{"id":19734,"date":"2026-03-06T09:48:42","date_gmt":"2026-03-06T08:48:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/roger-ari.com\/?page_id=19734"},"modified":"2026-03-06T09:53:11","modified_gmt":"2026-03-06T08:53:11","slug":"your-companys-website","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/roger-ari.com\/en\/your-companys-website\/","title":{"rendered":"Creating a website for your SME"},"content":{"rendered":"<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-page\" data-elementor-id=\"19734\" class=\"elementor elementor-19734\" data-elementor-post-type=\"page\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-29eed43 e-con e-atomic-element e-div-block-base e-29eed43-7ec4a20\" data-id=\"29eed43\" data-element_type=\"e-div-block\" data-e-type=\"e-div-block\" data-interaction-id=\"29eed43\">\n    \t\t\t<h1 data-interaction-id=\"1524d82\" class=\"e-heading-base\">Creating a website for your SME<\/h1>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-98c96e9 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"98c96e9\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-family: Georgia, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">In 2026, not having a website is a bit like not being listed in the phone book in the 90s: your potential customers simply can't find you. Yet many SME managers are still putting off this project, often for lack of time, budget... or because they don't know where to start.<\/span><\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-family: Georgia, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">This guide has been designed with you in mind. No technical jargon, no sales pitch. Just concrete steps to <\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-family: Georgia, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><b>create your SME's website<\/b><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-family: Georgia, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"> without finding yourself lost when faced with incomprehensible quotes or technical choices that are beyond your understanding.<\/span><\/span><\/p><h2 class=\"western\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial, serif;\"><b>1. Why your SME needs a website in 2026<\/b><\/span><\/h2><p><span style=\"font-family: Georgia, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">Before we talk technicalities or budget, let's ask ourselves the real question: what is this site going to be used for? A website for SMEs is not a static shop window that you create once and then forget about. It's your best sales tool, available 24\/7.<\/span><\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-family: Georgia, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><b>In concrete terms, a good website allows you to :<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/p><ul><li value=\"1\"><p><span style=\"font-family: Georgia, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">Being found on Google when a customer searches for your services<\/span><\/span><\/p><\/li><li><p><span style=\"font-family: Georgia, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">Present your offer clearly and professionally<\/span><\/span><\/p><\/li><li><p><span style=\"font-family: Georgia, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">Generate contact requests or sales directly online<\/span><\/span><\/p><\/li><li><p><span style=\"font-family: Georgia, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">Establish your credibility in the face of the competition<\/span><\/span><\/p><\/li><li><p><span style=\"font-family: Georgia, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">Work even when you're asleep<\/span><\/span><\/p><\/li><\/ul><p><span style=\"color: #555555;\"><span style=\"font-family: Georgia, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><i>A recent study shows that more than 80 % of consumers carry out an online search before contacting a local business. If you're not visible, you're leaving the field wide open to your competitors.<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p><h2 class=\"western\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial, serif;\"><b>2. Define your objectives before taking the plunge<\/b><\/span><\/h2><p><span style=\"font-family: Georgia, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">The first mistake most SMEs make is to start with form before substance. Before choosing a colour or a template, you need to answer these questions:<\/span><\/span><\/p><ul><li><p><span style=\"font-family: Georgia, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">What is the site's main objective (generating leads, selling online, providing information, etc.)?<\/span><\/span><\/p><\/li><li><p><span style=\"font-family: Georgia, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">Who is my target customer (individuals, professionals, geographical area, etc.)?<\/span><\/span><\/p><\/li><li><p><span style=\"font-family: Georgia, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">What actions do I want visitors to take once they're on the site?<\/span><\/span><\/p><\/li><li><p><span style=\"font-family: Georgia, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">What budget can I spend on design and maintenance?<\/span><\/span><\/p><\/li><\/ul><p><span style=\"font-family: Georgia, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">These answers will guide all your decisions afterwards: the structure of the site, the content to be written, and the type of service provider to choose.<\/span><\/span><\/p><h2 class=\"western\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial, serif;\"><b>3. Choosing the right type of website for your business<\/b><\/span><\/h2><p><span style=\"font-family: Georgia, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">Not all websites are the same. The right choice depends on your business and your objectives:<\/span><\/span><\/p><h3 class=\"western\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial, serif;\"><b>The showcase site<\/b><\/span><\/h3><p><span style=\"font-family: Georgia, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">This is the most common type for service SMEs. It presents your company, your services and your contact details. Simple, effective and affordable. Ideal for a craftsman, a consultancy or a local service provider.<\/span><\/span><\/p><h3 class=\"western\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial, serif;\"><b>The e-commerce site<\/b><\/span><\/h3><p><span style=\"font-family: Georgia, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">If you sell products, an e-commerce site is essential. It requires more preparation (stock management, payments, logistics) but opens up your sales to a much wider customer base.<\/span><\/span><\/p><h3 class=\"western\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial, serif;\"><b>The made-to-measure site<\/b><\/span><\/h3><p><span style=\"font-family: Georgia, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">For specific needs: advanced forms, customer area, online booking, etc. Custom development offers total freedom but requires a competent service provider.<\/span><\/span><\/p><h2 class=\"western\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial, serif;\"><b>4. WordPress, Wix or custom development?