How to build a business website in Cameroon: step-by-step guide

Building a website is no longer reserved for large companies. In Cameroon, more than 12 million people use the internet, mostly on phones, and your future clients are already searching for your services on Google. Here is the step-by-step method we follow for every project.

Step 1: set a measurable goal

"Having a website" isn’t a goal. "Receiving ten quote requests a month", "filling the clinic’s Saturday schedule" or "selling 50 products a month to clients in Douala and Yaoundé" are. The goal drives everything else: pages, features, budget.

Step 2: choose the type of site

• Single page: quick presence, online business card.
• Showcase site: present the business, reassure, capture enquiries.
• Site with tools: booking, quotes, calculators, chatbot.
• Online store: sell and get paid.

Our comparison: Showcase site, e-commerce or landing page: which should you choose?.

Step 3: register the domain name

Choose a short address that’s easy to say on the phone, and register it in your name. .com, .cm or both? The answer is in .cm or .com domain: which to choose and how to register it.

Step 4: prepare the content

This is the step that delays the most projects. Gather:

• an introduction and the list of your services;
• your prices or price ranges;
• real photos (premises, team, work);
• your logo, colours, contact details and opening hours;
• three to five client reviews or references.

If writing is holding you back, delegate it: copy written for Google and for selling changes results.

Step 5: write a project brief

Even a short one avoids misunderstandings. It describes your goals, pages, features, sites you like, budget and deadline. Free template: Website project brief: free template and worked example.

Step 6: approve a mockup

Before any development, ask for a homepage mockup on desktop and mobile. That’s the time to change your mind, not after launch. With us, you first pick a style from our demos, then we design your mockup.

Step 7: build, connect, test

The site must be fast on an average phone on 3G or 4G. It should connect to:

• WhatsApp (button with a prefilled message);
• Google Maps (Business Profile);
• Google Analytics and Search Console;
• Orange Money and MTN MoMo if you sell online (Accepting Orange Money and MTN MoMo on your website: the guide).

Test every form, link and button on several phones.

Step 8: launch, then improve

Launch isn’t the end. In the first weeks, watch which pages are visited, WhatsApp clicks and the searches that bring people in. Add content, fix what blocks, ask satisfied clients for Google reviews.

Typical schedule

Week	Step
0	Free audit, goal, quote
1	Content, mockup, approval
2 to 3	Development, copywriting, integrations
3 to 5	Testing, launch, Google

For an Essential site, everything happens in 5 days to 2 weeks. For a Premium site, allow 3 to 5 weeks. Start with a free audit: we look at your business, competitors and current visibility.