Your website is your home base on the web. It’s the real estate you own. It’s essential to establishing your online presence, building your brand, and connecting with your audience. Building a quality website may require a significant investment of both time and money, but the payoff is definitely worth it.
Table of Contents
Use the quick links below to jump to the corresponding sections.
- Getting Started — Creating a Website Strategy
- Create a Strong Brand Identity
- Website Goals and Content Strategy
- Website Structure, User Interface (UI), and User Experience (UX)
- Tools and Software
- Building Your Website
- Securing Your Website
- Optimizing Your Website for Page Loading Times and Search Engines
- Launching Your Website
- Maintaining Your Website
- Marketing Your Website
- You’ve Got This!
Getting Started — Creating a Website Strategy
When starting to create a website, it’s important to have a solid brand identity and a well-defined plan. Your website should reflect your brand and communicate your message effectively to your audience. Dedicate some thought to your target audience and what they might expect from your website — this will enable you to build a website that is both visually pleasing and easy to navigate.
Remember, your website is often the first point of contact that potential customers have with your business, so it’s important to make a positive impression!
Create a Strong Brand Identity
To create a strong brand identity for your business, you need to have a clear brand strategy that includes consistent visual elements. These elements may include:
- Logo,
- Domain name,
- Email Address
- Color pallet
- Fonts,
- Icons,
- Website
- Business cards,
- Letterhead,
- Envelopes or other packaging supplies,
- Promotional swag,
- Print marketing materials
Branding is the process of creating a specific perception of your business that aligns with your goals and values. This perception should be consistent throughout all your communications and marketing efforts, whether they’re online or offline.
Having a strong brand identity can help differentiate your business from competitors and build a loyal customer base. It also shows that your business is organized and professional, which builds trust and reflects the quality of your products or services.
Why Your Business Needs a Professional Logo Design
Having a professional logo design is essential for any business. A well-designed logo can make a lasting impression on your customers, sets you apart from your competitors, and reinforces your brand identity.
When creating a logo for your business, it’s important to consider the color palette. Graphic designers are experts in color theory and can create a palette that accurately represents your brand’s personality.
Your logo is the foundation of your brand identity, so it’s important to get it right. Investing in a professional logo is a worthwhile, even crucial, investment in your business.I work with a very talented graphic designer, Alvin Niwan, who can help bring your brand to life and communicate your story. A logo that will set you apart from the competition. Let me know if you’re interested in learning more about our branding services!
Choosing a Domain Name
Choosing the right domain name is also an integral part of your brand identity strategy. Your domain name should be on brand, easy to remember, and easy to communicate verbally. Below are some other considerations.
- Character count. When choosing a domain name, shorter is better.
- Dashes. Avoid using dashes, as they can be confusing to communicate verbally. For example, It’s easier to say mybusinessbreed.com than my dash business dash breed dot com when communicating your domain name to a potential customer.
- Simple. Keep it simple! Simple is easy to remember, type, and communicate. Don’t use creative spelling. Save that for passwords. You don’t want to have to explain how to spell it every time you tell someone.
- Keywords. Including relevant keywords can help communicate what you do and who you are to both humans and search engines.
Keep in mind that these are just considerations. I have clients that use a dash in their domain name and others that use a long domain name. They still have thriving businesses. Ultimately, the goal is to find a domain name that best fits your brand identity and helps you market your business.
Choosing a TLD
TLD (top-level domains) is often referred to as the domain extension. The most widely used TLD is “.com,” but there are hundreds of others. TLDs can help communicate the type of business a domain is. For example:
- .org, which stands for “organization,” is primarily used by nonprofits.
- .net, which stands for “network,” is primarily used for internet service providers or online technology companies.
- .gov (government)
- .edu (education)
There are even TLDs that are relevant to dog breeders. These new TLDs can be an asset in marketing, but because people may type in .com by accident, it’s a good idea to purchase the .com version as well. By doing this, you can ensure that people land on your website regardless of which version they type in. This way, you can take advantage of the marketing benefits of a .dog or .pet TDL without losing any potential customers who accidentally type in .com.
- .dog (dog)
- .pet (pet)
Choosing a TLD is a fundamental aspect of your website’s structure. It should be carefully selected to accurately represent your business and brand online.
