7 Powerful Reasons Your Business Still Needs a Website in 2024
Do Businesses Still Need Websites in the Age of Social Media? Absolutely.
Imagine trying to invite friends to a party but you only provide them the directions without letting them know where the party actually is. Sounds confusing, right? This is exactly what relying solely on social media accounts for your business feels like. Social platforms are fantastic bridges, but they must lead somewhere solid. That’s where a good, old-fashioned website comes in. My name is Nick and I’m from Design School. Recently, someone asked me if businesses really need websites when social media is so easy and quick to set up. The short answer? Yes, they do.
In this article, I’ll explain why your business still needs a dedicated website and show you just how simple it can be to create one, thanks to Canva. We’ll dive into the essential role a website plays in establishing credibility, trust, and professionalism. I’ll also provide a step-by-step guide to help you get started with Canva’s user-friendly templates. If you’re hesitant about creating a website because it sounds too complex, you’re in the right place. By the end of this guide, you’ll see that it’s more approachable than you think.
Let’s start by defining what a website truly is and why it’s an irreplaceable tool for your business in today’s digital landscape.
What is a Website?
Well, in its simplest description, a website is a collection of webpages located under a single domain name, like canva.com. If you want to get a little more detailed, then it’s a 24/7 online presence that can be used to communicate with people, sell products, describe your services, even provide entertainment and showcase portfolios. Having one establishes credibility. It builds trust and helps your business look more professional.
Getting Started with Canva
Using Templates
The easiest way to get started is with a template. On the Canva homepage search bar, type website. Browse the available templates.
- Anything with a crown on it is for pro users.
- Anything without is available to anyone.
Let’s look at a real estate template. Yeah, this one’s perfect. Click on it and it will open in a new tab.
Customizing Your Template
Feel free to get more specific with the search terms as well. Search for fashion sites, portfolio sites, even education websites, and you’ll get a much more targeted selection to search through. Everything here is editable.
- Change the text by double-clicking on it.
- Drag in photos from the elements tab or upload your own.
- Adjust layout by dragging sections or deleting unnecessary pages.
Branding and Final Adjustments
Now I’ll get rid of that generic logo and add in my brand identity. Let’s resize it. Adjust the font to suit the new brand and change the colors accordingly. Finally, find an image that better suits the types of properties that this agent deals with.
Adding a Call to Action (CTA)
This is looking pretty good, but I want to give the audience a call to action on this first page. A call to action or a CTA is a direction to the audience to engage or do something. On websites, this often takes the form of a button or a link. Select the text box that you want to link. Go to the chain icon in the upper right corner of the screen. Here, you can enter an external link or choose one of the other pages on the site.
Preview and Testing
At the top right, there is a preview button. Click on this to see how it’s looking and test out the links. There are options to see what it looks like on other screens too, like a tablet or a smartphone. This will automatically resize your design for the different aspect ratios. It’s worth checking for any responsiveness issues now.
Publishing Your Website
Free Domain or Existing Domain
In the top right corner, you’ll see a button that says, “Publish Website”. You’ll be given two options here:
- A free domain
- The chance to use an existing domain
Let’s choose free. Here, Canva will give you a URL. You can edit it like this. In the site’s description, describe your website in 160 characters or less for search engines.
Additional Security
You can hide your site from search engines by clicking a checkbox, great for sharing with specific people via a link for feedback or suggestions. You can also restrict access via password.
Custom Domain
If you want your own custom domain name, you can do that here as well. Click this and then purchase domain. Start searching for available domains, claim your domain, and fill in a registration form. It normally takes 24 to 48 hours for the website to go live.
In conclusion, having a website remains an essential cornerstone for any business, acting as a reliable and professional digital presence. While social media platforms are great for quick updates and engagement, they merely serve as bridges leading customers to your main hub—your website. With tools like Canva, creating a professional website is now more accessible than ever. This empowers you to build credibility and trust with your audience.
As the famous proverb goes, “The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second best time is now.” Start building your online presence with confidence and creativity.
See you in the next article!