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Building a Website: 5 Things You Need to Know
Every business needs an online presence today. How to build a website that will bring in new customers -- and keep them coming back.
Posted 5/ 10 10 at 3:30 PM | 5 Things You Need to Know, Technology, Advertising & Marketing, Sales, Leadership, Starting a Business, Home-based Business, Online Business
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We no longer live in a world where entrepreneurs can stay offline and still be competitive in the marketplace. Every business, no matter how small, must have a professional Internet presence, starting with a well-designed, easy-to-navigate website that communicates its brand and is consistent with other marketing materials. No matter which type of business you own, prospective customers are going to get a very distinct impression of your business based on your online presence. Your website is essentially your online storefront or business card, so you need to ask yourself, "What does my website say about my company?" Want to build a new website or improve the one you already have? Here are five things you need to know.
1
Choose your domain name carefully.
Ideally, you should select your domain name at the same time you are naming your business, because you want it to match your company name exactly -- so people can find you easily online. The experts at IT consulting firm Catalysoft agree that a domain name should be intimately connected to your company's brand. The next best option is a domain name that is related to the key product, service, or benefit you provide. When you follow these rules, your site will be more likely to appear at the top of Web search results, because potential customers will be searching specifically for what you offer. Previously, the three-letter extension after the domain name or "top level domain" was very important, because each type -- ".com," ".org," or ".net" stood for a different entity. Now that the Web has exploded as a business medium, these domain names have essentially become interchangeable and can be used for any purpose.
2
Keep it simple.
One of the biggest mistakes entrepreneurs make when setting up their websites is getting too fancy with design and using large images that slow down loading times and make navigation impossible. Simple navigation and graphics can let more visitors view Web pages and keep them on your site longer because the pages load faster. To simplify your website layout:
- Create the content first, which can often be the most difficult part of creating a website
- Use small-but-striking graphics that can be reused on multiple pages
- Make the navigation of your website easy to understand
- Use the same template to create the layout of each page of your site so you can cut production time and make the site easy to read.
Often, the most simple websites are the most effective. Clever visual design, animation, or other surface features will never impress as much as simple language and to-the-point statements about the benefits the company provides.
3
Pay attention to search engine optimization, or SEO.
SEO is a way of analyzing and creating individual Web pages and entire sites so they can be discovered, analyzed, and indexed by search engines like Google. SEO is critical for small-business websites, because it makes the content of pages more relevant, more attractive, and more easily read by search engines and other indexing software. Paying attention to the keywords your potential customers will use when looking for your company and the services or products you provide is critical to creating the right text for your website. Without SEO, a site can become virtually invisible. Optimizing your site means creating a site map and paying attention to details like title tags, headers, and site description. Improving your search ranking -- whether on your own or with the help of a hired SEO consultant -- should be an ongoing part of your marketing efforts. In today's complex online world, ignoring SEO is like failing to put a sign on your storefront.
4
Design is important, but content is still king.
When setting up a website, the overall appearance is important, of course. People coming to your site will be enticed to stay if the look and feel is appealing -- just as they will be turned off by an unprofessional looking website. However, content is what will get potential customers, clients, and partners to stick around. Once visitors are convinced to stay, the content of your site, and particularly the copy, needs to keep their attention. It has to be relevant and answer questions they have. Copy on the site has to lure visitors to your marketing message and products, and give them "calls to action" that will engage them.
5
Your site should reflect your company's personality.
Small businesses are not faceless corporations -- and that's a big advantage they have in the marketplace. Your website should convey your company's unique story, without generic business jargon and stock photos. Try using straightforward language, starting a company blog, and including real photos of your company and staff, to help enhance your online persona. You want to keep it professional, but authenticity resonates with customers, and anything you can do to spread that is bound to be good for the bottom line. Creating Facebook, Twitter, and other social media accounts, and including links and widgets on your own website, can also help create a personal, one-on-one connection with customers.
