{"id":30534,"date":"2021-10-04T15:00:09","date_gmt":"2021-10-04T13:00:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/?p=30534"},"modified":"2021-10-04T13:51:03","modified_gmt":"2021-10-04T11:51:03","slug":"how-to-create-a-small-business-website-using-wordpress","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/how-to-create-a-small-business-website-using-wordpress\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Create a Small Business Website Using WordPress"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"wpb-content-wrapper\"><p>[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]The time when a business could so much as exist without even some kind of an online presence is long gone \u2013 presence in an online directory or as a social network profile is a must at the very least. A website is <strong>the next step in establishing a presence online<\/strong>: a piece of virtual real estate to call your own. After all, social media and online directories have their own rules for share, reach and access. <strong>With a website of your own, you make the rules.<\/strong>[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;28px&#8221;][vc_column_text]With <a href=\"https:\/\/www.webhostingsecretrevealed.net\/blog\/wordpress-blog\/wordpress-stats\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">WordPress running about 40% of the entire internet<\/a>, one could assume that <strong>there is a wide array of WordPress solutions for small business websites<\/strong> \u2013 and one would be right to so assume. If you are reading this, chances are you are also looking to create a website for a small business, whether you are running your own business or creating a website for somebody else.[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;28px&#8221;][vc_column_text]You have nonetheless come to the right place. We have divided this tutorial into several important segments depending on what you need. This is what we\u2019d like to talk about:<br \/>\n[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;22px&#8221;]<ul class=\"qodef-unordered-list-item qodef-toc\">\n    <li>\n\t        <div class=\"qodef-ul-title-holder\">\n            <span class=\"qodef-ul-title-content\"><a href=\"#get-started-with-any-website\">How to Get Started With Any Website<\/a><\/span>        <\/div>\n            <\/li>\n<\/ul>[vc_empty_space height=&#8221;5px&#8221;]<ul class=\"qodef-unordered-list-item qodef-toc\">\n    <li>\n\t        <div class=\"qodef-ul-title-holder\">\n            <span class=\"qodef-ul-title-content\"><a href=\"#how-to-install-wordpress\">How to Install WordPress<\/a><\/span>        <\/div>\n            <\/li>\n<\/ul>[vc_empty_space height=&#8221;5px&#8221;]<ul class=\"qodef-unordered-list-item qodef-toc\">\n    <li>\n\t        <div class=\"qodef-ul-title-holder\">\n            <span class=\"qodef-ul-title-content\"><a href=\"#wordpress-theme-for-small-business\">How to Choose a WordPress Theme for a Small Business<\/a><\/span>        <\/div>\n            <\/li>\n<\/ul>[vc_empty_space height=&#8221;5px&#8221;]<ul class=\"qodef-unordered-list-item qodef-toc\">\n    <li>\n\t        <div class=\"qodef-ul-title-holder\">\n            <span class=\"qodef-ul-title-content\"><a href=\"#design-small-business-website\">How to Design a Small Business Website<\/a><\/span>        <\/div>\n            <\/li>\n<\/ul>[vc_empty_space height=&#8221;5px&#8221;]<ul class=\"qodef-unordered-list-item qodef-toc\">\n    <li>\n\t        <div class=\"qodef-ul-title-holder\">\n            <span class=\"qodef-ul-title-content\"><a href=\"#choose-business-plugins\">How to Choose Business Plugins<\/a><\/span>        <\/div>\n            <\/li>\n<\/ul>[vc_empty_space height=&#8221;5px&#8221;]<ul class=\"qodef-unordered-list-item qodef-toc\">\n    <li>\n\t        <div class=\"qodef-ul-title-holder\">\n            <span class=\"qodef-ul-title-content\"><a href=\"#grow-small-business-website\">How to Grow a Small Business Website<\/a><\/span>        <\/div>\n            <\/li>\n<\/ul>[vc_empty_space height=&#8221;80px&#8221;][vc_widget_sidebar sidebar_id=&#8221;new-top-picks-banner&#8221;][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;80px&#8221;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"qodef-h4\"><a id=\"get-started-with-any-website\"><\/a>How to Get Started With Any Website<\/h2>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;21px&#8221;]<div class=\"qodef-single-image-holder    \">\n    <div class=\"qodef-si-inner\" >\n                                    <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"969\" height=\"554\" src=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/How-to-Get-Started-With-Any-Website.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"How to Get Started With Any Website\" srcset=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/How-to-Get-Started-With-Any-Website.jpg 969w, https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/How-to-Get-Started-With-Any-Website-300x172.jpg 300w, https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/How-to-Get-Started-With-Any-Website-768x439.jpg 768w, https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/How-to-Get-Started-With-Any-Website-620x354.jpg 620w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 969px) 100vw, 969px\" \/>                        <\/div>\n<\/div>[vc_empty_space height=&#8221;38px&#8221;][vc_column_text]It should come as no surprise that <strong>creating a small business website begins just the same as creating any website:<\/strong> with a <strong>host<\/strong> server space, a <strong>domain name<\/strong>, and some kind of software to run your website.