Domain and website tools
As entrepreneurs, having a website that represents your business professionally is essential. But building and maintaining a website can be challenging if you’re not a tech-savvy person. Thankfully, there exists a wide range of domain and website tools that make this process easier, efficient and affordable.
Domains & Hosting:
A domain name is the address or URL that people will use to find your website. The domain name is a crucial factor in your website's search engine ranking, and it should be unique, memorable and represent your brand.
The most common places to purchase a domain name are GoDaddy and Namecheap. You can purchase the domain for as low as $10 per year; however, the common extensions such as.com,.net,.org, and.io are more expensive.
Web hosting is a service that allows individuals and organizations to post their website or web page onto the Internet. It is the space on the internet where your website and data reside. Hosting services also provide technical support, security, and server maintenance.
There are various hosting options available from shared, managed, and dedicated hosting to VPS and Cloud hosting. However, shared hosting is the most common among startups or small businesses, as it is cheap and easy to set up. Popular hosting providers include Bluehost, HostGator, and InMotion.
Website Builder and CMS tools:
A Content Management System (CMS) is a software application that allows users to create, manage, and modify content on a website without the need for specialized technical knowledge. CMS tools are beneficial for non-technical individuals or those who are not proficient in coding.
WordPress is the most-used CMS platform worldwide, with over 60% of the market share. It is open-source software, which means it’s free, highly customizable, and easy to use, making it a popular choice among bloggers and small businesses. Other popular CMS tools include Joomla, Drupal, Squarespace, and Wix.
Website builders are similar to CMS tools but offer an all-in-one solution for website creation, hosting, and maintenance. Website builders are ideal for entrepreneurs who want to create a website on their own without hiring a developer. Popular website builders include Weebly, Shopify, and Webflow.
Themes and Templates:
A website theme is a pre-designed template that you can use to design your website quickly and efficiently. A template saves you time and effort and helps you create a professional website without the need for coding knowledge.
Themes and templates are available for free or can be purchased for a small fee from marketplaces such as Themeforest or Creative Market. Free WordPress themes are available in the WordPress repository or can be found on the developer's website.
Plugins and Add-ons:
Plugins and add-ons are components that add functionality to your website. They can be used to add features like contact forms, sliders, pop-ups, social media sharing, or e-commerce.
WordPress has over 50,000 free plugins in its repository, making it the most robust and extensive CMS platform available. Popular plugins include Yoast SEO, Contact Form 7, WPForms, and WooCommerce.
Email Marketing Tools:
Email marketing is a crucial aspect of digital marketing as it allows businesses to reach their customers directly. Email marketing tools help small businesses automate their email campaigns, track their performance, and optimize email content to improve conversion rates.
Mailchimp is the most popular email marketing software used by businesses worldwide. It offers a free plan for businesses with fewer than 2,000 subscribers and provides templates, audience segmentation, and analytics features. Other popular email marketing tools include ConvertKit, Constant Contact, Aweber, and GetResponse.
Conclusion:
Building and maintaining a website can be time-consuming, but with the right domain and website tools, it can be simplified and streamlined, allowing small business owners to focus on growing their brands. These tools also help to make a website more efficient, user-friendly, and robust, which in turn can lead to higher revenue and better brand image.