Why You Need a Professional Email Address
Having a professional email address is essential for maintaining consistency with your brand identity. A professional email address uses your domain name instead of, for example, [email protected] or [email protected].
A professional email address will
- Keep you on brand
- Make you look professional, build credibility, and engender trust
- People know what your website address is when they see it in your email address
- Security. You control your business’s email accounts and are able to implement DMARC security.
- Branded emails can help you stay out of your customers and subscribers’ spam folders.
There are a number of email service providers available, but the most well-known ones are Google Workspace and Microsoft 365. While both have their benefits, I personally prefer Google Workspace. One of the reasons is that many people are already familiar with the Gmail interface. Additionally, Google Drive and Docs are fantastic tools that make writing and collaboration easy. I also find it easier to integrate online scheduling with Google’s calendar.
Website Goals and Content Strategy
When it comes to creating content for your website, it’s important to start with a clear vision of your business’s priorities, goals, and brand. This will ensure that your website is built in alignment with your business and that it accurately represents your brand. It’s also important to be clear on what you want your website to achieve.
Whether you’re looking to drive traffic, generate leads, or increase sales, having a solid content strategy is essential. This can include written information, photos, video, or forms — anything that will help you to connect and engage with your target audience.
Example goals:
- Create a beautiful online home base for your dog breeding business.
- A website that reflects your brand’s look, tone, and feel.
- Increase your brand’s visibility and traffic to your website.
- Your website shows up in search results when people search for your breed of puppies.
- My website answers questions people are asking regarding your puppies and your breed of dog.
- Ensure that the information people are looking for is easy to locate on the website.
- People can easily contact you when they’re ready to take the next step.
- People are able to easily sign up for your newsletter.
Now that we know what your goals are, we can outline a plan to get there.
#1 – Create a beautiful online home base for your dog breeding business.
To get started with your website, you’ll need to pick a platform that suits your needs. There are many CMS options available. Personally, I prefer and use WordPress and the Divi theme to create websites. Divi is known for being the most popular WordPress theme out there, and it’s also considered the ultimate WordPress Page builder. I have to admit, I’m a big fan of Divi and have been able to create some stunning websites using it. I definitely recommend giving it a try!
#2 – A website that reflects your brand’s look, tone, and feel.
Creating a website that truly represents your brand can be a challenging task, but Divi makes it easy. If you haven’t developed a brand identity yet, don’t worry, it’s never too late to start. I work with a fantastic graphic designer who can help bring your brand to life and communicate your story with a custom logo and graphics that will set you apart from the competition. Let me know if you’re interested in learning more about our branding services!
#3 – Increase your brand’s visibility and traffic to your website.
#4 – Your website shows up in search results when people search for your breed of puppies.
#5 – Your website answers questions people are asking regarding your puppies and your breed of dog.
#6 – Ensure that the information people are looking for is easy to locate on the website.
To accomplish #’s 3-6 will take a combination of the following.
- Technical SEO
- Well-executed website structure
- Creating a good user interface (UI)
- Providing a good user experience (UX)
- Knowing your audience and the information they’re looking for
- Keyword research – I use Semrush
- Written content that adheres to web copy best practices
- Beautiful and engaging images and video
#7 – People can easily contact you when they’re ready to take the next step.
Your website should include more than just a contact page form. Creating specific forms that are available on relevant pages will provide a more catered and better user experience (UX). It will also encourage visitor interaction. I use WPForms on my websites, and for my dog breeder clients, I include the following 7 prebuilt forms.
- Contact
- Reserve a Pup
- Adoption Application
- Breeding Dogs for Sale
- Stud Services
- Review Funnel
- User Review
#8 – People are able to easily signup for your newsletter.
Select the email marketing service of your choice and include a sign-up call to action and subscribe form on your website. You can add this to specific pages or on all pages.
Website Structure, User Interface (UI), and User Experience (UX)
A well-designed user interface (UI) will help ensure that visitors can easily find and interact with the content on your site. A positive user experience (UX) will ensure that users have a seamless and enjoyable experience on your website. Ultimately, taking the time to plan out these elements will help you create a website that serves both your needs and the needs of your visitors.