<\/b><\/span><\/h2><p><span style=\"font-family: Georgia, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">This is often the question that gets in the way. Here's an objective summary to help you choose:<\/span><\/span><\/p><ul><li><p><span style=\"font-family: Georgia, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">Wix \/ Squarespace: easy to set up yourself, but limited for advanced SEO and not very flexible in the long term.<\/span><\/span><\/p><\/li><li><p><span style=\"font-family: Georgia, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">WordPress: the benchmark solution for SMEs. Flexible, feature-rich, excellent for SEO. Requires a minimum of know-how or a service provider.<\/span><\/span><\/p><\/li><li><p><span style=\"font-family: Georgia, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">Custom development: the most powerful solution, but also the most expensive. Best reserved for really specific needs.<\/span><\/span><\/p><\/li><\/ul><p><span style=\"font-family: Georgia, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">For the vast majority of SMEs, <\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-family: Georgia, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><b>WordPress remains the best compromise<\/b><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-family: Georgia, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"> between performance, budget and scalability.<\/span><\/span><\/p><h2 class=\"western\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial, serif;\"><b>5. How much will it cost to create a website for SMEs in 2026?<\/b><\/span><\/h2><p><span style=\"font-family: Georgia, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">That's the question on everyone's lips - and with good reason. Rates vary enormously depending on the type of service provider:<\/span><\/span><\/p><ul><li><p><span style=\"font-family: Georgia, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">French or Parisian web agency: between \u20ac3,000 and \u20ac15,000 for a showcase site, sometimes more.<\/span><\/span><\/p><\/li><li><p><span style=\"font-family: Georgia, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">Local freelance: between \u20ac800 and \u20ac3,000, depending on experience and complexity.<\/span><\/span><\/p><\/li><li><p><span style=\"font-family: Georgia, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">Remote developer (Eastern Europe, Africa, Asia): between \u20ac500 and \u20ac2,000 for equivalent services.<\/span><\/span><\/p><\/li><\/ul><p><span style=\"color: #555555;\"><span style=\"font-family: Georgia, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><i>More and more French SMEs are choosing to work with remote developers - particularly from Madagascar - to get unbeatable value for money, without sacrificing either the quality of the code or communication, which is often in French. This is a serious option to consider if you have a limited budget.<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p><h2 class=\"western\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial, serif;\"><b>6. The key stages in creating your site, from A to Z<\/b><\/span><\/h2><p><span style=\"font-family: Georgia, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">Here's how a typical website creation project for SMEs works:<\/span><\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"color: #1a56db;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><b>Stage 1 - The brief<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-family: Georgia, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">Define your objectives, your target audience and your content. This is the basis of everything.<\/span><\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"color: #1a56db;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><b>Stage 2 - Choosing the service provider<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-family: Georgia, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">Compare offers, check portfolios and ask for references.<\/span><\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"color: #1a56db;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><b>Stage 3 - Design &amp; mock-up<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-family: Georgia, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">Once the specifications have been validated, the service provider will submit graphic mock-ups.<\/span><\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"color: #1a56db;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><b>Stage 4 - Development<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-family: Georgia, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">The site comes to life. This is where technology comes in.<\/span><\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"color: #1a56db;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><b>Stage 5 - Content<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-family: Georgia, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">Write your texts (or have them written) and prepare your photos and videos.<\/span><\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"color: #1a56db;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><b>Stage 6 - Testing<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-family: Georgia, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">Navigation, speed, mobile display, forms... Everything needs to be checked before going online.<\/span><\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"color: #1a56db;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><b>Stage 7 - Going online<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-family: Georgia, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">The big day! But that's not the end: think about follow-up and maintenance.<\/span><\/span><\/p><h2 class=\"western\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial, serif;\"><b>7. Mistakes to avoid<\/b><\/span><\/h2><p><span style=\"font-family: Georgia, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">Having worked on a number of projects, here are the most common mistakes made by SMEs:<\/span><\/span><\/p><ul><li><p><span style=\"font-family: Georgia, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">Neglecting natural search engine optimisation (SEO) at the design stage<\/span><\/span><\/p><\/li><li><p><span style=\"font-family: Georgia, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">Not thinking about the mobile version from the outset<\/span><\/span><\/p><\/li><li><p><span style=\"font-family: Georgia, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">Choosing a service provider solely on the basis of price<\/span><\/span><\/p><\/li><li><p><span style=\"font-family: Georgia, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">No budget for maintenance and updates<\/span><\/span><\/p><\/li><li><p><span style=\"font-family: Georgia, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">Leaving your site without fresh content for months on end<\/span><\/span><\/p><\/li><li><p><span style=\"font-family: Georgia, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">Omit the legal notice and privacy policy (RGPD)<\/span><\/span><\/p><\/li><\/ul><h2 class=\"western\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial, serif;\"><b>8. How do you choose the right web service provider for your SME?