[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;28px&#8221;][vc_column_text]Server space for your content is called <strong>hosting<\/strong>. Most users (and small businesses in particular) don\u2019t own their servers, but rather rent server space from specialized hosting providers. Choosing a hosting provider will be determined by your needs and what the market has to offer. We have a lot to say about that, and this is not the space for it: check out <a href=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/how-to-choose-wordpress-hosting-provider\/\">our guide to picking a hosting provider<\/a> instead. What we will say here is that, if you are expecting your business to grow, you ought to pick a provider that guarantees scalability: a growing business will need more server space, and, more importantly, better access speeds.[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;28px&#8221;][vc_column_text]Similarly, any website needs a <strong>domain name<\/strong>. A domain name is much like a street address, but for the internet. Again, this is not the space to go into domain names in detail. We have in-depth articles on <a href=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/what-is-a-domain-name\/\">what is a domain name and how to get one<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/what-to-do-if-your-preferred-domain-name-is-taken\/\">what to do if the domain name you prefer is taken<\/a>.[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;28px&#8221;][vc_column_text]Once you have secured your <strong>hosting<\/strong> and <strong>domain name<\/strong>, you need to create the website itself, and that requires software. If you are reading this, we feel it safe to assume that you will use WordPress for your website. This is what the next two sections are all about.[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;68px&#8221;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"qodef-h4\"><a id=\"how-to-install-wordpress\"><\/a>How to Install WordPress<\/h2>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;21px&#8221;]<div class=\"qodef-single-image-holder    \">\n    <div class=\"qodef-si-inner\" >\n                                    <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"969\" height=\"554\" src=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/How-to-Install-WordPress.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"How to Install WordPress\" srcset=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/How-to-Install-WordPress.jpg 969w, https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/How-to-Install-WordPress-300x172.jpg 300w, https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/How-to-Install-WordPress-768x439.jpg 768w, https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/How-to-Install-WordPress-620x354.jpg 620w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 969px) 100vw, 969px\" \/>                        <\/div>\n<\/div>[vc_empty_space height=&#8221;38px&#8221;][vc_column_text]WordPress is <strong>by far the most popular platform used to run websites<\/strong>, and for several very good reasons. It is completely free and very flexible and user-friendly, allowing quite literally everyone, even people with no coding background, to create a feature-rich, professional-looking website.[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;28px&#8221;][vc_column_text]Once you have secured your hosting and domain name, you need to <strong>download a copy of WordPress from <a href=\"https:\/\/wordpress.org\/download\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">WordPress.org<\/a>, install it on your server, and connect it to your database<\/strong>. All you need to do it is a web browser, and <a href=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/best-ftp-clients-wordpress\/\">an FTP client<\/a> (which may set you back some, but there are also a lot of free FTP clients to choose from), and a database access tool, which is likely included in your hosting package deal.[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;28px&#8221;][vc_column_text]Installing WordPress itself takes about five minutes. You can see how it\u2019s done in the video below:[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;40px&#8221;][vc_column_text]<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"YouTube video player\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/_05NUFKObqA\" width=\"1280\" height=\"720\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe>[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;38px&#8221;][vc_column_text]You may prefer your tutorials in text form, for easy reference. That\u2019s not a problem: we have a whole article on <a href=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/how-to-install-wordpress\/\">how to install WordPress<\/a>.[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;68px&#8221;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"qodef-h4\"><a id=\"wordpress-theme-for-small-business\"><\/a>How to Choose a WordPress Theme for a Small Business<\/h2>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;21px&#8221;]<div class=\"qodef-single-image-holder    \">\n    <div class=\"qodef-si-inner\" >\n                                    <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"969\" height=\"553\" src=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/How-to-Choose-a-WordPress-Theme-for-a-Small-Business.