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For some, especially in the entrepreneur world, a new year is the starting flag for what life should be. Leaving that job behind that drains you, starting that business you’ve daydreamed about, taking the leap of faith where only you are standing in your way and the possibilities are endless.
For those brave enough to put those thoughts into action – to believe their idea, their vision, their resolution is what the world has been waiting for – they often don’t know where to start. Sure, they’ve possibly Googled “How to start a business” (or nowadays, asked ChatGPT and received a response full of technical terms that made their eyes cross), but in the end, the advice may seem overwhelming – leaving them questioning their life choices and wondering if this is more than they can take on.
If you are staring at the screen with unblinking eyes in disbelief that I just verbalized everything you were thinking, first – take a deep breath. Second – my bad, but reality can be cruel sometimes. With that being said, it’s ok. Yes, that to-do list may seem intimidating, and knowing exactly when, where, and how to start may cause you to start seeing spots in front of your eyes, but I will clue you in on the most important thing – the first thing you should do and the one thing that will help you land prospective clients/customers while you sleep.
Build your website.
Ok, the actual first thing is to select your business name that will drive the domain name, but then – build your website.
Your website is going to be that little beacon attached to your social media platforms, your email signatures, your business cards – anything where, if someone wants to learn more about you, that’s where they’re going to go. It is your corner of the internet to grab someone’s attention and explain who you are, why they should care, and why you no longer want to be the best-kept secret (I heard this at so many networking events the other day, I had to say it).
Now here’s the thing – you don’t need to find a host provider, download a CMS, hire a web designer to build it out, and spend more money than is currently stored in Fort Knox in order to attract your first customer. I believe wholeheartedly in the acronym KISS (Keep It Simple, Sweetheart). Ok, for the record, the last “S” does NOT stand for sweetheart, but kindness goes a lot further than insults.
There are plenty of options for fully hosted sites, and while my resources page lists several of them, I want to focus on WordPress.com because that’s where I got my start.
Way back in the days of yore, I wasn’t sure if the idea of “virtual tech assistance” was something anyone wanted. I was just starting out, and while my background was IT, the idea of only focusing on digital marketing apps wasn’t as mainstream as it is today. I knew the tools, and I had experience working with other companies as a virtual assistant – but I didn’t have the confidence that I could be an island, doing all of this on my own.
With that lack of confidence, the idea of dropping buckoo dollars on a server and dedicating the time it would take to design an entire website wasn’t appealing. I did my homework (before the days of AI, so I actually had to do the research myself – GASP!) and discovered WordPress.com. No server needed, no custom design required – almost like turnkey, plug-and-play, but for a website. A little skeptical that it could really be that easy, I decided to go for it.
When I originally signed up, I paid only for the option to use a custom domain (the cheapest plan possible). While this plan is no longer available (and for good reason), even if it were, I wouldn’t recommend it – there was a HUGE ad right on my homepage. I quickly upgraded to what would now be considered the Personal Plan. I wasn’t quite sure where everything was going, and again, I didn’t want to spend a lot of time on it.
To my pleasant surprise, my little VA business took off – and so did my plans with WordPress.com. As I wanted more control over my website, while still having the support WordPress.com offers (and this is not an understatement – their customer support is awesome), I moved from Personal to Premium, and eventually to Business when I needed SFTP access for certain customizations.
I mention this because I love that WordPress.com was able to grow with me as I found my footing – and faith – not only in what my business was, but what my business could be.
I share that story because I’ve been where you are. So enough about me and back to you. If you’re reading this, you may be on the precipice of something big – dangling one foot over the edge but not quite ready to freefall into the unknown. I get it. Start small, and start with a system that has held my hand for well over a decade.
Building a new website with WordPress.com can be as easy or as complex as you want it to be. For those shutting their eyes tight and chanting, “Please keep it easy!” – the setup takes only minutes, and the hardest part is choosing the theme that’s right for you with the insane amount of options available. Most themes provide a demo, so you only need to swap out their content for your own – saving you even more stress trying to figure out how to get your look just right.
From there, customization lies in the hands of plug-ins – allowing you to add scheduling, video content, a store, a blog, or a podcast. If you can think of it (within reason), there’s probably a plug-in for it.
After that, WordPress.com becomes your playground – allowing you to lay the groundwork and cultivate a message that will drive traffic to your world through the blogs you post, the content you create, and your SEO efforts. For those who may find copywriting difficult, WordPress.com has built-in AI to help create content, generate images, and even generate excerpts and SEO (if you decide to install Jetpack) to help increase your reach.
In a day and age where Facebook can go offline and Google can go down, having the ability to rely less on external platforms and more on your own little piece of virtual property – where all eyes are on you and what you have to offer – allows you to foster the groundwork of “know, like, and trust” with prospective clients.
That’s why building a website should be #1 on your list this January.
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