What to Know Before Getting a Website Built
Whether you're a small business owner or building a personal brand, a website is no longer a luxury in 2026 — it's a necessity. But when you start looking into getting one built, questions pile up fast: What technology should I use? How much should I pay? What's SEO? How is it maintained?
In this guide, I walk you through everything you need to know before getting a website built.
1. Needs Analysis: What Kind of Site?
The first step is clarifying what you actually need. Websites come in many types:
| Type | Description | Example | |------|-------------|---------| | Corporate site | Company intro, services, contact | A law firm website | | E-commerce | Online product sales | Shopify-like store | | Blog / Content | Personal or professional articles | Tech blog | | Portfolio | Showcasing your work | Photographer portfolio | | Landing page | Single page, single goal | Product launch page | | Web application | Interactive, user login | SaaS dashboard |
Each type requires different technology, time, and budget. A simple corporate site can be done in 1-2 weeks, while an e-commerce site might take 4-8 weeks.
2. Choosing the Right Technology
In 2026, there are dozens of technology options for building websites:
Ready-Made Platforms (No-Code / Low-Code)
- WordPress — Most popular, plugin-based
- Wix / Squarespace — Drag-and-drop, fast but limited
- Shopify — E-commerce focused
Custom Development
- Next.js — Modern, SEO-friendly, high performance
- React / Vue — Single-page applications
- Node.js + PostgreSQL — Full-stack custom solution
Which Is Right for You?
Simple landing site → WordPress or Wix
E-commerce → Shopify or custom Next.js
Corporate + custom features → Next.js + custom backend
Web application → React/Next.js + Supabase/Node.js
Tip: Ready-made platforms launch fast but are hard to scale. Custom development requires more investment but gives you full control.
3. SEO: Being Visible on Google
No matter how beautiful your website is, if Google can't find it, visitors won't come.
Core SEO Requirements
- Fast loading — Under 3 seconds
- Mobile friendly — Responsive design is a must
- SSL certificate — HTTPS required
- Meta tags — Title, description, og:image
- Sitemap — Tell Google about your pages
- Structured data — Rich snippets with Schema.org
Content Strategy
SEO isn't just technical — content is critical too:
- Identify target keywords
- Publish regular blog posts
- Use internal links to connect your pages
- Monitor performance with Google Search Console
4. Design: First Impressions
Visitors decide to stay or leave your site within the first 3 seconds.
Characteristics of Good Design
- Clean and modern — Following current trends
- Consistent color palette — Aligned with your brand
- Readable typography — Large fonts, adequate spacing
- Clear CTA (Call-to-Action) — Visitors should know what to do
- Quick navigation — Information within 3 clicks
5. Hosting and Domain
Two things are needed to publish your website:
- Domain —
yourbusiness.com— ~$10-15/year - Hosting — Your site's server — $5-50+/month
Modern Hosting Options
| Platform | Advantage | Price | |----------|-----------|-------| | Vercel | Optimized for Next.js | Free to start | | Google Cloud Run | Scalable, Docker-based | Pay-per-use | | Netlify | Ideal for static sites | Free to start | | Hetzner / DigitalOcean | VPS, full control | From $5/month |
6. Maintenance and Updates
A website isn't a set-and-forget project. Regular maintenance is required:
- Security updates — Software and plugin patches
- Content updates — Blog posts, new products
- Performance monitoring — Speed, uptime checks
- Backups — Regular data backups
- SSL renewal — Certificate expiration checks
7. The Difference of Working with a Professional
You can build a site yourself with a template. But working with a professional developer makes these differences:
- SEO optimization built in from day one
- Performance that's actually fast
- Custom-tailored to your specific needs
- Scalable infrastructure
- Ongoing maintenance support
Conclusion
Getting a website built is a significant decision. With the right technology, good design, and an SEO-friendly architecture, you can strengthen your digital presence. The key is choosing the right solution for your needs and working with a reliable professional.
If you'd like to get a professional website built or take private software tutoring sessions, feel free to reach out: info@cagribilgehan.com. You can explore my projects and experience at cagribilgehan.com