Q. Hey, Cathy: I'm just setting up a website. What should I do?
A. First, don't call the web designer yet! Write out a detailed summary of your ideal client, if you haven't already done so. Get very clear on what benefits you will offer and how you will stand out from the crowd. Before you spend days and weeks refining your copy, test your ideas on real people -- as close to your ideal client as possible. Study your competition to see what works -- and to avoid creating a "me-too" site that gets lost in the crowd.
Most important, get some confirmation that a market exists for your product. Do people actually use this product or service? Do they pay or expect freebies? Do they have a low-price mindset? Do they mind on the web? If you can't answer yes to all these questions, identify resources who can help.
If you are starting a brand-new business with a website, start small. Very small. Don't put a lot of money into your first website. If you want create a professional image, hire a designer, but keep costs down by setting up only a few pages. Your needs will change as your business grows.
Your site needs three basic sections.
(a) What the site is about. I recommend writing two or three sentences for your home page, enough for visitors to decide if they want to hang around.
(b) Who you are. When you're the product, include an "about you" page. I recommend a narrative format to hold readers' interest.
"Griselda began life in a cave somewhere in deepest Africa. After being abducted at age seven, she was taken to the US and... "
Be sure to include links to pages that detail your achievements. This is no time for modesty! List degrees, publications and certificates.
You may turn off some potential clients: some will be put off by too many or too few credentials, or they may have been burned by someone with a similar background. Better to lose them up front, I say.
(c) What you offer for sale. You need a page that describes your products and services in mouth-watering detail. You may include prices and a link to your shopping cart.
Some experienced web business owners choose to omit prices. They send price sheets to people who express interest in their services.
That's a judgment call, too. They hope to hook clients who are so enthused by the website they'll pay more. On the downside, some folks won't even ask -- they expect the prices to be a lot higher.
And you may include options: articles and downloadable ebooks, to allow your web visitors to learn more about you. Write in lively, journalistic, self-help style. Focus on topics that attract your clients' interest. If you sell fitness products, include tips on exercise.
How will visitors find you? You'll need a comprehensive plan including metatags, content keywords, link swaps and articles.
When will you see results? If you have little or no revenue after three months, experiment with tactics, such as getting your website known, revising your site for better navigtion. After six months, it's time for an overhaul. Investigate options for a professional website review.
I offer one-to-one consultations on career and business strategy.
About The Author
Cathy Goodwin, Ph.D., is an author, speaker and career/business consultant, helping midlife professionals take their First step to a Second Career. http://www.cathygoodwin.com.
"Ten secrets of mastering a major life change" http://www.cathygoodwin.com
Contact: http://www.cathygoodwin.com 505-534-4294
executive chauffeured services Bradford .. Madison to Airport carEven with the steady growth of the World Wide Web,... Read More
I'm one of those people that always wanted a website,... Read More
Yahoo has long offered email, an online calendar, notes, bookmarks,... Read More
You hear a great deal about the Internet these days... Read More
There are millions and millions of websites on the Internet.... Read More
Q1.Why would I need a web site? A1.- Improve my... Read More
Most web sites are more like stage sets than real... Read More
Dan Kennedy once said that if you can't make money... Read More
The process of Web application development is critical to the... Read More
A system development process can follow a number of standard... Read More
Although CSS layouts have been around for years, they haven't... Read More
80% of your Web site is Maintenance!Once your Web site... Read More
The first thing my business consultant (read brother-in-law) asked me,... Read More
What is web accessibility & why is it important?Web accessibility... Read More
Before you start building your site, ask yourself "WHY?". Why... Read More
After years of working with entrepreneurs who developed their first... Read More
Part of the success of most home-based businesses is their... Read More
Better Web Site ROIHow to increase your business profitability by... Read More
Globalize Your WebsiteThe Internet has unlocked a wide array of... Read More
Huge Mistake #1: Creating a Website with Flash -- Did... Read More
In the big, wide online world there are millions of... Read More
People like to get immediate responses to requests. Autoresponders are... Read More
Losing website sales and traffic is sometimes simply a case... Read More
First, an eye opener. Making your fortune through affiliate programs... Read More
Design and layout can make your communication come alive and... Read More
O'Hare Chicago prom limo ..While it may seem like a "quick and easy" task,... Read More
Before you start building your site, ask yourself "WHY?". Why... Read More
You've decided to create a website to market your products... Read More
It amazes me how many people try to build serious... Read More
Wow, we`ve already taken a domain and chosen a web... Read More
Dance is how you pamper your soul and satiate your... Read More
A lot has changed in the way sites are optimized... Read More
If you're fairly new to the Internet scene, you may... Read More
Creating and maintaining an effective presence on the Web has... Read More
Functions and Subroutines in ASP If you read... Read More
When most people build a web site, they think one... Read More
The definition of the phrase "Content Management" depends on what... Read More
If you don't have a web site yet, are thinking... Read More
Most interactive websites nowadays require data to be presented dynamically... Read More
While creating a Web site may seem like... Read More
The Internet is a remarkable publishing medium. With just a... Read More
Below, I have listed 8 simple steps that you can... Read More
Spend time planning your Web site. Before you design a... Read More
Every good Internet business understands the value of conversions versus... Read More
I talk with so many people who have small businesses... Read More
A company must earn and keep trust or sales don't... Read More
Often time I've browsed sites and seen the same thing... Read More
The big thing these days is your ability to capture... Read More
No matter what browser you may want to use, you... Read More
I can't think of any business alive today that couldn't... Read More
Web Development |