Apple, Amazon, Google – these tech giants have redefined what it means to browse the internet.
Over the years, trends in website development have changed how people perceive the internet. What was once seen as just blocky containers with text has now become full-fledged immersive experiences at the click of a mouse, expanding our expectations on what a website can actually be.
As a business looking to increase sales online, a well-designed and functional company website is no longer a luxury – it’s a necessity. You have to consider elements like UIUX design, user friendliness, mobile responsives and more!
Your website acts as your storefront, a hub that connects you with new or recurring customers, showcases your products or services and fosters brand loyalty.
But as we all know, as your business flourishes, your website needs to evolve alongside it.
This comprehensive guide explores the concept of building a website that scales and adapts to your growth. We’ll highlight essential website features to have, how they can work with your business to streamline operations and a few services that can provide these features for you.
Here, we’ll also answer some of the most common questions about what a good website should have:
- What are the essential website features a business website should have?
- Should I consider using a CMS website to manage my business?
- How can I leverage website analytics tools to improve my website’s performance?
- What are some examples of website integrations with other business tools?
- How do I secure my website as my business grows?
Are you ready to take your website from good to great? Let’s get started!
Choosing the Right Platform for Website Growth
Before starting a website, knowing the different types of website platforms for your company website can help you determine the right one depending on your business goals. Selecting an option that allows you to scale your business over time is also a key factor in making your decision.
Let’s have a look at some popular website development platforms, each offering distinct advantages and catering to different business needs:
Factors to Consider For Your Business Website
The best website development platform depends on a combination of factors specific to your business:
- Website requirements: Think about the goals you’re trying to achieve with an online presence. What kind of website will you need to meet them? A simple brochure website, a complex e-commerce store, or something in between?
- Scalability requirements: How much growth do you realistically anticipate for your website in terms of traffic, content, and functionalities?
- Content management needs: How comfortable are you or your team with managing website content? How often will you need to update your content?
- Technical expertise: Do you have in-house developers, or will you rely on external resources for building and maintaining your website?
- Budget: Consider the initial investment and ongoing costs associated with each platform, including licensing fees, developer costs and potential maintenance expenses.
The table below summarises the key features and suitability of each platform type for different business needs:
| Platform Type | Features | Scalability | Suitability |
|---|---|---|---|
Content Management System | User-friendly, flexible, vast plugin ecosystem | Good scalability for content-driven websites | Ideal for businesses with content creation needs and a desire for customisation |
Ecommerce Platforms | Streamlined for online stores, secure transactions, product management | Good scalability for e-commerce businesses | Ideal for businesses selling products online |
Website Builders | Drag-and-drop interface, pre-designed templates | Limited scalability | Ideal for businesses with basic website needs and limited technical expertise |
Advantages of Using a Content Management System
Content Management Systems, also known as CMS websites, have revolutionised website creation and management. The technology has allowed individuals and organisations to build and maintain their online presence without any coding knowledge.
Here are some key benefits of using a CMS for your business website:
User-Friendly Interface
Most CMS platforms offer a user-friendly interface with drag-and-drop functionality. This allows even non-technical users to create and edit website content, update pages and manage images easily.
Content Flexibility
A CMS website empowers you to easily manage various types of content on your website, including text, images, videos and blog posts to keep it fresh and engaging.
Scalability and Growth
Many CMS platforms are highly scalable, meaning they can grow alongside your business. You can easily add new features and functionalities through plugins and extensions, and even add custom code for specific functions.
Cost-Effective Solution
Creating a website from scratch isn’t cheap! Using a CMS website can be a more cost-effective solution instead of a fully custom website, especially those with limited budgets. After all, most features can be achieved through a CMS library of plugins (eg. WordPress).
Security and Maintenance
Many CMS platforms offer built-in security features and regular updates to address vulnerabilities. Additionally, a large community of developers often contributes to the ongoing development and security of popular open-source CMS platforms.
Choosing the Right CMS for Your Business
Selecting the right CMS options depends on your different business needs and how technical it needs to be. Here are some factors to consider when making a decision.
- Ease of Use – Evaluate the user interface and learning curve associated with different CMS platforms.
- Features and Functionality – Consider the built-in features and available plugins or extensions that meet your specific website needs.
- Scalability – Choose a platform that can grow alongside your business in terms of traffic, content, and functionalities.
- Security – Ensure the CMS platform offers robust security features and regular updates to maintain a secure website environment.
By leveraging the advantages of a CMS, you can empower your team to efficiently manage your website content, maintain a fresh online presence, and contribute to the ongoing growth of your business.
Utilising Website Analytics Tools
Understanding how your visitors interact with your website helps you to figure out what improvements to make in your website. Website analytics tools provide an easy way to track that user behaviour and optimise your business website for better performance and user experience.
