Honestly, at first I thought, "How important can a website be for a business? A Facebook business page or Instagram is enough," but I was wrong.

However, after living in LA for a few years and helping friends who opened stores or started solo businesses, my perspective completely changed.

Here in the U.S., people really do think, "What is this place? Is it a ghost company?" if a small local store doesn't have a proper website.

You can't just get by with KakaoTalk channels or Naver Place like in Korea.

So today, I've organized what I've learned through trial and error about the essential things to know when creating a business website in the U.S.

From legal aspects to how to buy a domain and actually create the site. This is not an advertisement, just my experience.

Before you start, you really need to know this.

The rules for websites in the U.S. are different from those in Korea. It's not just about making it pretty; there are legal aspects to consider, so you need to pay attention to this. I didn't know this and was shocked later.

First, a Privacy Policy and Terms of Service are mandatory.

The U.S. is very strict about personal information. Especially in California, the CCPA/CPRA privacy laws are strong, so you need a Privacy Policy that specifies how you use visitor data (cookies, emails, names, etc.). You also need Terms of Service to define liability in case of disputes.

If you hire a lawyer for this, it can be expensive, but I just used automated services like Termageddon or PrivacyPolicies.com to create them. They generate them according to U.S. standards. They may not be perfect, but they are a hundred times better than having nothing.

Second, cookie consent and web accessibility (ADA) issues.

If your business is based in California, you must display a message asking for cookie consent when visitors access your website. If you don't, you can often be sued for violating wiretap laws.

Also, there is the ADA, which prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities. Websites must be usable by visually impaired individuals, and failing to comply can lead to lawsuits. This means there are lawyers who specialize in these lawsuits. They can browse small business websites and if they find accessibility issues, they can sue for settlements. Typically, lawsuits range from $5,000 to $7,000. So, at the very least, installing an AI accessibility plugin is a good idea.

Third, create a proper About Us and Contact page.

Americans really like stories and transparency. Including the founder's story, what we aim to do, and actual team photos in the About Us section builds trust, making people think, "Oh, this is a real business." Personally, I've found that including a photo of the owner significantly increases trust.

For the Contact page, don't just have an email form; display a real U.S. address and phone number. This helps with local business scoring in Google searches (SEO) and reassures customers that "this place actually exists." If you don't want to expose your home address, I recommend getting a virtual office address. There are plenty of such services in LA.

Fourth, prioritize mobile and speed.

In the U.S., internet speed varies significantly by region. Most people browse on their phones. Therefore, it's crucial that buttons are easily clickable on mobile screens and images load within three seconds. If the loading is slow, people will leave without hesitation.

How to buy a domain (it's simpler than you think)

A domain is simply the address of your business on the internet, like mybusiness.com. Buying one isn't difficult, but there are a few tips.

First, always go for .com.

There are several options like .net, .co, .biz, but in U.S. business, .com is the most trusted. If the .com version of your desired name is already taken, it's better to slightly modify your brand name to secure a .com. In my personal opinion, don't compromise on this. Also, keep the name as simple as possible so that someone can write it down in one go when you say it over the phone. Avoid hyphens (-) or numbers, as they can confuse people.

Where to buy:

• Namecheap — I use this one. It's affordable, and they offer free privacy protection (WhoisGuard) for life. Under $20 a year.
  
• Squarespace Domains (formerly Google Domains) — If you like a clean management interface, this is the one. Under $15 a year.
  
• GoDaddy — It's well-known, but be careful as renewal costs can be significantly higher than the first year. Around $20 a year.
  

One tip when buying:

Before you check out, make sure the 'Privacy Protection' or 'WHOIS Privacy' option is turned on. If it's off, you'll get bombarded with spam calls and emails from all over the world.

How to Create a Website

This varies depending on your situation, but there are three main paths.

If you have no money and want to start quickly → Website Builder

If marketing and SEO are vital → WordPress

If your main focus is an online store → Shopify

Let's take a look at each.

Website Builder — Great for beginners and small service businesses

You can create a site in just a few hours with drag-and-drop, even if you know nothing about coding. Hosting and security (SSL) are included, making management easy.

• Squarespace — The design templates are really sleek. They fit the American aesthetic best. Highly recommended for visually important businesses like salons, restaurants, and consulting. A friend of mine runs a studio in K-Town and built it here, and he's very satisfied.
• Wix — Offers high flexibility, but if you mess up, the design can break. It requires more effort.
• GoDaddy AI Builder — Nowadays, with AI, it generates a draft after answering a few questions.
  

WordPress — Choose this if you want marketing and scalability

Over 40% of websites worldwide are made with WordPress. It's really strong for Google search optimization (SEO). If you want to attract people through blogging in the long term, this is the answer.

However, it does require some effort. The steps are as follows.

1. Sign up for hosting — This is where you buy server space to run WordPress. Hostinger or Bluehost are good value options.
   
2. Install WordPress + Theme — Use the 'one-click install' feature from your hosting to install WordPress, and then install a page builder theme like Elementor or Divi to create a decent site without coding.
3. Management — You'll need to handle security updates and backups yourself, which can be a bit annoying. However, it gives you the most freedom when adding features like membership or booking systems later.

Creating a website without a website builder can be challenging for beginners. There are many Korean web design companies in the U.S., so search for one, contact them, and get a quote to start.

Shopify — If you're selling products, just go with this

If you plan to sell something online in the U.S., Shopify is the way to go without any hesitation.

• It perfectly integrates the most trusted payment methods in the U.S. (Shop Pay, Apple Pay, credit cards).
• Sales tax calculations, UPS/FedEx shipping label printing, and tracking can all be done from one dashboard. Once you try it, you'll realize it significantly reduces back-office work time.

If you're in e-commerce, just open Shopify instead of wasting time looking for other options.

Check These Before Publishing

Before you publish your site to the world, make sure to check these four things.

Link Google Business Profile — If you're a local business, ensure that the name, address, and phone number (NAP) on Google Maps and your website match exactly. Even small differences like "Street" and "St." can cause Google to recognize them as different businesses, negatively affecting your search ranking. It may seem trivial, but it's important.

SSL Certificate (https) — Check if there's a lock icon in the address bar. If it's not there and shows as 'not a secure site,' U.S. customers will simply close the tab. Most website builders or hosting services provide this for free, so just make sure it's enabled.

Clear CTA (Call to Action) — Customers should immediately see what they need to do when they land on your homepage. Buttons like "Get a Free Quote," "Book an Appointment," or "Shop Now" should be in eye-catching colors. Americans tend to appreciate intuitive guidance. If you leave it up to them to figure it out, they'll just leave.

Ultimately, creating a website in the U.S. is not just about building an online presence; it's about localizing to comply with U.S. laws and adapting to the search and consumption habits of people here.

I was lost at first, but by keeping the points I've outlined above in mind, you can reduce your trial and error by half.

These are basic pieces of information, but I hope they help you establish a solid foundation for a great website.

If you have any questions, please leave a comment. I'll do my best to answer within my knowledge.