Are you looking to set up and design a website for your business in Ireland? No matter what industry you are in, having a great eCommerce website is crucial for your company’s success. Technology is changing the way we shop and Irish eCommerce sales are growing every year. Fortunately, you can still build an engaging website for your business, even if you are not a web designer. You can also benefit from the Local Enterprise Office Trading Online Voucher scheme, which offers assistance of up to €2,500 to design a website in Ireland.
In this article, we will provide you with the steps you need to take to get started and help your small business grow online.
How to design a website in Ireland
Register your website domain name
First, you need to decide on a descriptive and memorable domain name for your website. This will be the URL that you will share with your customers to access your website. Therefore, try to keep it short and use a proper domain extension, such as .com or .ie. If you opt for a .ie extension, visitors to your website will know that your business is based in Ireland. Once you have chosen your domain name, you need to find out if it is available and within your price range. You can do this via a domain registrar, such as GoDaddy or Bluehost. Once you have found your chosen domain, you can go ahead and register it.
Choose a website hosting provider
A website hosting provider will supply the technology and services required for your website to be viewed online. Once you have selected your hosting provider, you can connect your domain name. Alternatively, you can use a host that offers packages with free domain registration and an SSL certificate. For example, Bluehost offers packages from as little as €2.52/month.
Install a content management system
Next, you will need to install a content management system (CMS) to design and manage content on your website. WordPress is the most popular CMS in the world. It is user-friendly, flexible and best of all, it is free. Installing WordPress is relatively simple, but it is best to check with your web host provider first as many will automatically install it for you.
Choose an eCommerce website platform
If you wish to sell products and/or services through your website to customers in Ireland and worldwide, you need to have a good eCommerce platform installed. WooCommerce is a free plugin for WordPress that allows you to sell products and receive payments through your website. However, if you are not tech-savvy, you may need a web designer to guide you in using it.
Find a trusted Irish web designer
A simple Google search, such as “website design Ireland” or “Irish web designers” can be a starting point for your research. However, some business owners find it difficult to connect with genuine and trustworthy web designers. To achieve the best results for your business, you must ensure that you are using a web designer with a strong track record and understanding of eCommerce website design.
Also, you should find someone that provides all-inclusive website design packages. For example, WebsiteDesigner.ie offer website design packages based on your specific needs. Here you can purchase an eCommerce website design package that will not only include your custom website design, but also everything else listed in this article. This is ideal if you find setting up a website difficult, as they will provide everything for you, including your domain, hosting and SSL certificate. In addition, they are based in Ireland and have years of experience in helping Irish businesses grow through engaging websites. This will help to optimize your website design for search engines and show your business to more potential customers.
All done? Publish your website design!
If you have followed all of the steps above, you are now ready to make your website live. Once you have published your website online, you can start availing of the benefits of an online presence.
Still unsure about how to get started? Click here for more help and advice.
Amenorhu kwaku is an author, internet marketer, and entrepreneur. He is the founder of SuccessValley, a network community for students and aspiring entrepreneurs. He is also the founder of Republik City News and Whoop, a news portal and a business directory.