- Key Website Traffic Metrics: Track website traffic using metrics like sessions, users, pageviews, and average session duration to understand the overall reach of your website.
- User Engagement Metrics: Measure user engagement with metrics like bounce rate, average time on page, and scroll depth to identify areas for improvement.
- Conversion Rate Optimisation (CRO): Track conversion goals to measure the effectiveness of your website in achieving desired actions (e.g., purchases, lead generation).
- User Demographics and Behaviour: Analyse user demographics and behaviour patterns to tailor your website content and marketing efforts effectively.
Some common website analytics tools include:
| Tools | Price | Pro | Cons |
|---|---|---|---|
Google Analytics | Freemium (with paid options for enterprise features) | Powerful and feature-rich, integrates with other Google products, user-friendly interface | Free tier has limitations on data storage and features, basic plan might require additional technical expertise |
Ecommerce Platforms | Streamlined for online stores, secure transactions, product management | Good scalability for e-commerce businesses | Ideal for businesses selling products online |
Website Builders | Drag-and-drop interface, pre-designed templates | Limited scalability | Ideal for businesses with basic website needs and limited technical expertise |
By utilising website analytics tools and interpreting the data effectively, you can make informed decisions to enhance your website’s performance and achieve your business objectives.
Upgrade With Website Integrations
A company website is not complete without a few key business tools. Website integrations allow your website to seamlessly connect and communicate with various platforms, task automation and website analytics tools that are essential for your business website’s success.
Here are a few of the key ones you need to consider:
Enhancing Customer Relationsips
Ecommerce Integrations
Optimising Website Performance
Additional Integrations
In summary, website integrations are a great way to upgrade your website’s business procedures, helping you to automate repetitive tasks, improve your efficiency, gain valuable customer data and even enhance your customer experience!
Remember to carefully evaluate your business needs and explore the various integration options available to create a website that works smarter, not harder, for your success. Discuss with your web developer on what website integrations you’re thinking about having to get a better idea on your options.
Essential Web Security Measures
As your website grows in size and complexity, so do the potential security risks. Protecting your website and user data entrusted to you is paramount to maintaining trust and ensuring business continuity.
Here are some essential security measures to safeguard your website:
Strong Passwords and Access Controls
Implement robust password policies for all website administrators and users. Encourage the use of complex passwords and consider enabling two-factor authentication for added security. Limit user access to specific website areas based on roles and responsibilities.
Regular Software Updates
Keep your website's content management system (CMS), plugins and themes up-to-date with the latest security patches. Outdated software can be vulnerable to hackers and phishing scams.
Website Security Plugins
Consider using web security plugins designed to protect your website from common threats like malware, brute force attacks, and spam. These plugins often offer features like firewall protection, malware scanning and intrusion detection.
Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) Certificate
An SSL certificate encrypts data transmitted between your website and users, ensuring secure communication and protecting sensitive information.
Regular Backups
Implement a regular website backup schedule to protect your data from accidental deletion, malware attacks or hardware failures. Store backups in a secure location, ideally off-site. You wouldn’t want your website to fail at the worst time and affect your reputation!
Employee Training
Educate your employees about website security best practices, including recognizing phishing attempts, avoiding suspicious links and reporting any security incidents promptly.
Web Application Firewall (WAF)
Consider using a WAF to protect your website from common web attacks like SQL injection, cross-site scripting (XSS), and DDoS attacks.
Far from being a luxury, website security is a key element in protecting your business, your customers and your website’s reputation from potential threats. Stay informed about the latest security trends and best practices to ensure your website remains protected as your business grows.
Build a Website for Your Business Today!
By following the strategies outlined in this guide, you can build a company website that not only meets your current business needs but also adapts seamlessly to your future growth.
Remember, building a successful business website is an ongoing investment, requiring continuous monitoring, maintenance and optimisation.
Key Takeaways:
- Choose a scalable website development platform: Select a platform that aligns with your business goals and can accommodate for future growth.
- Empower your team with a CMS: Utilising a CMS website can help to streamline content management and empower your team to contribute to the website.
- Harness the power of website analytics: Track website performance and user behaviour to make data-driven decisions.
- Utilise website integrations: Streamline operations and improve efficiency through website integrations.
- Prioritise website security: Implement robust security measures to protect your website and user data from the dangers of the internet.
By following these principles, you can create a website that serves as a powerful asset for your business, driving growth and achieving your online objectives.
If you’re looking for a reliable web developer to help build a website from scratch or to overhaul your existing business website, consider Flow Digital’s professional website development team.
We have extensive experience designing and building websites for multiple businesses, both locally in Malaysia and for international entities. Our service acts as both the web design agency and web developer for your project, ensuring our team is aligned with what your organisation is looking for in a business website.
Interested to learn more?
Get in touch today and find out how we can help turn your ideal business website into reality!
