Get Your Business Online — Free Checklist
Free resource

Get your business
online — the right way

Everything a small business owner needs to build a professional web presence. Work through it step by step — tick each item as you go.

21 steps across 5 stages
~2–4 hours to complete
No tech experience needed
0 / 21 done
1
Plan your online presence
4 steps
Define your goal — what should your website make visitors do? (call, book, buy, enquire)
Write down 3 things that make your business different from competitors
List the pages you need: Home, About, Services, Contact (at minimum)
Gather your assets — logo (or note you need one), photos, and business description
2
Choose your domain & hosting
4 steps
Pick a domain name — use your business name, keep it short, go for .com or .com.au key step
Check availability at a registrar before you get attached to a name
Register your domain (usually $15–25/year)
Choose a hosting plan that matches your traffic expectations key step
Shared hosting suits most small businesses starting out — fast, affordable, easy
Point your domain to your hosting provider (DNS settings — your host can help)
3
Build your website
5 steps
Install WordPress or choose a website builder (your host may include one-click setup) free option
Choose a clean, mobile-friendly theme or template
Write your homepage: clear headline, what you do, who you help, and a call to action key step
Tip: lead with the customer’s problem, not your business name
Add your services/products page with pricing (or a prompt to enquire)
Add a contact page with a form, phone number, and business hours
4
Make it trustworthy & findable
5 steps
Install an SSL certificate so your site shows “https://” key step
Most hosts include this free — it builds trust and helps your Google ranking
Add 2–3 real customer testimonials or reviews to your site free
Set up Google Analytics to track visitors (free) free
Submit your site to Google Search Console so it gets indexed free
Test your site on mobile — over 60% of visitors browse on their phone
5
Get found locally
3 steps
Create a free Google Business Profile and verify your business key step free
This puts you on Google Maps and in local search results — huge for foot traffic
Add your website link to your Google Business Profile, social media, and email signature
Ask your first 5 customers to leave a Google review — it builds credibility fast

You’re online. 🎉

You’ve completed every step. Your business now has a professional web presence built to attract customers.

Need help with any of these steps?

Distribute sets up fast, reliable hosting for small businesses — and we’re happy to walk you through the process. No jargon, no lock-in.