accessible online. There are several types of hosting providers to choose from, including shared hosting, dedicated hosting, and cloud hosting.
Shared hosting is the most affordable option and involves sharing server resources with other websites. Dedicated hosting, on the other hand, is more expensive but offers exclusive access to server resources. Cloud hosting is a flexible and scalable option that allows you to pay for only the resources you use.
When choosing a hosting provider, consider factors such as reliability, speed, security, and customer support. You want to make sure that your website is always available and loads quickly, and that your data is secure. Additionally, choose a provider with good customer support, so you can get help if something goes wrong.
Here are some examples of popular hosting providers:
- Bluehost: This is a popular hosting provider that offers affordable shared hosting plans, as well as other hosting options. Bluehost is known for its user-friendly interface and reliable customer support.
- SiteGround: SiteGround offers fast and reliable hosting, with options ranging from shared hosting to cloud hosting. They also offer excellent customer support and security features.
- HostGator: HostGator offers a range of hosting options, including shared hosting, VPS hosting, and dedicated hosting. They are known for their affordable pricing and easy-to-use website builder.
- DreamHost: DreamHost is a reliable hosting provider that offers shared hosting, VPS hosting, and dedicated hosting options. They are also known for their commitment to customer privacy and security.
- WP Engine: WP Engine is a hosting provider that specializes in WordPress hosting. They offer fast and reliable hosting, with features like automatic backups and easy WordPress site management.
Design and layout of your website
Your website’s design and layout are crucial factors in creating a successful online presence for your side hustle. A well-designed website not only looks attractive but also makes it easy for visitors to find the information they need and engage with your brand. A good website design can help build trust and credibility with potential customers, increasing the likelihood of them choosing your business over a competitor.
Tips for designing an effective website
When designing your website, there are several tips to keep in mind.
- Make sure your website is visually appealing, with a clean and organized layout.
- Use colors and fonts that reflect your brand and are easy to read.
- Ensure your website is easy to navigate, with a clear menu and intuitive links. Make it easy for visitors to find what they’re looking for, whether it’s information about your business or products/services.
- Optimize your website for speed and mobile devices. Most people use their mobile devices to browse the web, so it’s crucial to make sure your website is mobile-friendly and loads quickly.
- Ensure that your website has high-quality, engaging content that resonates with your target audience.
Tools to use for website design
There are many tools available to help you design and build your website, even if you don’t have technical expertise. One popular option is website builders like Wix, Squarespace, and Weebly, which provide templates and drag-and-drop interfaces to make website design easier.
WordPress is another popular option for website design, providing a powerful content management system and a wide range of customizable themes and plugins. Additionally, graphic design tools like Canva and Adobe Photoshop can help you create stunning visuals and graphics for your website.
Content creation and organization
Creating high-quality content is crucial for the success of your website and your side hustle. Good content engages your audience, provides value, and builds trust and credibility with potential customers. Quality content can also help with search engine optimization (SEO), making it easier for people to find your website when they search for related topics.
Tips for creating effective content
When creating content for your website, it’s important to keep your audience in mind. Your content should be relevant to your target audience and provide value, whether it’s informative or entertaining.
Use a clear and concise writing style, and break up your content with subheadings, bullet points, and images to make it easier to read. Additionally, use keywords relevant to your business to improve SEO.
Organizing your content for easy navigation
Organizing your content effectively is essential for ensuring that visitors can find what they’re looking for on your website. Use a clear and concise menu structure to make it easy for visitors to navigate your website.
Consider creating separate pages for different topics or services and using subheadings to break up longer pages. Additionally, use internal linking to help visitors navigate your website and discover related content.
Search engine optimization (SEO)
Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is the process of optimizing your website to rank higher in search engine results pages (SERPs).
SEO is important for your side hustle’s online presence because it helps potential customers find your website when they search for related keywords or phrases. A higher ranking in SERPs can lead to increased traffic, higher visibility, and ultimately more business.
Tips for optimizing your website for search engines
When optimizing your website for search engines, here are several tips to keep in mind:
- Research keywords relevant to your business and use them throughout your website, including in titles, descriptions, and content.