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Comments (Page 1 of 1)
i have started a new security guard company thats on the cutting edge of private and buisness protection technology where we use monitoring sattilites to protect locations in a proactive manner before trouble reaches the front door of your location and have the ability to track and follow offending vehicles from the sky afterwards 24/7 365 days/year for $5.00/day introprice for all homes and buisnesses nationwide the company name is midwest security services @ph no#1-517-977-4364 or at www.hstrial-midwestsecuri1.homestead.com and once again i thank you for your time and patronage.robert
If you are selling online and need Zen Cart or something similar, youc can buy premade site on eBay (search Zen Cart) and have it uploaded to a hosting solution of your choice (I highly recommend HostGator.Com). Then go to Scriptlance and hire someone to customize it for you according to your design needs. If it is a simple business card site with no product selling, you can go straight to Scriptlance and hire someone to build it pretty inexpensively.
i'm in the plumbing business. new construction mainly. i need a website and purchased the domain name. what is the best way to get help developing a website? you know, templetes or help starting with out templetes. where do i start? HELP!...lol
For anyone that needs help, advise or (a site built) we have been primarily creating hotel sites but will do almost any site. We also work with Homestaed as well for the first commentor. www.HotelSiteDesign.com
I will start with godaddy.com
Robert,
#1 to get picked up on the search engines. In the title on sitebuilder under page properties should be something like - Midwest Security Systems Providing Security Systems Nationwide" - "Home" will not allow you to be picked up. I know your still working on it. If you need any assistance please contact me at jhorton185@aol.com - www.HotelSiteDesign.com
heh jeremy im interested could you give me a service cost analisys on restructuring the web page to recieve more customers that wont break the wallet bobmaccian6595@yahoo.com
I incorporated my chocolate company 2 years ago after making chocolates for 15 years and will be looking on the site for suggestions and general information to become more informed to build my business.
We are able, capable, creative and "pretty darned good" at building "Mom & Pop" to mid-sized business websites at an EXTREMELY LOW COST. Low overhead from our home office/studio. Visit us and "drop off" (e-mail) your ideas and website needs at Biehler-PoeEnterprieses.com TODAY!
I just used cut & paste to copy your site into my browser: Biehler-PoeEnterprieses.com.
This yielded a "can't find site" error message.
I guess one rule for websites is: When you advertise, get your site name spelled right!
Hi Rick and Donna,
I feel your pain! :) I just had my website built by Alex Rivera for a low cost and he's a great guy who really does what you ask him to do. He can help you! :) Here is his email address: admin@stillaftermath.com.
If you want to see the one he just built for me it's: http://centerforleadershipcoaching.com/
Best of luck!
angie
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If you are looking for great website with quick result get in touch with Jerry @ 516-465-9136 they have domne a great job for us. Look at our site thast almost done www.onlinetshirtsdesign.net also they have develop a app to add your website in facebook with very little cost to you. Look what they are doing for us. facebook website http://apps.facebook.com/shirtstore/?ref=appd_my_recent&fa=0&session=%7B%22session_key%22%3A%222.JuWZ0J5zql2fN3zl97dMJA__.3600.1273593600-542372335%22%2C%22uid%22%3A542372335%2C%22expires%22%3A1273593600%2C%22secret%22%3A%22xDg7WDy_uTv4Fd9ezbjXUw__%22%2C%22sig%22%3A%22449b315ad8f40fae0d603594c07e2de4%22%7D&auth_token=e6e1fd0a32082f40a4a670d7e9c5844d
be very careful when choosing a web designer as some are very amateur and will take your money and you end up with a crappy web site, and you have to spend more money down the road.. make sure he/she has a couple of years under their belt and their portfolio is very professional and looks legit.. as a designer for 7 years I know what I'm talking about.
I'm looking for someone to build me a site, i'm working with a very low budget. please contact me @ vspears936@aol.com
I'm looking for someone to build me a site, i'm working with a very low budget. please contact me at jtitalktrash@aol.com
I need customers to be able to pay on line. (paypal)
Thanks
David
Is there any place that will walk me through setting up a web-site?
I want to create my own web-site, because I don't have any funds to have one created for me. Plus I think it will be fun.