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"How to Choose a WordPress Theme for a Small Business\" srcset=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/How-to-Choose-a-WordPress-Theme-for-a-Small-Business.jpg 969w, https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/How-to-Choose-a-WordPress-Theme-for-a-Small-Business-300x171.jpg 300w, https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/How-to-Choose-a-WordPress-Theme-for-a-Small-Business-768x438.jpg 768w, https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/How-to-Choose-a-WordPress-Theme-for-a-Small-Business-620x354.jpg 620w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 969px) 100vw, 969px\" \/>                        <\/div>\n<\/div>[vc_empty_space height=&#8221;38px&#8221;][vc_column_text]WordPress can claim that even a person with zero coding knowledge can create a website because it works by using themes to <strong>organize and present content to website visitors<\/strong>. Of course, there is no shortage of premium themes <a href=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/theme-category\/business-wordpress-themes\/\">designed around various businesses<\/a>: with niches for everything, from your corner <a href=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/wordpress-theme\/bodega-a-stylish-theme-for-small-businesses\/\">Bodega<\/a> to gardening and landscaping with <a href=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/wordpress-theme\/sunny-orchard-landscaping-and-gardening-theme\/\">Sunny Orchard<\/a>.[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;28px&#8221;][vc_column_text]There are plenty of free themes to choose from as well, and, for versatility, you can\u2019t go wrong with the latest addition to our line of free products: the <a href=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/qi-theme\/\">Qi Theme<\/a>. This free theme comes with <strong>100 ready-made layouts<\/strong> and stock photos designed to accommodate a business in any imaginable industry or niche, including, of course, small businesses.[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;50px&#8221;]<div class=\"qodef-single-image-holder   qodef-has-border \">\n    <div class=\"qodef-si-inner\" >\n                                    <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"969\" height=\"491\" src=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Qi-Theme-Demos.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"Qi Theme Demos\" srcset=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Qi-Theme-Demos.jpg 969w, https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Qi-Theme-Demos-300x152.jpg 300w, https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Qi-Theme-Demos-768x389.jpg 768w, https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Qi-Theme-Demos-620x314.jpg 620w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 969px) 100vw, 969px\" \/>                        <\/div>\n<\/div>[vc_empty_space height=&#8221;38px&#8221;][vc_column_text]If you are selling anything, obviously, you need a store. But building an online store from scratch is a big job for anyone, which is why we recommend you choose a <strong>WooCommerce-compatible theme<\/strong>. WooCommerce is a comprehensive online store solution which has a feature-rich free version, too. You can read all about it in our <a href=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/woocommerce-tutorial\/\">ultimate guide to WooCommerce<\/a>.[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;68px&#8221;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"qodef-h4\"><a id=\"design-small-business-website\"><\/a>How to Design a Small Business Website<\/h2>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;21px&#8221;]<div class=\"qodef-single-image-holder    \">\n    <div class=\"qodef-si-inner\" >\n                                    <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"969\" height=\"554\" src=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/How-to-Design-a-Small-Business-Website.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"How to Design a Small Business Website\" srcset=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/How-to-Design-a-Small-Business-Website.jpg 969w, https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/How-to-Design-a-Small-Business-Website-300x172.jpg 300w, https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/How-to-Design-a-Small-Business-Website-768x439.jpg 768w, https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/How-to-Design-a-Small-Business-Website-620x354.jpg 620w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 969px) 100vw, 969px\" \/>                        <\/div>\n<\/div>[vc_empty_space height=&#8221;38px&#8221;][vc_column_text]There are as many possible paths you can take as there are businesses, which is to say your options are endless and there are no hard and fast rules. Still, there are ways to narrow down your options.<br \/>\n[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;28px&#8221;][vc_column_text]The first thing you should be thinking about is <strong>your brand<\/strong>, especially if you have established one, even locally, before coming online. Your website should reflect it in terms of colours, shapes, and typography. The website also ought to feature your logo prominently, on your home page or landing page, and the <a href=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/add-favicon-wordpress\/\">favicon<\/a>, for instance.[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;28px&#8221;][vc_column_text]Even if you haven\u2019t already established a brand identity, you shouldn\u2019t think of a website as a blank slate. There are still layouts and styles which may or may not fit your business.[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;28px&#8221;][vc_column_text]Take our <a href=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/wordpress-theme\/tetsuo-portfolio-and-creative-industry-theme\/\">Tetsuo theme<\/a>, for instance. If you are creating a website for an independent sci-fi publisher, a second-hand comic book store, or a print-on-demand T-shirt store, it could work great.