- Ensure that your website’s structure is easy to navigate and optimized for speed. This includes using internal linking, optimizing images, and minimizing the use of large files.
- Create high-quality content that is relevant to your target audience and includes relevant keywords.
- Use meta tags, such as title tags and meta descriptions, to help search engines understand what your website is about.
Common SEO mistakes to avoid
When optimizing your website for search engines, there are also several common mistakes to avoid.
- Avoid keyword stuffing, which is the practice of using too many keywords in your content. This can hurt your rankings and make your content difficult to read.
- Avoid using duplicate content, which is content that appears on multiple pages on your website or on other websites. This can also hurt your rankings and make it difficult for search engines to understand what your website is about.
- Avoid using black hat SEO techniques, such as buying backlinks or using hidden text. These practices are frowned upon by search engines and can result in penalties or even being banned from search results altogether.
Website maintenance and security
Website maintenance and security are essential for the smooth operation and success of your side hustle’s online presence. Maintaining your website ensures that it continues to function properly, while security measures help protect it from malicious attacks and data breaches.
Failing to maintain and secure your website can lead to downtime, lost data, and damage to your brand’s reputation.
To maintain and secure your website, keep your website software up-to-date, including the content management system (CMS), plugins, and themes. This ensures that your website is running the latest version and is less vulnerable to security threats.
Make sure you regularly back up your website to prevent data loss in case of a security breach or technical issue. And don’t forget to use strong passwords and enable two-factor authentication to prevent unauthorized access. It’s also a good idea to connsider using a website security plugin or service to monitor and protect your website.
Website analytics and metrics
Website analytics are essential for understanding how your website is performing and making informed decisions about your online presence.
Website analytics can provide valuable insights into how visitors are interacting with your website, which pages are most popular, and where traffic is coming from.
This information can help you improve your website’s user experience, optimize your marketing efforts, and make data-driven decisions about your side hustle’s online presence.
Tools to use for website analytics
There are several tools available for website analytics, ranging from free options to more advanced paid tools.
- Google Analytics is a popular free tool that provides in-depth insights into website traffic, including the number of visitors, pageviews, and bounce rates.
- Other free tools include Clicky and Piwik.
- More advanced paid tools include SEMrush, Moz Pro, and Ahrefs, which offer features like keyword research, competitor analysis, and backlink tracking.
How to track website metrics
To track website metrics, you’ll need to set up website analytics tools and configure them to track the metrics you’re interested in.
Google Analytics, for example, allows you to track metrics like pageviews, bounce rate, and conversion rate. You can also set up goals and events to track specific user actions, such as filling out a form or making a purchase. Other tools may have different metrics and tracking options.
Once you’ve set up your analytics tools, it’s important to regularly review your website metrics and analyze the data to identify trends and opportunities for improvement. Use the insights provided by your analytics tools to make informed decisions about your website’s design, content, and marketing strategy.
Final thoughts
Building a website for your side hustle can seem overwhelming, but with a little effort and attention to detail, you can create a website that reflects your brand and attracts new customers to your business.
Follow the strategies outlined in this article and take advantage of the many resources available to help you build a successful website.
Tool of the Week
WordPress is a popular content management system (CMS) that powers over 40% of all websites on the internet. It was first released in 2003 and has since grown to become one of the most popular website-building tools available.
We recommend WordPress to side hustlers for several reasons:
- Ease of use: WordPress offers a user-friendly interface that makes it easy for beginners to create and manage their website, even without technical skills.
- Customizability: WordPress offers a wide range of customizable themes and plugins that allow side hustlers to create a website that reflects their brand and meets their specific needs.
- Scalability: WordPress is highly scalable, meaning that it can grow with your side hustle as your needs change. It can be used to create a simple blog or a complex e-commerce site.
- SEO-friendliness: WordPress is optimized for search engine optimization (SEO), with built-in features that make it easy to optimize your content for search engines.
- Security: WordPress is highly secure, with regular updates and security patches to protect against vulnerabilities and keep your website safe.
Check it out and start building your website today!
