Starting a Small Business? Here’s How to Set Up Your Online Presence Properly

Not sure if you even need a website yet? Start here.

30-minute chat • No obligation • Small business friendly

Starting a business is exciting — but knowing where to begin online can feel overwhelming.

Most people jump straight into building a website…
without really knowing what that website needs to do.

That’s where I help.

I open a limited number of free sessions each week.

Who This Is For (New Small Businesses Getting Started Online)

Starting a small business UK - is this you checklist and guidance on setting up your online presence correctly

THIS IS FOR YOU IF…….

  • You’re starting a business and don’t know where to begin online

  • You’re using platforms like Etsy or social media but want more control

  • You’re thinking about a website but unsure if it’s the right next step

  • You want to do things properly from the start, not fix mistakes later

Why Setting Up Your Online Presence Properly Matters

Thinking about a website for your small business UK - visibility and how customers find you online matters

This isn’t about just getting a website live.

It’s about making sure your business can actually be found —
and that everything you build supports that from the start.

Because if your business isn’t visible, your website won’t bring you enquiries.

What You Need to Set Up Your Business Online

Starting a UK small business UK - steps to set up your online presence and get found on Google from the start

When you're starting a business, there are a lot of decisions to make.

I help you simplify that and focus on what actually matters:

✔️ Understanding your business and your customers
✔️ Choosing the right platforms (and avoiding the wrong ones)
✔️ Setting up your Google Business Profile properly
✔️ Planning your website before anything is built
✔️ Making sure your business can be found on Google

Honest website advice for small businesses - choosing what is right for your business even if it not working with me

Getting Your Business Set Up the Right Way From Day One

I’ll always tell you what’s right for your business — even if that’s not working with me.

Sometimes that means building your website together.
Sometimes it means starting somewhere completely different.

The goal is simple: get your online presence set up properly from day one.

How I Help You Set Up Your Business Online

Simple steps:

  • We start with a relaxed conversation about your business

  • I help you understand what you actually need (and what you don’t)

  • We map out the right next steps for you

  • You move forward with clarity and confidence

New Business Online Foundations Check (Currently Free)

New Business Online Foundations Check UK - helping you set up your business online properly from day one

As this is a new service, I’m currently offering a limited number of these sessions free of charge.

This allows me to properly support new businesses at the stage where decisions matter most — before time and money are invested in the wrong things.

This is something I plan to introduce as a paid service in the future.

Book Your New Business Online Foundations Check

New Business Online Foundations Check (Currently Free)

A relaxed but structured call to help you understand what your business actually needs online — before you invest in the wrong thing.

We’ll look at:

  • where you are right now

  • what you’re thinking about doing

  • how customers will actually find you

  • what your next step should be

So you can move forward with clarity, not guesswork.

What This Helps You Avoid

Right now, most new businesses:

  • Build a website too early

  • Choose the wrong platforms

  • Don’t think about how they’ll be found

  • End up having to redo everything later

This call helps you avoid that.

What Happens Next After Your Foundations Check

From here, you might go on to:

  • A full website build

  • Google Business Profile setup

  • Business Listings support

  • Or you may simply leave with a clear plan and build things yourself

There’s no pressure — just the right next step for you.

Do you need a website - guidance for small businesses on visibility and getting found online
You might be wondering anout websites and online setup when starting a business - common questions asked

FAQs

  • Not always.

    For some businesses, starting with platforms like social media or Etsy can work well in the early stages.

    The key is understanding how people will find you.

    If your customers are searching on Google, having your own website gives you much more control and visibility.

    This is something I help you figure out based on your business, rather than assuming a website is always the first step.

  • There isn’t just one step.

    Being found on Google usually involves a combination of:

    • having a clear business offering

    • setting up your Google Business Profile properly

    • having a website that Google understands

    • building content over time

    Most importantly, everything needs to work together.

    That’s what I help you set up from the beginning, so you’re not trying to fix it later.

  • This is one of the most important stages — and often the most rushed.

    Before building a website, you should be clear on:

    • what your business offers

    • who your customers are

    • how people will find you

    • what your website actually needs to do

    Without that clarity, it’s very easy to build something that looks good but doesn’t bring enquiries.

  • It depends on your goals.

    Etsy can be a great place to start, especially for visibility within the platform.

    But you don’t own that platform or your customer journey.

    A website gives you:

    • more control

    • the ability to be found on Google

    • a place to grow your business long-term

    I help you decide if and when that step makes sense for you.

  • This is for businesses that are just starting out.

    The focus is on helping you decide what you need to set up and how to move forward.

    A Visibility Check is for businesses that already have a website or online presence and want to understand why it isn’t performing.

  • You’ll leave with a clear understanding of what your business needs next.

    That might be:

    • moving forward with a website

    • setting up your Google Business Profile

    • improving your visibility

    • or taking some time to build things yourself

    There’s no pressure — just clarity on the right direction for you.

  • At the moment, yes.

    As this is a new service, I’m offering a limited number of sessions free of charge while I develop it.

    It’s something I plan to introduce as a paid service in the future.

A woman with blonde, curly hair wearing a green bandana and black lace top, smiling, with text on the left side reading: 'Sarah, Owner & Founder of Simple Website Development and Support.'

What Happens During the Chat

The call is relaxed and practical.

We talk through your business, your ideas, and where you’re at right now — so you can understand what you actually need online (and what you don’t).

You’ll leave with a clearer understanding of:

How your customers are likely to find you - Whether you need a website yet (or not) - What platforms make sense for your business - The right next step for you

There is no obligation to buy anything.

Getting this right at the start makes everything easier later - you do not have to rush into a website - you need to get it right

BOOK YOUR NEW BUSINESS ONLINE FOUNDATIONS CHECK