This is the second article I have written about how to plan a website. You can find part 1 at http://keepitsimplewebsites.com/planawebsite.cfm or type in Regina Stevens in the Author Name box at http://goarticles.com.
This article is for people who may be thinking about getting a website for their business, but have not done any research to find out if they need one. Below are some ideas to think about before deciding on getting a website:
1) Think long-term before you build or have someone build you a website, you may not need one
2) Keep in mind that if you are selling anything online, you must make plans on how to market your business offline
3) Don't expect your web designer/developer to operate and/or market your product or service for you
4) Think about who will do website maintenance and how often
Think long-term before you build or have someone build you a website, you may not need one
Just because "everyone else" has a website does not necessarily mean that you need one. In order to find out if you need a website ask yourself a few questions:
1) Will I save money selling my product or service online?
2) Will the shipping fee be higher than my product or service fee?
3) Will people buy this type of product or service online?
4) Am I willing to invest time in making my business work online?
Of course there are many more questions to ask yourself, but the above questions should get you started in making decisions on whether or not you actually need a website.
If you feel that your product or service will indeed sell online, go for it! There are millions of potential customers online! The good thing about the Internet is that you can sell your products or services globally.
Keep in mind that if you are selling products, you must make plans on how to market your business offline
Now, although the Internet is great for maximum exposure of your product or service, you should work on selling your product or service offline in your local area. Sit back and think about a few things you could do. The first thing would be to add your website address to all of your advertisements. Below is a brief list of some ways to advertise:
1) website address on billboards, business cards, flyers, stationary, balloons, pens, pencils
2) advertise on radio and television (if you have the budget)
3) write press releases
4) network with businesses, friends, and relatives
5) join a tradebank association in your area (bartering services)
Don't expect your web designer/developer to operate and/or market your product or service for you
It is tempting to expect your web designer/developer to operate your business and send customers to you, but in reality you should not expect this at all unless they offer it to you. Most of the time, the designer is there to design and the developer is there for the functionality of your website. There are designers and developers who will help you out, but don't expect them to - you need someone who specializes in online marketing.
Think about who will do the maintenance on your website and how often
You must know who will manage your website after it's completed. If you won't be the one to manage it, ask your designer/developer if they will do the maintenance for you. Be sure to ask the fee, how often you will have to pay the fee, and what is included in the fee. If you have a brochure-type website with just contact information, I don't suggest purchasing a maintenance contract. If you have something like a newsletter, or e-commerce site, then it would be worth it to purchase a maintenance contract.
In a nutshell, you need to plan ahead before you jump into an online venture. It can save a lot of frustration and worry if you do your homework first.
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About the Author
Regina Stevens is the owner of Keep It Simple Websites (http://keepitsimplewebsites). She writes computer articles for new computer and internet users.