The popular search engine Google indexes over 8 billion websites. Is one of them yours, or is your website just floating around in cyberspace and you're hoping your customers will just find you? Is your website a benefit to your organization or company? Is it just an expensive showpiece or is it of true value?
These are some of the many questions that can be asked when launching a new website. With so many different websites being published (some amazing, awful and otherwise), it would be safe to assume that most current business plans underway include the utilization of a website, and that most active companies are utilizing the Internet to some degree. If you are interested in publishing a website, or already have, here are some key elements that may help towards its success:
1. Domain Registration: Be sure to register your domain name (www.yourdomain.com) yourself or have it done within your organization, as opposed to letting a third party register your name. Without control of your domain name registration, you can expect to run into some unnecessary delays if the third party becomes unavailable, which is surprisingly common. You also run the risk of having the registration setup incorrectly or even losing the domain. Purchasing a domain is very easy and available at less than $10 a year, so it is a very inexpensive yet potentially valuable asset.
2. Hosting: After domain registration is complete, you will be in control of where to host your website. Your website will be hosted on an Internet server, a computer that will house your website files and process any functionality such as shopping carts, email, databases, etc. Shop around for hosting options, they vary from inexpensive do-it-yourself options, to managed hosting plans, to exorbitantly expensive plans that are unnecessary. What you need to accomplish with your website will determine what your hosting needs are. I have seen small, compact sites be very effective, so beware of purchasing 500MB of hosting when you may only need 10MB.
3. Design and Development: When it comes to website design, less can often be more. Your website should load quickly and yet be visually stimulating. Try to maintain a consistency of look with any pre-existing marketing material you have in place. Avoid bombarding your visitors with tons of miscellaneous information and links, keep your content precise and to the point, and be sure all of your links work properly and that information is presented in an organized manner. Further development can allow you to take online orders, process payments, store customer info in a database, etc. The type of development you need will depend on what your company wants to accomplish with the website. The bottom line is that even a simple website should be beneficial to your organization when well designed.
4. Caution: Keep in mind that anyone, anywhere in the world, can access your website, so take caution with what you make public. The Internet offers wonders of information exchange, but sadly that can sometimes work against us, depending on who accesses the information and for what reasons. One very bizarre and extremely sad case was the young pregnant mother that was murdered and her baby stolen, after her killer saw a picture of the pregnant woman on the Internet (selling dogs) and then setup a meeting pretending to have an interest in a dog. Focus on publishing informative content related to your products and services only, and keep personal or sensitive information private as much as possible.
5. Marketing: Once your website is designed and hosted you will be ready for visitors, but how are you going to get them to visit your site? Make sure a major search engine indexes your website. If the website is coded correctly, this will be automatic but may take a few weeks. Be sure your website address appears on all of your marketing material, and direct customers to your website for specific reasons, ie. coupons, specials, additional info, etc. Also, explore the many online marketing opportunities as well as traditional print ads.
6. Maintenance: Be sure to pay all domain registration and hosting fees on time. If you would like to be able to update and edit your website yourself, some professional website designers may offer this service. You may be surprised how easily it can be done and being able to do self-maintenance allows you to get the most out of your website.
Good luck and have fun publishing!
Michael Faeth is the owner of website and print design shop GLOBI Worldwide. Our clients include local and national companies, both large and small. For more information and to see our portfolio, contact http://www.globi.us or 559.355.3619. Special thanks to Suzanne Crosina-Sahm for editing the article.
executive chauffeured services Bradford .. Madison to Airport carSo you've decided to start an online work at home... Read More
A lot of people these days are interested in getting... Read More
When building a relationship, listening is more important than talking.A... Read More
Today it seems everyone is jumping on the entrepreneur bandwagon,... Read More
For years now I've been looking to start my own... Read More
Have you ever thought the secret behind the success of... Read More
Before you start building your site, ask yourself "WHY?". Why... Read More
Cost Effective Advertising. Online selling. Increased geopgraphic range. Wider... Read More
I had a client say something to me the other... Read More
See how you can create graphic effects on text with... Read More
I've heard several prominent web marketers mention in their classes... Read More
Your web site will be your window to the world.... Read More
Starting an internet business can be confusing to non-veterans. The... Read More
Think up a name and check if yourname.com is available.... Read More
Your content is what gets you in search engines, speaks... Read More
Setting up a website is the very first step of... Read More
Your business website is a critical aspect of being able... Read More
--------------------------------Why Should You Create a website?--------------------------------A. What do you want... Read More
I recently received an unsolicited e-mail from some company offering... Read More
Absolutely everything stems from the purpose of your website -... Read More
Creating and maintaining an effective presence on the Web has... Read More
In the region where my company is located, South Bend,... Read More
In about the Time it takes to Watch a Reality... Read More
To the starting internet entrepreneur, there is nothing more discouraging... Read More
Although there are significant differences among the various types of... Read More
O'Hare Chicago prom limo ..If you are looking for creating your online presence you... Read More
Developing a website with content that entices visitors to return... Read More
I recently helped my mom to launch a website (www.mom2me.com)... Read More
The Internet car buyer is an elusive animal. Trying to... Read More
Today it seems everyone is jumping on the entrepreneur bandwagon,... Read More
Designing and creating your own website does not have to... Read More
An accessible Web site is easily approached, easily understood, and... Read More
There's been widespread speculation about the new legislation being introduced... Read More
If you're an up and coming graphic/web designer just out... Read More
Most interactive websites nowadays require data to be presented dynamically... Read More
Failure, just like success, is measured differently by each and... Read More
Right after the thought, "I need a website," people usually... Read More
With search engines putting a damper on direct reciprocal links,... Read More
Research reveals three important facts:1) The Internet is one of... Read More
1. SiteSpinner V2 - On Sale www.deprice.com/sitespinner.htmSiteSpinner is a user-friendly... Read More
August 8 2005, Macromedia announced a release of Studio 8.... Read More
Your site is fast and getting traffic, but conversion rates... Read More
What is the point of having a website, you may... Read More
Although CSS layouts have been around for years, they haven't... Read More
Thinking about starting up a business? The web is the... Read More
Before you jump into spending coutnless hours on designing and... Read More
Starting an internet business can be confusing to non-veterans. The... Read More
You don't believe in astrology but you check your horoscope... Read More
Everywhere you look these days, people are telling you that... Read More
In this day and age most businesses consider having their... Read More
Web Development |