Creating a website for startups in Switzerland: a guide with a comparison of providers
A professional website is essential for a startup. It is your digital business card, gives your company a platform for communication and makes a decisive contribution to customer acquisition and retention. But how do you go about creating a website? What steps are necessary and which providers are particularly suitable for Swiss start-ups? In this blog post, you'll find out everything you need to know about creating a website and we'll present a comparison of the most popular Swiss providers.
Steps for creating a website
Define goals
Before you start creating your website, you should consider what your goals are. Do you simply want to have a business card on the Internet, or should the website also sell products or facilitate bookings? Depending on your goal, you will need different functions and designs.
Select domain and hosting
Your domain is the name of your website (e.g. www.deinstartup.ch). It should be easy to remember and ideally represent your company. Hosting refers to the storage space on which your website runs. Many providers offer domain registration and hosting in one package.
Planning design and structure
The design should be appealing, but also user-friendly. Determine the structure of the website: Which pages should be included? Typical are a homepage, About us, Products/Services, Contact us, privacy policy and a blog. A modern, responsive design is important, as many users access the website via mobile devices.
Create content
Think about what information you want to present on your website. The most important content includes
- Company introduction (Who are you? What do you do?)
- Products or services (What solutions do you offer?)
- Contact information (How can customers reach you?)
- Images and videos (Visual content is crucial for the user experience)
- Search engine optimization (SEO) (Texts should be optimized for Google and other search engines)
Test and publish your website
Before you put your website online, you should test it thoroughly. Does everything run smoothly on different devices and browsers? Do all links and forms work? You can only go live and make your website accessible to the public once everything is in order.
Methods for creating a website
There are different ways you can create your website, depending on your technical skills, budget and needs. Here are the most common methods:
A website builder is a user-friendly solution that allows you to create your website without any programming knowledge using a drag-and-drop interface. This method is ideal for founders who want to create a website quickly and easily. Many hosting providers offer construction kits that already include ready-made design templates.
Examples: Wix, Jimdo, Hostpoint
Content Management System (CMS)
A CMS like WordPress allows you to create a more flexible and customizable website. With WordPress, you have access to thousands of plugins and themes that allow you to customize your design. A CMS is particularly suitable for start-ups that run blogs or want to manage dynamic content. Some technical knowledge is an advantage, but there are many WordPress hosting providers that make it easier for you to get started.
Examples: Hostinger, Infomaniak
Agency website
For a completely customized website, you can also hire a professional web design agency. This method is the most expensive, but offers the greatest flexibility and quality. An agency takes care of the entire project, from design to functionality and SEO.
Program your own website
If you want to have full control over design and functionality, you can program your website yourself. This requires advanced programming skills (HTML, CSS, JavaScript) and is time-consuming, but offers maximum flexibility.
Comparison of popular website providers for Swiss startups
Here you will find the most popular providers for website creation using Content Management System (CMS) and homepage construction kit in comparison.
Costs of website creation
The cost of creating a website can vary greatly, depending on the platform chosen and the desired functions. Here is a rough overview:
- DomainApprox. 10-20 CHF per year, sometimes included in the hosting package.
- HostingBetween CHF 5 and CHF 20 per month, depending on the provider and scope of the package.
- Website buildersBetween CHF 7 and CHF 30 per month for professional plans, depending on the features (e.g. e-commerce, SSL certificate).
Practical tipIf you want to save money at the beginning, you can start with free versions and switch to a paid package later.
Conclusion: Create a website for your company
A professional website is an essential part of your startup's success. With the right tools and a clear strategy, you can create a website that is both user-friendly and visually appealing. Whether you need a simple online business card or a complex platform depends on your goals. Thanks to modern website builders and local providers in Switzerland, you can get your website online cheaply and effectively.
