Launching a website for a small business can seem like a big job, and it does require some research. However, if you do it right, it could be the perfect way to market your business. There are website designers, website developers, and graphic designers on the way to making a website. This is already very hard to understand. A person who makes the design for a website is called a web designer. A website developer is someone who makes more of the code and less of the design for your website. Most web designers these days are also developers. A graphic designer is the person who makes the images at the top of web pages, the buttons, and the menus on a website. The whole thing shouldn't be so hard and full of unexpected turns. So, the 6 Dos and Don'ts should help you get your small business website off the ground.
Don't worry about how pretty your site will look or how many images it will have. Remember that the point of your site is to answer your customers' questions and tell them about the services and products you offer. Don't use too many images because if your site is too "modern," many people won't be able to find their way around it. This will make them angry, and they won't stay on your site, which would defeat the purpose of your site.
Don't judge web designers by how much they charge. Not every web designer is the same. You should compare not only the price but also the type of service you need, such as internet marketing and updates. You should also find out if they will keep working on your site until you are happy with it and if they can write the content. Some designers will make you a website and send you a CD with all the files. You will then have to figure out how to get it on the web on your own. Others will help you choose a domain and a hosting company, upload your files to your site, and write your content. Writing for the web is not the same as writing for paper. A good writer will know what to write to keep people on your site. When looking for a web designer, keep these things in mind.
Before you are ready, don't hire a web designer. Once you're done looking for a web designer, make sure you have a domain name, hosting, a general idea of how you want your site to look, and, if you're going to do this yourself, you've written your content. This is essential! Web designers do their work virtually, which means they do it online (through the Internet). You might never meet them at all. This kind of work is very different from working with people face-to-face and setting times to meet. The designer can get your website online faster, which is good for you. So, it's important for the web designer to know everything about you. If they have to wait a week or so for your website content, you will be put on the back burner.
Do ask a few web designers for quotes before you choose one. After looking at a few websites, find a few that you like and ask them for a quote. Tell them you want a website and tell them a little about your business. Also tell them how many pages your site will need and what other services you will need from them. Ask them to send you a price that includes everything. Keep in mind that this is just a quote, and if you want any extra services, there will be an extra cost, but the designer will usually let you know ahead of time.
Plan to keep your website current. Customers will keep coming back to your site if you keep it up to date so they can find out what's going on with your business or about new deals or sales. It also shows your customers that you care about keeping them up-to-date and that you appreciate their business. Having a website is helpful because it's easy to change and doesn't cost much. Most of the time, a company that makes websites will have special packages for updates. Find a designer who can also do updates, and when your site is done, talk to them about a schedule for updates and how to keep your site looking new.
Find a designer who works with small businesses a lot. Small design firms understand what a small business needs and are more likely to answer your questions in a more personal way. A big design firm might have 5 people working on your website, and not all of them might have gotten the email that told them what you want. In contrast, a small design firm would have only one person working on your site, and you would be able to talk to that person directly.
This guide on how to start a website for a small business is only the tip of the iceberg. The best thing is to always know what you will get in exchange for your money. Make sure that your website is like an investment and that you will actually get something back from it. Don't be afraid to ask questions, either. Most designers will have no trouble answering most of your questions.
