A website is the central hub for your business. However, it may not be clear on how to get one started so we are here to help.

1. Obtain a Domain Name: This is the name of the website (i.e. www.dobobo.com).  There are many different companies that offer this such as GoDaddy, Siteground, Bluehost, etc.  When purchasing this, the company you use may offer privacy protection as well which is recommended. They may also offer an SSL or Secure Certificate which we recommend getting and typically required for eCommerce sites.
2. Determine if you are going to build the site yourself or hire someone:
   • Do it yourself – If you decide to do it yourself there are many options.  Assuming that you are not well versed in developing websites, there are some services that make this easier.  For instance, some hosting companies have drag and drop builders that make it easier to develop a site (i.e. GoDaddy, Wix, Shopify, etc.).  The reason that we recommend identifying this early is because it may influence where you get your hosting.
   • Hire a developer – If you do not have the expertise, time or just prefer hiring someone, this is an option as well. A good developer will typically give you an overall picture of everything needed.
3. Obtain Hosting: This is where the website will be housed.  Typically you can get this from the same company that you get the domain name from (i.e. GoDaddy, Siteground, Bluehost, etc.).  If using a developer, get their input on where to host it and what package to get.
4. Get a branded email: This is an email account with a prefix of your choosing along with @YourDomainName.com (i.e. info@dobobo.com, sales@dobobo.com, etc.). Most hosting companies offer this with their packages. But if you need a lot of accounts, space, or central management for larger companies, it’s probably better to get this branded email from a 3rd party such Microsoft for Business, G-Suites, Yahoo Small Business, etc.
5. Develop the site: If doing it yourself, you can typically make the site from scratch or utilize templates provided by the company you are with. If using a web developer, be sure to have the following ready to give to them
   • Your Logo
   • Any media assets you have (i.e. images)
   • Description of how you want the site to look along with examples of sites you like
   • List of pages for the site
   • Content for each page
   • Description of any functionality that you would like the site to perform
6. Maintain the site: Over time, content on a site may become stale or things may need updating. Therefore, periodically perform a review of your website to see what may need updating.  Furthermore, if using a WordPress site, there are typically periodic updates to the WordPress platform, template, and plugins.  Be diligent about updating these as they could consists of enhancements, bug fixes, patches to vulnerabilities, etc.  If you do not feel comfortable doing this or do not have the time, consult with a web developer to maintain this.

Check out the links above and/or reach out to our vetted vendors below for more information.