Creating a showcase site: a complete guide to a strong online presence

Did you know that 75% of consumers judge the credibility of a business based on His website? In a world where the first impression is often digital, having a showcase site is essential for any company, independent professional or association that wants to make itself known.

With the rapid evolution of technologies and consumer behaviors, it is crucial to have an online presence that reflects your professionalism and appeals to your target audience. So here's a complete guide to create a showcase site effective and well referenced.

Why move on to the creation of a showcase site?

A showcase site is your business card on the internet. It allows:

• To increase your visibility. Indeed, being present on Google and social networks is essential to reach a wider audience.
• To strengthen your credibility because a professional site inspires confidence and shows that you are serious in your field.
• To present your services. Yes, you can explain in detail what you are offering, your prices, your achievements, etc.
• To generate qualified leads. Through a contact form or a call to action, you can convert visitors into potential customers.

Many businesses saw their turnover increase after launching their showcase site. Indeed, this allowed them to attract new customers thanks to better online visibility.

The different phases for the creation of a showcase site

Do you also want to benefit from greater visibility and have the chance to increase your customers and your turnover? In this case, discover the few steps for creating a showcase site.

Define your goals

Before you get started, ask yourself the right questions:

• What is The purpose of my showcase site? Do you want to give information, contact, highlight your achievements, etc.?
• Who is my target audience?
• What are the essential items to include? Contact details, portfolio, testimonies, etc.

For example, you could aim to increase your site traffic by 20% in six months or to get 50 contacts per month through your contact form.

Choosing a domain name

When you choose the domain name, make sure it's simple, memorable, and above all, reflects your business. Choose an extension in .fr (for France) or .com (for an international reach).

Select a hosting provider

A hosting provider is required to store your site files. Some of the most popular include OVH, Bluehost, or SiteGround. Make sure the hosting provider offers good loading speed and technical support. However, the most practical is to use tools like Webflow, which allows you to create a website while offering hosting.

Choosing a CMS (content management system)

A CMS allows you to create and ensure the creation of your site without having advanced technical skills. The most used are:

• WordPress: ideal for beginners, flexible and customizable.
• Wix: very intuitive, with ready-to-use templates.
• Squarespace: perfect for modern and clean designs.
• Webflow: allows you to benefit from great flexibility, customization and instant updates.

Each option has its pros and cons:

• WordPress is flexible but requires a bit of time to get started.
• Wix is very intuitive but less customizable than other platforms.
• Squarespace offers great designs but can be more expensive.
• Webflow is a high quality tool, but using it requires a bit more skill.

Designing an attractive design

Your site should be visually appealing and easy to navigate. Use colors that match your visual identity, quality images, and legible typography. The templates offered by CMS are a great starting point. Indeed, you can choose between a large number of templates.

Writing quality content

Content is king! Write clear, concise texts and optimized for natural referencing (SEO). Include relevant keywords like “create a showcase site” to improve your visibility on search engines.

Tone and style

Adapt your writing to your target audience. Concretely, if you sell services to businesses, adopt a professional tone. For a younger audience, feel free to be more casual.

Optimize for mobile

With more than half of searches done on mobile, your site should be responsive, that is to say adapt to all screens. This will increase your chances of getting the best positions in Google's search results.

Integrate essential functionalities

Be sure to include a contact form, a Google Maps map to indicate your location, links to your social networks and an “About” section to present your business in your showcase site. You can add other features that you consider relevant and essential for your website.

SEO: how to make your showcase site appear on the first page of Google?

For your showcase site to be visible, it is necessary toensure its referencing. To do this, here are a few tips:

• Use strategic keywords by integrating terms like “Paris dental office” into your titles, subtitles, and content.
• Optimize meta tags, that is, the title and description should be catchy and appropriate to your keywords.
• Create content regularly. A blog can help you generate traffic and improve your SEO.
• Get backlinks through exchanges of links with partner sites or professional directories.
• Improve loading speed because a slow site penalizes your referencing.

Local SEO

Local SEO allows businesses to position themselves in location-based search results. Make sure toOptimize your Google My Business listing and to include local keywords in your content.

How much does it cost to create a showcase site?

If you are wondering How much does a showcase site cost, know that the cost depends on your approach:

If you choose The DIY site (Do It Yourself, with tools like Wix or WordPress, count between 50 and 200 euros per year for hosting and domain names. However, be careful, because if you decide to do it yourself and you make a mistake that needs to be corrected, the corrections will be more expensive.

If you are considering develop a professional site, in this case, it is more appropriate to use a web developer or a development agency. In this case, the price varies between 1000 and 5000 euros, or even more depending on the complexity of the project.

Conclusion

CCreate a showcase site is an essential step for any business that wants to grow. Whether you choose to do it yourself or hire a professional, the important thing is to offer a site that is clear, attractive and optimized for SEO.

If you follow these tips, you maximize your chances of appearing on the first page of search results and attracting new customers. Are you ready to bring your projects to life? Don't let this opportunity pass you by! If you are looking for a partner for the creation of your showcase site, think of the Scalapp team.

‍