Introduction
WEBSITE DESIGN TIPS
MARKETING IDEAS (ATTRACTING VISITORS)
KEEPING VISITORS
EVERY small or home-based business should consider a website. There are certainly some businesses where a website offers nothing of value but for the vast majority a website can be a very effective sales channel and marketing tool. However, there are some "rules" to follow to ensure the success of your website. This article will list the steps we have taken that have resulted in a successful website.
Decide if you are going to develop your own website or contract with a developer. If the latter, search the web for possible candidates. If you are doing it yourself, visit a bookstore or search the web and pick up one of the many excellent references on Web Publishing and html.
If you don't have the time, hire someone and ensure they have the required expertise. A child can write html code. Designing an effective website takes an expert.
Apply for a domain name. (You can do it yourself over the internet via the Internic, http://www.rs.internic.net, or have your ISP do it for you. Think up three names ... it is likely you will not get your first choice. Take your time ... this domain name becomes your identifier!
Carefully outline and organize the material you want to place on the web. Don't do it "on the fly."
Decide on the "look" of your pages. Browse the web for ideas.
Your website MUST provide a service as well as present your product or service that you are selling. In our case, we provide useful small business related information (tax advice, start-up and money saving tips, etc). We then gently steer the visitor to the books we are selling.
Your website must be EASY to use. The design of the site must make it easy for the user to navigate and not get lost. A confused visitor will simply leave.
Your website will go nowhere without a sustained marketing effort. See below for what has been successful for us.
Dr. Robert Sullivan
www.isquare.comBrought to you by: World Wide Information Outlet - http://certificate.net/wwio/, your source of FREEWare Content online.
This article is an excerpt from "The Small Business Start-Up Guide" by Robert Sullivan, which is available in many libraries and bookstores or may be purchased from the publisher, Information International, Box 579, Great Falls, VA 22066, at $16.95 plus $3.50s/h. 800 375 8439. Visit "The Small Business Advisor" at http://www.isquare.com