How to Build a Website for Your Business After Retirement: A Step-by-Step Guide for Beginners

Last updated on September 17th, 2025 at 10:53 pm

Do You Really Need a Website? (Yes, Here’s Why)

If you’re starting a business after retirement, one of the first questions you might ask is, “Do I really need a website?” The answer is a resounding yes—and here’s why:

✅ Credibility

A professional website instantly adds legitimacy to your business. Today’s customers expect every business—no matter how small—to have an online presence. A website shows that you’re serious, trustworthy, and established.

🌐 Discoverability

More than 90% of people search online before making a purchase or contacting a business. Without a website, you’re invisible to most potential customers. A simple website ensures you can be found on Google and Maps.

🤝 Customer Trust

A clear, helpful website with your photo, story, and contact info builds connection and trust—especially important for retirees running local or relationship-based businesses.

📣 Online Marketing Anchor

Your website becomes the hub for all your marketing. Whether you’re running social media ads, sending emails, or handing out flyers, everything should point people to your site. It’s your digital storefront that works 24/7.

Planning Your Website

Before jumping into building your site, take a moment to plan. A clear, simple layout will save you time and help your website do its job: attract and convert customers.

🏠 What Should Be on Your Homepage?

Your homepage is your digital front door. It should immediately tell visitors:

• Who you are
• What you offer
• How to contact you

Keep it clean and easy to scan. Include:

• A headline that clearly states your business
• A short welcome message or mission statement
• A few sentences about what makes your business unique
• A photo of you or your product (for trust)
• A call-to-action (like “Contact Us” or “Book a Free Call”)

📄 Pages to Include

While a homepage is essential, most small business websites need a few supporting pages. As you build your website, you can add more pages in the future. Here are the basics:

• About – Share your story, background, and why you started the business. This builds trust, especially if you’re a retiree with relevant life or work experience.
• Services or Products – Describe what you offer clearly and concisely. Use bullet points and pricing if possible.
• Contact – Make it easy for people to reach you. Include a form, your email, phone number, and links to social media or your Google business profile.
• Blog (Optional) – Great for SEO and establishing authority, especially if you enjoy writing or want to share updates.

Depending on your business, you may also want to add:

• Testimonials or Reviews
• Portfolio or Gallery
• FAQs
• Pricing or Packages

📸 Gathering Photos, Testimonials, and Bios

Good content makes your site feel real and relatable. Before you start building:

• Photos – Use clear, high-quality pictures of yourself, your product, or your location. Avoid stock photos when possible. Photos and art are very important to include as you build your website.
• Testimonials – Ask past clients, coworkers, or friends to share a few sentences about working with you.
• Bios – Write a short, friendly bio to include on your About page or at the bottom of blog posts.

Choosing the Right Tools

Now that you’ve planned your website, it’s time to choose the tools that will bring it to life. Don’t worry—you don’t need to be a tech expert. This section will walk you through your options step by step.

🌐 Domain Name Tips

Your domain name is your web address (like www.YourBusiness.com). It’s often the first impression people will have of your brand, so keep these tips in mind:

• Keep it simple and easy to spell
• Use your business name if available
• Avoid dashes or numbers if possible
• Choose a .com if available – it’s still the most trusted extension
• Use a domain checker tool (like Namecheap or GoDaddy) to find what’s available

💡 Example: If your business is “Coastal Crafts by Karen,” a good domain might be CoastalCrafts.com or KarenCrafts.com.

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🛠 Hosting vs Website Builders

This is where most new business owners get stuck, but it’s easier than it seems. You have two main options for getting your website online. Basically, a website is a collection of pages you create using a free website builder like WordPress. To help you, the site builders have thousands of templates that are free. Select one to build your website, then start adding.

1. Website Builders (All-in-One)

Tools like Wix, Squarespace, and Weebly are beginner-friendly. They handle hosting, templates, and design—all in one package. Pros:

• Easy drag-and-drop setup
• No coding needed
• Templates included
• Tech support

Best for: Retirees who want a quick, good-looking site with minimal hassle.

2. Self-Hosted WordPress (More Control – Recommended)

If you want full flexibility and plan to grow your website over time, WordPress.org with a separate hosting plan (like Bluehost or SiteGround) is a smart option. Pros:

• More customization
• Thousands of themes and plugins
• Great for blogging or content marketing

Best for: Those comfortable learning new tools or working with a freelancer.

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👷‍♂️ DIY vs Hiring Help

Should you build your website yourself or pay someone? It depends on your time, comfort with tech, and budget.

• DIY is perfect for simple businesses and tight budgets. Many retirees enjoy the challenge and satisfaction of learning something new.
• Hiring a professional (through platforms like Fiverr or Upwork) is a great option if you want to save time or need something custom.

💡 Tip: You can do a hybrid—use a website builder to set up the basics, then hire someone for polishing or technical help. I have done both. The easiest way is to create the basic shell after deciding what you want to show the world. No programming is required to build your website, but you may want help with some things like installing a method to sell your products.

What Is a Website?

