Launching a veteran-owned business is an exciting new mission, especially for veterans venturing into entrepreneurship. It’s no different than your military journey. When it comes to building your first business website, you may feel like you’re back to your first day of training. However, you already possess the skills that many business owners struggle to master for years: discipline, strategic thinking, and the ability to perform and learn under pressure.
Whether you’re opening a consulting firm or an ecommerce store, your website acts as your online headquarters. Your website allows customers to find you, learn about you, trust your brand, and ultimately buy from you.
Why Every Veteran-Owned Business Needs a Website
According to recent surveys, nearly half of small businesses don’t have a website. Today’s customers look for businesses online first. The majority of customers search on Google to find local businesses. Without a website, you’re losing substantial potential revenue.
Having a professional website gives you opportunities to:
- Share your story and values
- Build trust with potential customers
- Showcase your products or services
As a veteran, you bring unique qualities to your business: reliability, problem-solving skills, and a strong work ethic. You can leverage your business website to translate these skills into customer trust and business growth.
If you’re a veteran entrepreneur looking to launch your first website, here’s a step-by-step guide that will help you build a solid online presence.
Step 1: Choosing the Right Domain Name and Hosting
Your domain name is your website’s address, so choose it strategically. It needs to be memorable, professional, brand-related, and easy to communicate. For veteran-owned businesses, you have several strategic approaches:
- Brand-focused – These domains are ideal for scalable service businesses. Example: YourBusinessName.com
- Service-focused – These domains work well for local businesses targeting customers in their service area. Example: VeteranPlumbingChicago.com
- Personal Brand – If you provide professional services, opt for a domain that showcases your personal brand. Example: JohnSmithConsulting.com
Avoid special characters, numbers, or complex words in your domain name. To make your business website more credible, purchase the .com version of your domain.
For hosting, find a reliable, fast, and secure provider. Bluehost, SiteGround, and HostGator are budget-friendly and veteran-friendly hosting providers. Quality hosting costs between $5-15 monthly. Choose a dependable option rather than the cheapest one. Your website’s uptime, speed, and security depend on your hosting provider, so don’t cut corners here.
Step 2: Picking the Right Platform: WordPress vs. Shopify vs. Wix
Your website platform is your weapon in the digital battlefield. Each platform offers specific tactical advantages, so make your choice based on your mission, technical knowledge, and long-term business goals.
WordPress (WordPress.org)
WordPress websites work best for service businesses, consultants, and content marketers. WordPress offers the most control, scalability, and long-term flexibility for building unique websites.
Shopify
If you’re selling products online, Shopify helps you set up an e-commerce store without coding or complex setup. It provides all the professional features needed to sell products online successfully.
Wix
If you don’t want to spend extensive time learning a platform, Wix is your solution. It helps you set up a website quickly with minimal technical knowledge. You can launch your entire site within a few hours.
Step 3: Designing for User Experience
Converting visitors into customers depends directly on your website’s user experience. When users can navigate through your site easily and find what they’re looking for quickly, you increase your chances of making sales.
Simple Navigation
Include only 5-7 core pages in your menu with clear hierarchy and logical flow. Essential pages include Home, About, Services, Contact, and Blog or Portfolio.
Mobile-Responsive Design
Over half of your website traffic will come from mobile devices, so your website must load quickly and display properly on all smartphones and tablets.
Loading Speed
Slow-loading websites hurt both search engine rankings and user experience. Your website should load completely within 3 seconds. For optimal performance, use optimized images, efficient hosting, and avoid unnecessary plugins.
Accessibility Matters
Everyone should be able to use your website, including users with disabilities. Follow guidelines from the W3C to improve accessibility and ensure more users can access your website effectively.
Step 4: Essential Website Features Every Veteran-Owned Business Needs
About Page
An About page showcases your military experience and explains how it shaped your business mission while building customer trust. Use a conversational tone and professional photos to convey your story effectively.
Services Page
Use your services page to clearly explain what you offer, who your customers are, and how you solve their problems. The page should feature bullet points, clear headings, and customer testimonials for easy reading.
Contact Page
A contact page enables customers to reach you and learn more about your business. Include:
- Phone number
- Business hours
- Email address
- Physical address (if applicable)
- Contact form for inquiries
Blog Section
Search engines favor regular content updates, and blog posts provide the easiest way to keep your website fresh. Regular blog posts help veteran-owned businesses improve SEO and give website visitors reasons to return.
Step 5: SEO Basics for Beginners
Search Engine Optimization (SEO) helps potential customers find your website when they search Google for services you provide. Here are essential practices every veteran entrepreneur should implement:
Keyword Research
To reach more customers, research phrases your target customers actually search for. Use tools like Google Keyword Planner or SEMrush to find focus keywords with commercial intent and manageable competition levels.
On-Page Optimization
- Include your primary keyword in page titles, meta descriptions, and naturally throughout your content
- Use headings (H1, H2, H3) to structure content logically
- Optimize images with descriptive filenames and alt text
Local SEO
A Google My Business profile is the best way to help potential customers find your business locally. Ensure your profile is optimized with accurate name, address, and phone number information.
Content Creation
Search engines favor websites with valuable and fresh content. Regularly publish helpful content that answers your customers’ questions and demonstrates your expertise.
Technical SEO Basics
For technical requirements, obtain an SSL certificate (https) and submit an XML sitemap to Google Search Console.
Your Next Mission
Building your first website may seem daunting, but your military service has equipped you with skills that will help you excel in business: discipline, strategic thinking, and adaptability under pressure.
Begin your entrepreneurship journey with these action steps:
- Choose and register your domain name this week
- Select a hosting provider and platform based on your specific needs
- Create your core pages (Home, About, Services, Contact)
- Set up your Google My Business profile and social media accounts
- Launch with a simple, professional design that you can improve over time
Your veteran-owned business deserves a professional website that reflects excellence and integrity. Remember, you’re not alone in this mission. Let your military experience guide you as you establish your digital presence and build the foundation for long-term business success.
