Having a website gives us a more professional presentation; however, we may not be making the most of it.
With the advent of certain programs, it is now very easy to create a website without having knowledge of the necessary codes to build it. However, this has some limitations that can result in not fully taking advantage of having a website.
What limitations can my website have?
That nobody finds you on the internet or you are the 1000th option in a search.
You can have the best design and offer the best services. But... if nobody finds your site, it's worthless.
How can I make my site appear in the top search results?
In a nutshell, there are two ways: Paying (SEM - Search Engine Marketing) and not paying (Organic SEO - Search Engine Optimization).
SEM (Search Engine Marketing)
SEM (Search Engine Marketing) involves running paid campaigns on major search engines like Google. It can bring quick and significant benefits if well-structured campaigns are designed to target the desired customer base. However, users are often accustomed to ignore the ads at the top of search results, and Google clearly marks them as paid. SEM can be costly, especially for a newly established business, and success is not guaranteed.
SEO (Search Engine Optimization)
SEO (Search Engine Optimization), also known as organic positioning, relies on a combination of coding techniques and strategic use of keywords to identify and optimize your website for relevant topics. It also involves practices related to domain names, strategic naming of URLs, and more.
As SEO requires technical expertise, it can be challenging for someone without coding knowledge to implement it effectively. However, it is recommended for both newly established and existing websites. In the long term, SEO can provide significant benefits by establishing a lasting relationship with search engines for relevant searches.
One disadvantage of SEO is that it is a time-consuming process. It requires thorough keyword analysis, correct HTML coding, and time for search engines to recognize your site as a reliable source for a particular service or topic.
While SEO is usually handled by technical experts, there are five elements you can check on any website to contribute to its SEO:
1.- Responsive design
Ensure your website design adapts to different screen dimensions, such as mobile phones, tablets, and monitors. You can test this by accessing your site from various devices and observing how the design adjusts without the need for zooming.
2.- 404 Error Page
Make sure your website includes a custom 404 error page that is displayed when visitors try to access a non-existent page within your site. Test this by entering an invalid address along with your site's name to see if it redirects to the appropriate error page.
How can I test if my website has a 404 error page?
Try entering a nonexistent address along with your website's name.
Regardless of the combination used, every website should have a 404 error page that is displayed when accessing a nonexistent address.
If you encounter a strange design or an error message like "Server error" or "Not Found," it means that the site does not have a custom 404 page.
A good 404 page should have its own design consistent with the website and provide a button to return to the homepage.
3.- HTTPS Security
A website could be requested on two ways: HTTP and HTTPS
Consider implementing HTTPS, which encrypts data transmitted between users and your website. While not mandatory for all types of websites, it is recommended, especially for e-commerce and sites handling personal data.
You could check if your site implements HTTPS using "https://" in the browser followed by your website's name.
4.- Broken links
Regularly review your website for broken links, which lead to empty or error-ridden pages. Ensure that all buttons and links on your site that are intended to redirect to other pages are functioning correctly.
5.- Avoiding SPAM
If you plan to send promotional emails, make sure that emails sent from your domain, such as contacto@danielsotodev.com do not end up in recipients' spam folders. Test this by sending an email from your business email to another common email provider (e.g., Hotmail or Gmail) and checking if it lands in the recipient's spam folder.
In conclusion, the tools that allow for quick website creation without technical knowledge may not be the most viable option. Your website could become just another site on the internet, only visited by people within your circle, limiting the benefits of having a website.