<\/b><\/span><\/h2><p><span style=\"font-family: Georgia, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">The market for web developers and agencies is vast. To make the right choice, here are the essential criteria:<\/span><\/span><\/p><ul><li><p><span style=\"font-family: Georgia, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">Portfolio: take a look at the sites you've already created. Does it inspire confidence?<\/span><\/span><\/p><\/li><li><p><span style=\"font-family: Georgia, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">Customer references: don't hesitate to contact former customers for feedback.<\/span><\/span><\/p><\/li><li><p><span style=\"font-family: Georgia, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">Communication: a good service provider understands your needs and can explain its choices clearly.<\/span><\/span><\/p><\/li><li><p><span style=\"font-family: Georgia, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">Post-launch monitoring: what happens if you have a bug 3 months after going online?<\/span><\/span><\/p><\/li><li><p><span style=\"font-family: Georgia, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">Location: today, distance is no longer an obstacle. A well-organised remote developer can deliver exactly the same results as a local service provider.<\/span><\/span><\/p><\/li><\/ul><p><span style=\"color: #555555;\"><span style=\"font-family: Georgia, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><i>Many French SMEs are now working with developers based in Madagascar. Its fluency in French, virtually no time difference with mainland France and competitive rates make it the destination of choice for quality web outsourcing.<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p><h2 class=\"western\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial, serif;\"><b>Conclusion: go for it, but do it well<\/b><\/span><\/h2><p><span style=\"font-family: Georgia, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><b>Creating your SME website<\/b><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-family: Georgia, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"> in 2026 is not an option, it's a necessity. But it's also an opportunity: to stand out from the crowd, attract new customers and professionalise your image.<\/span><\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-family: Georgia, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">The most important thing is not to rush in without thinking. Define your objectives, choose the right tools and surround yourself with the right people. And if you're looking for a serious, responsive and accessible service provider, you should know that distance is no longer an obstacle in 2026: qualified, French-speaking developers are available everywhere in the world - including Madagascar.<\/span><\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"color: #1a56db;\"><span style=\"font-family: Georgia, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><b>Do you have a website project for your SME? Let's talk about it.<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p><p><br \/><br \/><\/p><h2 class=\"western\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial, serif;\"><b>FAQ - Frequently asked questions<\/b><\/span><\/h2><p><span style=\"font-family: Arial, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><b>What is the minimum budget for creating a website for SMEs?<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"color: #555555;\"><span style=\"font-family: Georgia, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">You should expect to pay between \u20ac500 and \u20ac2,000 for a simple showcase site produced by a competent freelancer. For a French agency, prices generally start at around \u20ac3,000.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-family: Arial, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><b>How long does it take to create a website for SMEs?<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"color: #555555;\"><span style=\"font-family: Georgia, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">Between 4 and 12 weeks, depending on the complexity of the project and the responsiveness of both parties in terms of content and approvals.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-family: Arial, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><b>Is it possible to create your own website with Wix or WordPress?<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"color: #555555;\"><span style=\"font-family: Georgia, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">Yes, but the result will rarely be on a par with a professionally designed site, especially in terms of SEO and user experience.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-family: Arial, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><b>Why work with a remote web developer?<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"color: #555555;\"><span style=\"font-family: Georgia, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">To cut costs without compromising on quality. Provided you choose your service provider carefully and establish clear communication from the outset.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1c059c2 elementor-widget elementor-widget-button\" data-id=\"1c059c2\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"button.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-button elementor-button-link elementor-size-sm\" href=\"https:\/\/roger-ari.com\/en\/roger-ari-consulting\/\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-content-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-text\">The solution with Roger Ari Consulting<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>En 2026, ne pas avoir de site internet, c&rsquo;est un peu comme ne pas figurer dans l&rsquo;annuaire des ann\u00e9es 90 : vos clients potentiels ne vous trouvent tout simplement pas. Pourtant, beaucoup de dirigeants de PME repoussent encore ce projet, souvent par manque de temps, de budget\u2026 ou parce qu&rsquo;ils ne savent pas par o\u00f9 [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":30,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-19734","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/roger-ari.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/19734","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/roger-ari.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/roger-ari.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/roger-ari.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/30"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/roger-ari.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=19734"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/roger-ari.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/19734\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/roger-ari.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=19734"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}