Table of Contents
What is a Website?
A website is a collection of webpages and webpages are online pages that you can view using the internet and web service on a computer or a smartphone.
For example truehost.co.za/blog is a website and you are currently viewing a web page (this article) on it through the internet.
How can I get a website in South Africa?
In this current world which is driven by technology, every business needs a website for it to grow and succeed. Fortunately, you don’t need to know the coding language for you to create a website for your business. Below are the steps you can use to get a website for your business in South Africa.
#1. Domain Name
A domain name is the web address that users type into a browser URL bar. For instance to get to this website you will have to type truehost.co.za/blog, and to get to our site where you can get a website for your business you will type truehost.co.za
A better way to understand is by thinking of a website as a house and a domain name as the address that you can use to locate the house.
Your domain name should not be too short or too long, make it simple and easy to remember. It should also explain what you or your website is all about. Like in this case where you are targeting a South African Audience, you have to choose a .co.za domain name just like the example of our domain name above (truehost.co.za)
#2. Web Hosting
Web hosting is simply the process of renting or buying space ( on a server) to house a website on the World Wide Web. Just as we mentioned earlier that a website is like a house and a domain name is the address to the house, web hosting is related to the same in that hosting is like buying a plot to build a house. This means you need web hosting for you to build a website.
There are many hosting providers in South Africa but at truehost we offer cheap domain names and reliable web hosting. For a South African website truehost.co.za is the best choice to go for.
Below is an image of truehost web hosting packages
#3. Install WordPress
WordPress is popular because it is ease of use. It is a powerful platform that powers some of the most influential companies’ websites. If you have used Microsoft word, you probably have used WordPress too. Due to its popularity, it is easy to find help and support in the WordPress community.
#4. Install a Theme
A WordPress theme will give your website a beautiful and professional look. WordPress has both free and premium themes which you can choose
#5. Add your content
Once your website is set up, you will need to write your first article and have it published on your website. Remember that consistency is the key to a successful website and the success of your business.
9 Creative Ways to Use a Website to Promote Your Business
a. Use SEO to optimize your website for search engine visibility
One of the best ways to promote your business using a website is through Search Engine Optimization (SEO). The internet has more than 2 billion websites and more are being created every second, making it easy for your website to get lost in there if you fail to make your website search engine friendly. You can easily risk your website getting lost in the ocean of content if you don’t make your website search engine friendly.
There are many free online guides that can help you improve your website’s SEO and so you don’t necessarily need to hire an SEO professional. Although it is also possible to fix most SEO problems on your website yourself with a few simple optimizations.
When looking at your website’s SEO, you need to be aware of on-page and off-page SEO. On-page SEO is, everything you see on your website including your website copy, images, videos, meta descriptions, responsive design, and even how your website is structured.
Off-page SEO, on the other hand, refers to what’s going on behind the scenes. This covers aspects of your website such as who’s linking to it, how authoritative it is, and the engagement it’s getting from the readers.
It is one of the most cost-effective ways to promote a website.
Although you will need to make adjustments from time to time, this method generates a lot of traffic without much input once everything is optimized. But you also need to understand that it takes months to actually see results from this method so it calls for patience.
b. Utilize social media to promote your website
Social media is one of the best and most free methods of promoting your websites. Platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram each of them has billions of users, and through them, you can easily connect with other local businesses and promote your own business.
However, before you get started with social media, you should consider what your business’s brand voice is, and who your target market is. Below are a few social media platforms you might consider promoting your business in.
a). Facebook: this platform is great for both B2B and B2C companies, regardless of brand voice. Since the platform has the biggest user base, it is perfect for posting regular updates about your business.
b). Twitter: it is perfect for B2C companies that can promote themselves with short, snappy statements. Twitter is best for sharing links, creating conversations, and getting involved with your audience.
c). Instagram: the platform is great for both B2B and B2C. it is the best platform to use if your work is highly visual or if you want to reach younger adults as your primary audience.
d). Reddit: this platform is best for B2C, but it takes time to cultivate. Before you can promote your website on Reddit, you will be expected to join in conversations on subreddits (specific interest forums) and only share links to your website where it’s necessary.
e). LinkedIn: the platform is best for B2B. it is often used as a hybrid social media and blogging platform, which makes it great for reaching other professionals and showcasing your expertise.
If you wish to promote your website through paid promotions, then Facebook Ads are the best option. Through Facebook Ads, you have a wide array of targeting options available, which makes it easier to narrow down your target audience. You can also choose to target users who follow specific pages or are friends of your current followers.
c. Use content marketing to boost website traffic
Content marketing is a great way to promote your website because it improves your SEO and also generates content that your audience might find useful.
There is a common misconception that content marketing, has to involve blogging, but that’s not necessarily true. Although blogs are the tried-and-true content marketing avenue, you can produce videos, create a podcast, or even start a newsletter around something related to your work.