Open any website on the internet, and you’ll see a page you can scroll down—sometimes a little, sometimes a lot. Think of this page like a long scroll or a ream of printer paper. If you tried to print it, it might take one page… or one hundred, depending on how it’s built. This main page is usually the home page, and it’s often the first thing a visitor sees. That’s why it’s sometimes called a landing page—because it’s where people land first.

Imagine your website as a filing cabinet:

• The home page is like the full cabinet. It gives a quick look at what’s inside and sets expectations for the visitor. Notice the menu in the example above, click on an item, and it takes you “into” the site.
• Each drawer in the cabinet is a separate web page. One might contain information about your services. Another drawer might hold customer testimonials. Another may be your “About Us” page—your business story, experience, or mission.
• Now, let’s say you want to add pricing to your service drawer. That would be like placing a folder inside that drawer—a subpage that adds more detail to a main topic.

This filing cabinet analogy helps you picture how websites are structured:
Home page → Main pages → Subpages

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📄 Pages vs. Posts: What’s the Difference?

There are two basic types of content on a website: pages and posts.

• Pages are like the permanent drawers in your cabinet. They rarely change and include important, timeless content, such as your services, testimonials, contact info, or photos of your best work.
• Posts are like short stories or news clippings you add to your site. They’re used to share updates, tips, or stories—like a recent project, a how-to guide, or your thoughts on industry trends.

From a creative standpoint, pages and posts are created the same way—like using a word processor. You can add text, images, links, and even videos. The difference lies in how they’re used and where they appear on your site.

💡 Tip: If you’re sharing something timely or educational, use a post. If it’s core information about your business, use a page.

Step-by-Step Website Creation

Once you’ve planned your content and chosen your tools, it’s time to build your website. You don’t need to be a tech expert to create a simple, professional site that gets the job done. Here’s a step-by-step guide to walk you through the process:

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1. 🧱 Select a Platform

Choose where and how your website will be built. These are the most popular options for beginners:

• WordPress.com – Great for blogging and full control. Offers free and paid plans. (click to the left)
• Wix – Drag-and-drop website builder with modern templates and ease of use.
• Squarespace – Known for beautiful design and all-in-one functionality.
• GoDaddy Website Builder – Quick setup, basic design tools, ideal for simple sites.

💡 Tip: If you’re creating a basic business site with 3–5 pages, a website builder like Wix or Squarespace may be your fastest path forward.

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2. 🧭 Set Up Menus and Navigation

Your navigation menu helps visitors find their way around your site. It’s typically located at the top (header) or side of the page.

Start with a simple structure:

• Home
• About
• Services or Products
• Testimonials (optional)
• Contact

Add new pages to your menu as needed. Keep the menu clean—too many links can overwhelm visitors.

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3. ✍️ Add Content

Now it’s time to fill your site with content that reflects your business. Use the plan you created earlier and build out each section:

• Write your About page – Share your story and why you started your business.
• Create a Services or Products page – Explain what you offer, how it helps people, and how they can get started.
• Add real photos – Include quality images of your work, your team, or yourself.
• Include testimonials or quotes – These build trust and credibility.
• Write blog posts (optional) – Share insights, tips, or stories if you want to educate or connect with your audience.

💡 Don’t worry about perfection. It’s better to launch a simple site and improve over time than to delay waiting for it to be perfect.

Maintaining and Promoting Your Site

Once your website is live, your work isn’t done. To get real value from your site, you’ll need to keep it up to date and help people find it. Here are three easy ways to maintain and promote your site without feeling overwhelmed:

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🔍 Basic SEO (Search Engine Optimization)

SEO is what helps your website show up when people search for services like yours on Google. You don’t need to be an expert—just follow a few best practices:

• Use clear, simple page titles (like “Plumbing Services in Gulfport, MS”)
• Include keywords your customers might search for (e.g., “affordable handyman,” “retired CPA in Tampa”)
• Write short descriptions for each page (called meta descriptions) that summarize what’s inside
• Name your images clearly and add short “alt text” to describe them

💡 SEO helps your site get discovered by new customers—even while you sleep.

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✍️ Blogging for Visibility

Adding a blog to your site helps you stay active and build trust. Each post is a chance to:

• Share tips, advice, or industry knowledge
• Highlight successful projects or client stories
• Improve your SEO by targeting specific search phrases

Even one post a month can help. Think of blogging as word-of-mouth marketing—but online.

💡 Example: A retired landscaper could blog about “5 Plants That Thrive in Coastal Climates” to attract local customers searching for that exact information.

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📊 Tracking Visits with Google Analytics

Wouldn’t it be helpful to know how people find your website? Google Analytics is a free tool that shows you:

• How many people visit your site
• Which pages do they look at
• What keywords did they search
• Where your traffic is coming from (Google, Facebook, email, etc.)

You can sign up for free and connect it to your website easily. Once it’s set up, just check in once a month to see what’s working and what needs improvement. Check out some of our articles on starting a business such as “The Best Marketing Ideas for a New Business After Retirement.” also The Best Business I Can Start After Retirement (type of business). Go to our separate website StartingaBusinessAfterRetirement, for more articles.

💡 Knowing what your visitors are doing can help you improve your content and get more business.