[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;50px&#8221;]<div class=\"qodef-single-image-holder   qodef-has-border \">\n    <div class=\"qodef-si-inner\" >\n                                    <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"969\" height=\"488\" src=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Tetsuo-Page.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"Tetsuo Page\" srcset=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Tetsuo-Page.jpg 969w, https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Tetsuo-Page-300x151.jpg 300w, https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Tetsuo-Page-768x387.jpg 768w, https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Tetsuo-Page-620x312.jpg 620w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 969px) 100vw, 969px\" \/>                        <\/div>\n<\/div>[vc_empty_space height=&#8221;38px&#8221;][vc_column_text]Can you imagine it working just as well for a producer of organic vegetables, a local farmers\u2019 market, or a beekeeping co-op? We can\u2019t. Something like <a href=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/wordpress-theme\/mellifera-beekeping-and-honey-shop-theme\/\">Mellifera<\/a> is virtually made for it, though.[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;50px&#8221;]<div class=\"qodef-single-image-holder   qodef-has-border \">\n    <div class=\"qodef-si-inner\" >\n                                    <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"969\" height=\"492\" src=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Mellifera.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"Mellifera\" srcset=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Mellifera.jpg 969w, https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Mellifera-300x152.jpg 300w, https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Mellifera-768x390.jpg 768w, https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Mellifera-620x315.jpg 620w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 969px) 100vw, 969px\" \/>                        <\/div>\n<\/div>[vc_empty_space height=&#8221;38px&#8221;][vc_column_text]Enough about the appearances, though. What are the functionalities a small business website might need?<br \/>\n[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;28px&#8221;][vc_column_text]Firstly, there\u2019s the <strong>Home Page<\/strong>: this is the first thing a lot of your visitors will see, and it should be clear and informative. Just looking at the home page, a visitor should be able to tell what the business is, what it\u2019s called, and where it\u2019s located. A home page typically contains navigation features such as <a href=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/how-to-style-wordpress-navigation-menus\/\">menus<\/a> which lead the visitor to the sections of the website they are interested in.[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;28px&#8221;][vc_column_text]Another important consideration is the <strong>Landing Page<\/strong>. A <a href=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/what-is-landing-page\/\">landing page<\/a> is typically what a website visitor will see when they click on a promotional link, and its purpose is to convert a casual visitor to a paying customer. They typically do not contain navigational features, but do contain <a href=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/tips-for-writing-landing-page-copy-that-converts\/\">specially crafted copy text<\/a> intended to lead the visitor to a desired outcome: subscribing to your newsletter, applying for membership, or similar.[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;28px&#8221;][vc_column_text]<strong>About Pages<\/strong> are a typical feature of a WordPress website. This is where a visitor should be able to find all the relevant information on a business. An about page may be the most important page of your website, which is why you should invest in <a href=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/write-compelling-about-page\/\">compelling \u201cAbout\u201d copy<\/a>.[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;28px&#8221;][vc_column_text]Your visitors should be able to reach you. Of course, you can leave an email address or a phone number on your <strong>Contact<\/strong> page, but you could streamline some of the processes such as orders, bookings, or subscriptions with a <a href=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/innovative-contact-form-design\/\">well-designed contact form<\/a>.[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;28px&#8221;][vc_column_text]Another good way to save time is an <strong>FAQ<\/strong>, or <a href=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/add-faq-for-wordpress\/\">frequently asked questions<\/a> section. If you have a good idea of who your intended customers are, you may be able to anticipate many questions they might have and answer them in advance, and then use the data from your contact forms to supplement it.[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;28px&#8221;][vc_column_text]If you want to lend credence to your copy, you might want to add a <a href=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/rotating-wordpress-testimonials\/\">testimonials section<\/a> to your home or about page. With a <strong>testimonials section<\/strong>, you let your customers speak for you, and you make them feel valued for their opinions.