When using content marketing to boost website traffic, you have to keep in mind that the content you create needs to be useful, interesting, or entertaining to your audience. The best way to make sure you are answering questions people have is by doing plenty of keyword research before writing content.
However, content marketing is a promotion method that doesn’t work in isolation. To get the most out of content marketing, you need to work on your website’s SEO strategy and promote your content through other channels like social media or paid advertising eg Facebook Ads. You should also create new content with a lot of consistency to give your customers a reason to keep coming back.
d. Use email marketing to drive website visits
Email marketing is a tried-and-tested method of promoting your business website directly to your customers. Once your website is up and running, it’s easy to start an email marketing campaign, and many email marketing services are available that you can use for free or on a limited budget.
While this article can’t cover everything you need to know about email marketing here, There are so many free guides to email marketing on the internet. One great thing about email marketing is that users don’t need to have visited your website since most email marketing services will let you share a signup URL with your followers so they can subscribe to your email list without having to visit your website.
Below are some tips you can use to market your website through email marketing.
- Set a countdown timer for your website launch date with one email every few days showing sneak peeks of what’s coming.
- Send a coupon to all users who sign up for your email list before the launch of your website.
- Invite users to an online scavenger hunt, where they have to find a hidden item on your website and name a prize for the winners.
- Share your first blog post immediately after your website launches
- once your website is live, you can also integrate email signups into the web design so that new visitors can get updates about your business.
e. Use Google ads to reach potential customers
Google ads empower businesses to create advertisements that target people based on what they search on the internet. You can create a list of the words you wish your ads to appear on and exclusion lists of the words you don’t want your ads to appear on.
For example, if you sell facial care products, you might want to have terms related to clear skin, and how to get rid of pimples and dark spots on your inclusion list.
After coming up with your list, the next step is setting the bid you’re willing to pay per click (PPC). Google will let you know what the average cost per click is for ads related to a particular term on your list then you have to set what you’re willing to spend.
The number of times your ad appears will depend on the ad’s quality and how high the bid is compared to others who are interested in those keywords. Every time someone places a relevant inquiry, Google will rapidly balance all the relevant ads and select the ones most suited to appear.
For example, a real estate agent can drive traffic to their site by targeting people searching for homes around their area. Their online advertising will then make people want to learn more about their real estate expertise, therefore, visiting their site.
f. Promote your website through influencer marketing
Some social media users have a big number of followers and businesses approach them to have their products to their potential customers. Social media influencers inspire people to try different products based on their reviews.
This works just like a customer review but on a much larger scale. Influencer marketing encourages followers to try something that most of the time they have used. People admire the influencers they follow online which makes it easier for them to want to try a product the influencer is using.
You can hire an influencer to speak about your website or business. Through that people will know about your business and what you have to offer. They also get to hear more about the benefits you offer, encouraging them to visit your website, learn more about you, and even make a purchase.
g. Use Youtube to promote your website
YouTube is one of the most popular content channels. Creating a youtube channel with helpful and informative videos related to your products can help further your brand reach and potentially reach numerous customers you might not have otherwise found. You also need to put links to your website in the description.
You can create videos and tutorials to guide viewers on how to use your product or service so they can get the most out of the experience. You can also create informative videos where you explore challenging topics in your industry or provide news updates for example a product that is new in the market and make sure to leave a link for people to be able to visit your website and buy the products.
For you to have successful youtube marketing, you need to:
- Understand what your audience what to know.
- Ensure you have high-quality videos so they appear clear and professional.
- Ensure you have a CTA that drives people from youtube back to your website and encourages them to join email lists or make a purchase.
h. Take advantage of affiliate marketing opportunities
Affiliate marketing involves referring a product or service by sharing it on a blog, through social media like Instagram, or through a website. The affiliate earns a commission each time someone makes a purchase through the unique affiliate link they had provided.
An affiliate network helps manage some aspects of affiliate marketing, like running campaigns and tracking the results of the efforts put forth. Using existing ones can also help jump right in and start seeing results within a short period.
For example, think of an interior decor store that wants to promote a Christmas decor piece ahead of the Christmas season. Contacting an affiliate network and setting up a campaign can help the store get affiliate links from online sources related to interior decor, all of which will point back to the store’s website and encourage people to make purchases.
i. Establish an online store to sell your products
People are now buying products online more than ever. Any business which wishes to make more sales has to have an online store. Since the pandemic, e-commerce has grown and is still growing even after the pandemic.
Establishing an online store would really help your business make more sales and grow.
Conclusion
When promoting a business whether online or physical, building a digital following and engaging with potential customers online can help you grow. A website is a great way of building an online presence for your business. Most businesses in South Africa have a website for their businesses. The ways discussed in this article will help you promote your business and lead it to success. All the best in your business.
