For startup business today the process of setting up a website is a minefield, full of complicated jargon, confusing payment terms and a barrage of up-selling. To make life easier for startups, we at Marriott Smith Design have produced this handy guide on how, websites fit into a startup business marketing plan and what is needed to create a website. We give you the basics on domain name registration, website hosting and what qualities your your business website needs. Although this guide covers the basics of setting up a website it is by no means comprehensive, startups will likely need to do more research on certain things, but Marriott Smith Design hopes startup businesses and entrepreneurs will find it useful.

1. Websites 101
What you need to know

2. A website is not a silver bullet
or magic box when it comes to
finding customers.

3. Awebsite needs to be part of
your overall marketing plan.

4. Amarketing plan sets out who
your target customers are, how
you are going to find them, and
how you are offering to solve
their problems?

5. Once you have nailed down
who your customers are, you
need to decide what you are
offering them.

6. Customers are most interested
in what you can do for them.
Why should customers buy from
you and not a competitor?

7. That reason is called your
Unique Selling Proposition
(USP). It is what makes you
different from anything else on
the market.

8. To find your USP, try
completing this thought:
'Customers will buy from me
because my products or service
is the only one that...'

9. So you have identified who
your customers are, what they
want, and what you are offering
them. Now you need to get your
message out there with the most
results for your money.

10. This is where a website comes
into it's own...

11. Awebsite is a marketing tool...
● It enables more people to find
what your business can offer.
● It builds your business
credibility and customer
confidence.

12. There are three ingredients you
need to make a website
1. You need a Domain name
2. You need website hosting
3. You need the website
content

13. A domain name is the name
you type into a website browser,
it will often have .com or .co.
uk at the end of it.

14. You can buy domain names
from £3 to £20 per year. You
have to renew them each year,
although you can pay for 10
years in one go.

15. Web hosting is the second
thing you need for you website.
It is the storage space that will
hold the files of your website.

16. Most small business will only
need shared web hosting. Which
costs between £3 and £12 per
month.

17. The final ingredient is website
content. (The text, images and
other files that make up the
website)

18. To create the website content
you can either:
1. Buy website building software
and have a go yourself
2. Or Hire a website designer

19. Whether you hire a designer or
have a go yourself, your website
will need to have and do a few
things.

20. ● Captivating images, engaging
text, and an easy to use design.
● Makes it easy for customers to
contact you.
● Easily found on Google and
other search engines.

21. ● Responsive to mobile phones
and tablets.
● Loads quickly; ideally in less
than 3 seconds!
● Statistics added, so you can
track the success of what
you're doing.

22. It all seems logical, doesn't it?
But what does it take to achieve
this?

23. Thorough needs analysis to find out your needs,
and how they can be met.
A design that works for your business, not just
one that looks OK, one that's easy to use and
gets results.
Setup of web hosting, domain names, email.
Search Engine Optimization.
Training on website software so you can update
the website yourself.
Setup of website monitoring software.
On going Support, when you need it.

24. What does a website cost?

25. Having a website
designed, will usually
cost more up-front
because you are
paying for time and
experience. However
you will get a better
result.
Creating the website
yourself may seem like
a good deal, as the
upfront costs are
lower. But it will take
you time away from
your business, which
can have a higher cost,
and the result will not
be as good.
The Positives and Negatives

26. Some Prices as a Guide
This is what you can expect to pay in the first
year.
Creative Agencies: £2000 to £10,000
DIY Website builders: £120 to £1440
Yellsites: £468 to £4200
Independent website designers: £400 to £2000

27. Want to know how much a website from
Marriott Smith Design would cost you?
Lets have a chat...
Aron Marriott-Smith
Email: aron@MarriottSmithDesign.co.uk

28. Some recommended places to buy website
hosting and domain names
Appendix

29. Some good places to buy
website hosting from are:
● DreamHost.com - Good
reputation, good service, up front
● WebHost.uk.net - reliable UK
bassed web hosting
● GoDaddy.com - The Biggest

30. Some good places to buy
domain names from are:
● Hover.com - Good customer
service and easy to use
● lcn.com - UK based, good
reputation, cheapest for .co.uk
● GoDaddy.com - The Biggest