[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;28px&#8221;][vc_column_text]<strong>You should not neglect social media<\/strong>, either. If you have a presence on any of the social networks, you can use it to advertise your website content, but social integration is a two-way street: you can also <a href=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/how-to-add-social-media-icons-to-wordpress-sidebar\/\">add social icons to your sidebar<\/a> or <a href=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/how-to-add-social-media-icons-to-wordpress-menu\/\">to your menu<\/a>, and boost your social following.[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;28px&#8221;][vc_column_text]And that\u2019s just the start of it. The functionalities your particular business might need can be very diverse. Have them in mind when choosing a theme and designing your website.<br \/>\n[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;68px&#8221;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"qodef-h4\"><a id=\"choose-business-plugins\"><\/a>How to Choose Business Plugins<\/h2>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;21px&#8221;]<div class=\"qodef-single-image-holder    \">\n    <div class=\"qodef-si-inner\" >\n                                    <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"969\" height=\"554\" src=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/How-to-Choose-Business-Plugins.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"How to Choose Business Plugins\" srcset=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/How-to-Choose-Business-Plugins.jpg 969w, https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/How-to-Choose-Business-Plugins-300x172.jpg 300w, https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/How-to-Choose-Business-Plugins-768x439.jpg 768w, https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/How-to-Choose-Business-Plugins-620x354.jpg 620w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 969px) 100vw, 969px\" \/>                        <\/div>\n<\/div>[vc_empty_space height=&#8221;38px&#8221;][vc_column_text]Plugins are software designed to supplement a theme; to add a functionality to it. What plugins you might need will depend on the kind of business you are running or developing a website for. Still, this doesn\u2019t mean that there aren\u2019t <a href=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/best-wordpress-plugins\/\">plugins useful for any business website<\/a>.[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;28px&#8221;][vc_column_text]But let\u2019s take a step back: a theme is one thing, and a well-chosen theme can take you a long way towards creating a website, but a website is typically edited using a plugin called a page builder. Since WordPress version 5.0, the default page editor is the <a href=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/introduction-to-wordpress-gutenberg-block-editor\/\">Gutenberg block editor<\/a>, but it\u2019s far from the only one. If you prefer visual, drag-and-drop interfaces, perhaps <a href=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/elementor-tutorial-for-beginners\/\">Elementor<\/a> is the editor for you.[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;28px&#8221;][vc_column_text]And if Elementor is your editor of choice, you will find <strong>a lot of useful business-related functionalities<\/strong> in our very own <a href=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/qi-addons-for-elementor\/\">Qi Addons for Elementor<\/a>. It is completely free and comes with a wide array of useful business-centered widgets.[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;28px&#8221;][vc_column_text]<strong>WordPress is open source<\/strong> and plugins and themes for it can be developed by anyone, which is why there are a lot of premium and free plugins to choose from for just about any functionality. Some are centered around a type of business, such as <a href=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/best-wordpress-restaurant-plugins\/\">restaurant plugins<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wordpress-plugins-for-photographers\/\">plugins for photographers<\/a>, or <a href=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wordpress-real-estate-plugins\/\">real estate plugins<\/a>, while others are more generic in terms of the functionalities they offer.[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;28px&#8221;][vc_column_text]Selling anything? You might need a <a href=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/best-wordpress-pricing-table-plugins\/\">pricing table plugin<\/a>. If you are running a B&amp;B, perhaps you could use a <a href=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/best-wordpress-booking-plugins\/\">booking plugin<\/a>. Organizing events such as weddings or conferences? Maybe an <a href=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wordpress-rsvp-plugins\/\">RSVP plugin<\/a> might help you with that. Feeling confident in your product or service? Why not let your customers rate you by installing a <a href=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/best-product-review-plugins-for-wordpress\/\">customer review plugin<\/a> or a <a href=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/best-star-rating-plugins-for-wordpress\/\">star rating plugin<\/a>, for instance?[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;28px&#8221;][vc_column_text]There are other advanced business functionalities depending on the kind of business model you use. If you hold your own stock, you might find an <a href=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/best-inventory-management-tools-for-wordpress-business\/\">inventory management plugin<\/a> useful. You won\u2018t need them if you practice <a href=\"http:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/how-to-start-dropshipping-using-wordpress\/\">dropshipping<\/a>, for instance, but there are plugins which could facilitate it. Need more options for getting your goods where they need to be? Try a <a href=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/best-shipping-plugins-for-woocommerce\/\">shipping plugin<\/a>. If you are in need of a virtual cash register in the real world, a <a href=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/best-pos-plugins-for-woocommerce\/\">POS plugin for WooCommerce<\/a> is what you want. There is no shortage of solutions.