Website Structure
A website’s structure is how you organize the site’s pages. This is typically done using a hierarchical structure. Below is an example screenshot of how I structure dog breeding websites. You can easily replicate this structure using a nested bullet list.
When setting up your website, it’s important to consider both the structure of your main navigation menu and the internal links within each page. This not only helps visitors find what they’re looking for more easily, but it also aids search engines in understanding your business and which pages are most important.
Search engines can perceive your website structure in a hierarchical format as well as a mind map. To give you a better idea of what this looks like, check out the example below of a breeding dog website as a mind map. This format shows parent pages with surrounding children or “cluster” pages.
A well organized website structure will make it easier for visitors to find what they’re looking for and help search engines crawl, index, and understand your website structure.
User Interface (UI) and User Experience (UX)
The user interface of your website refers to the usability characteristics of your website pages. The user experience is all about the experience people have interacting with your website and your business. A good UI will help to provide a good UX.
To ensure that people have a good experience on your website, ask yourself these questions:
- Can people easily find the information they need?
- Are your website pages memorable and distinctive?
- Do people enjoy interacting with your pages and feel satisfied with the experience?
- Is it easy for people to contact you when they’re ready to?
When creating content, it’s important to follow a few guidelines to ensure readability and clarity.
- Use hierarchical headings, such as H1, H2, and H3, to organize your text into clear sections
- Keep paragraphs short
- Add a subheading every 1- 3 paragraphs. This helps to re-engage the reader, helps search engines to understand your content better, and gives you the opportunity to add more keywords to headings.
- Use short sentences and simple grammar — make it scannable!
- Internal linking – use relevant text to link to other pages on your website
When starting to create your website, it’s beneficial to have a clear understanding of what constitutes a good UI and UX. You should also take the time to compile and arrange all relevant information and media you want to be included on the site. I use Google Drive and Google Docs for this. By doing so, you can develop a roadmap for constructing a website that is both user-friendly and enjoyable to use with content that’s search engine optimized.
Tools and Software
With a solid plan in place, it’s time to start gathering the necessary software and services to make your goals a reality. For my clients, I take care of all of this so they don’t have to. If this seems a bit much, you can let me handle the details while you focus on your business. Contact me today!
Choose an Email Service
I recommend using Google Workspace (Gmail) to create a professional email address that uses your domain name. It’s a reliable and secure email service that many businesses and individuals use. However, there are other email services available, so it’s worth exploring your options and finding one that works best for your needs.
Choose a Word Processor
With a Google Workspace account, you have access to Google Docs, which is a great tool for content creation and collaboration. When building a website, it’s helpful to start by creating textual content within Google Docs. I usually create a separate document for each website page and begin by outlining headings. These headings are the result of extensive keyword research, as well as general research about the business I’m working with.
Once the heading outline is complete, either the client or I will go back and write relevant content for each heading. This process ensures that the website’s content is well-organized and easy to follow, which can ultimately lead to a better user experience for visitors and better visibility in organic search results.
Choose a Website Platform
I personally use WordPress with the Divi theme to create my websites, but there are many other website Content Management System (CMS ) options for you to consider. Ultimately, the platform you choose will depend on your specific needs and preferences.
Decide What Plugins You’ll Need
If you choose WordPress, you’ll likely want to add plugins. Plugins help customize and expand the functionality of your website. There are both free and commercial plugins available.
You’ll likely be looking for plugins that enhance or provide the following functionality.
- Design
- Security
- SEO
- Analytics
- Caching, site optimization for faster loading times
- Backups
- Forms
- Schema
- Privacy and Terms of Service
- Accessibility
Choose plugins carefully. It’s important to find plugins that do what you need them to do, work well with other plugins, and have reliable support if anything goes wrong. It’s worth investing in commercial plugins, as this can help ensure that the plugin will continue to be developed and available in the future. Many premium plugins offer a free version with limited features, so it’s worth checking those out as well.
Choosing a Hosting Service
What hosting service you decide on will be influenced by what platform you choose. I use FlyWheel Managed WordPress Hosting. They have a great service and fantastic support. If you’re not sure what’s right for you, just do a little research. There are a plethora of articles online that discuss, promote, and compare hosting or hosting specific to WordPress.
