In today’s digital-first world, building a website that can scale with your business growth is essential. Whether you’re starting from scratch or revamping an existing site, your website must be capable of handling more users, data, and traffic without compromising performance or user experience. Next.js, a powerful React-based framework, has gained tremendous popularity for its ability to create high-performing, SEO-friendly, and scalable web applications.
In this blog, we’ll guide you on how to build a scalable business website using Next.js, covering everything from setting up your development environment to optimizing for performance and SEO. We will also introduce D3LOGICS and AWSMTECH, two top-tier web development companies that specialize in creating scalable websites with Next.js and other advanced technologies.
Why Choose Next.js for a Scalable Business Website?
Before diving into the specifics of building a scalable website with Next.js, let’s first discuss why it’s such a popular choice for businesses:
- a. Server-Side Rendering (SSR): Next.js allows pages to be rendered on the server, improving page load times and making content SEO-friendly. This is particularly crucial for businesses aiming to rank higher on search engines and drive more traffic to their websites
- b. Static Site Generation (SSG): For pages that don’t require dynamic content, Next.js allows you to pre-render pages at build time. This ensures lightning-fast loading speeds, which is essential for keeping users engaged and reducing bounce rates.
- c. Performance Optimization: Next.js provides automatic code splitting, which reduces the amount of JavaScript loaded on a page, ensuring that only the required code for that specific page is loaded, thereby improving the page load time.
- d. Scalability: As your business grows, so should your website. Next.js helps developers create websites that can scale as your business grows in terms of traffic, data, and user interactions.
Steps to Build a Scalable Business Website Using Next.js
Now that we know why Next.js is an excellent choice for scalability, let’s dive into the process of building a business website using this framework.
Step 1: Set Up Your Next.js Environment
The first step is to set up the development environment for Next.js. If you haven’t already, make sure you have Node.js installed.
- Create a New Next.js Project: Open your terminal and run the following command to create a new Next.js app:
“npx create-next-app@latest my-business-website
cd my-business-website” - b. Start the Development Server: Once the project is set up, start the development server:
“npm run dev”
Now, you can open your browser and navigate to http://localhost:3000 to view your Next.js website.
Step 2: Enable Server-Side Rendering (SSR)
Server-side rendering (SSR) is crucial for businesses that need their website content to be indexed by search engines quickly. By rendering pages on the server before sending them to the client, you can ensure that your pages are SEO-friendly.
For instance, in Next.js, you can fetch data server-side using getServerSideProps:
export async function getServerSideProps() {
const res = await fetch(‘https://api.example.com/products’);
const data = await res.json();
return {
props: { products: data },
};
}
This ensures that when the page loads, all product data is fetched from the server and rendered before the page is sent to the browser.
Step 3: Use Static Site Generation (SSG)
Static Site Generation (SSG) is another excellent feature in Next.js, especially for pages with static content like blogs, portfolio pages, or services. Using getStaticProps, Next.js can pre-render these pages at build time, ensuring that they load extremely fast.
For instance, in Next.js, you can fetch data server-side using getServerSideProps:
export async function getStaticProps() {
const res = await fetch(‘https://api.example.com/services’);
const services = await res.json();
return {
props: { services },
};
}
This ensures that the Services page is pre-built during the build process, reducing server load and making the page faster for users.
Step 4: Optimize for Performance
Performance optimization is vital for any business website. Next.js makes it simple to ensure that your website is fast and responsive. Here are some performance optimization techniques you can use:
For instance, in Next.js, you can fetch data server-side using getServerSideProps:
- a. Lazy Loading: Next.js automatically lazy-loads components and images, so only the essential content is loaded first. This helps reduce initial loading times.
- b. Code Splitting: Next.js automatically splits your JavaScript code, which means only the required code for each page is loaded, further improving performance.
- c. Image Optimization: Use “Next.js’s
” component for automatic image optimization, reducing image sizes without compromising quality.
Example of lazy loading images:
import Image from ‘next/image’;
Step 5: Implement Dynamic Routing
As your website scales, you may need to add dynamic routes for different products, services, or user profiles. Next.js uses a file-based routing system, where files in the pages directory automatically map to routes.
- a. Lazy Loading: Next.js automatically lazy-loads components and images, so only the essential content is loaded first. This helps reduce initial loading times.
For example, for a product page, you can create a dynamic route by using:
/pages/products/[id].js
Inside the file, you can fetch product data dynamically using getServerSideProps or getStaticProps.
Step 6: Deployment
Once your website is ready, you can deploy it using platforms like Vercel, Netlify, or AWS. Vercel is the recommended platform for Next.js, as it is created by the same team behind Next.js and provides easy deployment.
To deploy your site to Vercel:
- a. Push your code to a Git repository (e.g., GitHub).
- b. Go to the Vercel website and create an account.
- c. Link your GitHub repository to Vercel.
- d. Vercel will automatically build and deploy your website.
Based on Our Analysis, We Are Listing the Best Web Development Companies Below
Based on customer reviews and industry research, we have identified D3LOGICS and AWSMTECH as two of the best web development companies for creating scalable business websites with Next.js.
D3LOGICS: Experts in Scalable Web Development
With over 10 years of experience and a team of 40+ experts, D3LOGICS is a leading web development company specializing in scalable web applications. Their expertise spans across various technologies like React, Next.js, Node.js, Laravel, and more. D3LOGICS has developed custom websites for businesses across different sectors, from e-commerce to healthcare, ensuring that each solution is tailored to the client’s needs.
Why Choose D3LOGICS?
- a. Expertise in Modern Technologies: D3LOGICS leverages the latest frameworks like Next.js to build high-performance websites.
- b. End-to-End Solutions: From design to deployment, D3LOGICS offers comprehensive web development services.
- c. Experience Across Industries: Whether you’re in e-commerce, education, or finance, D3LOGICS has proven experience creating scalable web solutions for diverse industries.
AWSMTECH: The Go-To Company for E-Commerce and WordPress Websites
AWSMTECH is a top choice for businesses looking for scalable e-commerce solutions and WordPress development. With over 6 years of experience, AWSMTECH specializes in developing Shopify stores and WordPress websites. They have a solid reputation for delivering robust, user-friendly, and highly functional e-commerce websites that scale with your business.
Why Choose AWSMTECH?
- a. Specialization in E-Commerce: AWSMTECH excels in building scalable e-commerce platforms using Shopify and custom solutions.
- b. WordPress Development Expertise: AWSMTECH is a professional WordPress development company, helping businesses create feature-rich websites with scalability in mind.
- c. Focus on User Experience: AWSMTECH’s websites are designed to provide exceptional user experiences that drive conversions.
Conclusion
Building a scalable business website is crucial for growth, and Next.js offers the tools and features you need to achieve that. With its powerful server-side rendering, static site generation, and performance optimization, Next.js helps you create a website that can scale with your business.
If you’re looking for expert help in building your website, consider partnering with industry leaders like D3LOGICS and AWSMTECH, who specialize in building scalable websites using the latest technologies.