[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;68px&#8221;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"qodef-h4\"><a id=\"grow-small-business-website\"><\/a>How to Grow a Small Business Website<\/h2>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;21px&#8221;]<div class=\"qodef-single-image-holder    \">\n    <div class=\"qodef-si-inner\" >\n                                    <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"969\" height=\"554\" src=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/How-to-Grow-a-Small-Business-Website.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"How to Grow a Small Business Website\" srcset=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/How-to-Grow-a-Small-Business-Website.jpg 969w, https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/How-to-Grow-a-Small-Business-Website-300x172.jpg 300w, https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/How-to-Grow-a-Small-Business-Website-768x439.jpg 768w, https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/How-to-Grow-a-Small-Business-Website-620x354.jpg 620w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 969px) 100vw, 969px\" \/>                        <\/div>\n<\/div>[vc_empty_space height=&#8221;38px&#8221;][vc_column_text]The fine details of your growth strategy are up to you: there is an unlimited amount of approaches you can take. We can, however, offer you some tips \u2013 and we shall.<br \/>\n[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;28px&#8221;][vc_column_text]Your website is up! Well done. Now comes the hard part: <strong>you need to make sure you\u2018re seen<\/strong>. A lot of internet users will find your website by searching for something which interests them. That is why you need to make sure you understand <a href=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/seo-basics\/\">the basics of SEO<\/a> \u2013 search engine optimization.[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;28px&#8221;][vc_column_text]But SEO is far from the only way of getting your name out there. There are several marketing techniques you might try, depending on your time, budget, type of customer you expect and brand style. Paid ads are one thing, but you could always do more.[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;28px&#8221;][vc_column_text]Maybe your business offers you the opportunity to start <strong>a blog, podcast, or similar channel<\/strong> of addressing your customers\u2018 needs and interests. In that case, you\u2018d do well to invest in <a href=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/ultimate-guide-to-content-marketing\/\">content marketing<\/a>. If you feel your website visitors will appreciate <strong>frequent updates<\/strong>, perhaps you might offer them as part of an <a href=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/how-to-create-email-newsletter\/\">email newsletter<\/a> or an <a href=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/email-marketing\/\">email marketing<\/a> campaign. You might be part of a network of affiliated businesses such as a chamber of commerce, or you could otherwise seek a related business to start an <a href=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/affiliate-marketing\/\">affiliate marketing<\/a> scheme.[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;28px&#8221;][vc_column_text]Finally, one last thing: we have assembled a checklist of <a href=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/essential-ecommerce-pre-launch-checklist\/\">things to do before you launch an eCommerce website<\/a> for easy reference. If you are using your website for sales, be sure not to miss a step.[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;68px&#8221;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"qodef-h4\">In Conclusion<\/h2>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]As we have shown, creating a small business website is easy with WordPress. Ensuring its growth and success is another story. Still, we believe we have provided you with the essential toolkit for creating and developing a WordPress website for a small business. With a lot of hard work and a little bit of luck, people will be flocking to your website, and your business will thrive.<br \/>\n[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row]<\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Creating a small business website in WordPress is easy and free solutions abound. We are there for you, step by step.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":16990,"featured_media":30579,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[29,4,39,13],"class_list":["post-30534","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-tutorials","tag-business","tag-tips","tag-tools","tag-wordpress"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/30534","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/16990"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=30534"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/30534\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/30579"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=30534"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=30534"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=30534"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}