Choose an Email Marketing Service
If you want to include a newsletter in your online marketing efforts, you’ll need to select an email marketing service. It’s important to choose a service that is reliable and fits your budget. You’ll want to consider the features offered, such as customizable templates and automation options. With the right email marketing service, you can boost your online presence and engage with your audience in a meaningful way.
Building Your Website
It’s time to roll up your sleeves and start building your website! With a plan in place and the right tools at your disposal, you should be well-equipped to create a site that truly represents your brand and business.
There are numerous articles and online resources that can help you learn how to use whichever platform you’ve chosen to build your website. If that’s more than you want to tackle while caring for and playing with your pups, consider our dog breeding website service.
Securing Your Website
Online security is crucial and is essential to making sure your website stays secure and running smoothly. Below are a few key steps you can take to help secure your website.
- Use a reliable Security plugin. I like both iThemes Security Pro and Defender Pro
- Keep your website’s software and plugins up to date. This ensures that any security vulnerabilities are patched and can’t be exploited by hackers.
- Force strong passwords and enable two-factor authentication.
- Regularly scan for malware
- Implement SSL encryption
- Schedule regular on-site and off-site backups of your website. This will enable you to quickly recover in the event of a security breach.
These are the main steps you can take to secure your website. Additional measures should be available and outlined within your chosen security plugin’s settings.
Optimizing Your Website for Page Loading Times and Search Engines
Fast page loading times is part of Search Engine Optimization (SEO), but there are many other factors that Google considers when evaluating your website for placement in organic search results. Some of these factors include the relevance and quality of your content, the structure and organization of your website, and the overall user experience that your site provides.
We’ve already covered creating a content strategy, a solid website structure, and implementing a good User Interface (UI) and User Experience (UX). At this point, you should have that all in place, so what we’re focused on here is setting up and optimizing the plugins you chose for SEO and Caching.
- I like both Yoast SEO Premium and SmartCrawl to manage meta titles and descriptions, as well as setting up and managing XML sitemaps and any redirects that may be needed.
- I use the WP Rocket to optimize caching and page loading times. I also use CloudFlare (an online service, not a plugin) for added security and optimization.
Launching Your Website
There are many website launch checklists available on the web, so I’ll just cover some essentials.
- Cross Browser Testing and Device Testing. Before you launch your website, make sure you test its presentation in different browsers and devices to be sure that it’s presenting as you expect it to.
- Redirects. If this is a re-design, make sure that any URLs (links) that are not on the new website have a redirect in place to send search engines and users to the corresponding page on your new website.
- Google and Bing. Set up Google Accounts for
- Google My Business
- Google Search Console
- Google Analytics
- Bing Places for Business
- Bing Webmaster Tools
- There is no Bing Analytics, those features are within Bing Webmaster Tools
- Analytics. Connect your Google Analytics plugin with your Google Analytics account.
- XML Sitemaps. Submit your XML Sitemaps on both Google Search Console and Bing Webmaster Tools
- Choose WWW or no WWW. Decide which and stick with it. Make sure the one you didn’t choose redirects to the other.
- Forms. Perform test submissions of all forms you have on the website.
Maintaining Your Website
Your website is an essential part of your online presence, and it’s crucial to keep it up-to-date and functioning properly. Keeping WordPress and plugins up to date is part of a good security strategy.
Regularly adding new content and updates, such as dogs, litters, and litter updates, can help keep visitors engaged and interested in your site. By staying on top of regular maintenance tasks for your website, you can ensure that it continues to serve as a valuable tool for your business.
Marketing Your Website
When marketing your website, make sure your newsletter and social media presence match the overall look and feel of your brand. Additionally, any print marketing materials should reflect your brand’s identity and messaging in order to further reinforce your brand’s image. By creating a cohesive and consistent image for your business both online and offline, you’ll make your brand more memorable and engaging and attract and retain customers more effectively.
You’ve Got This!
Building a website can seem overwhelming, but with some research, planning, effort, and financial investment, you can create a powerful tool for your business that works around the clock. If you find the process daunting, don’t worry — our team can help. We specialize in creating Dob Breeding Websites. We can set up a website that reflects your brand and keep your website secure and running smoothly. Contact us today to get started!
