Your first website... 5 Tips for Success

You've decided you've waited long enough. Your kids (and maybe grandkids) have coached you through email and now it's time to take the next step and take your business online. Whether you plan on selling products from your online site or you want to drive traffic to your retail store or generate more calls for your service business, there are a few guidelines to follow before you get started. Before you run out and hire a web designer, start with the basics. The most important component of any business and/or website is:

1. Branding--The most successful businesses set themselves apart from the competition; starting with an identifying signature or logo. Thousands of dollars go into researching everything from target market buying habits to color preferences. Once collected, that information is sent to the graphic design team to create a logo that best represents the business or product.

As a small business, it is critical that you take a similar approach. Although budget prohibits market research, you can find a good marketing agency or graphic designer that can help you with this all important first step. Your logo communicates visually who you are and what you represent. Ask yourself: Does your current logo (business card) correctly identify your unique position, or did you stumble down to the local print shop and throw something together based purely on getting the cheapest price?

If budget dictated your choice and the result says nothing about what your business is all about, then do yourself a favor and have it redone. This is especially critical when it comes to your website. Many logos or trademarks do not translate well for the web, so the least you will want to do is have it revised.

So many businesses put up a website with either no logo or a very bad one. On the web, you rarely get a second chance to impress a customer. They will give you approximately 10 seconds and move on. Don't let that happen to you! When having a logo designed, be sure to tell your graphic designer you're going to invest in a website so that he or she can take that into consideration when designing and provide you with the necessary artwork for your web designer.

2. Your website pages-- Designing your first website requires some homework. Sit down and think about what you want to say and what images can help convey your message. Some typical website pages are as follows:

• Home (Overview)
• About Us (Make it personal--talk about yourself, why you do what you do, credentials, etc.)
• Services (Services you provide and what makes you different.)
• Products (Types and varieties of products, highlighting quality, price, etc.)
• Testimonials (Have your satisfied customers give you feedback you can use.)
• FAQ's (Frequently Asked Questions)
• Gallery (Picture of products, etc.)
• Links (Community or other services that may be of interest to your customers.)
• Guarantees or Warranties
• Articles (Informational articles about safety issues, maintenance, i.e. tips, latest technology, trends, etc.)
• Contact Us (This can be a form if you want them to contact you via email, location of your store with map, address, phone numbers, hours of operation, etc.)

3. Your customer's perspective--When you're thinking about your website, put yourself in your customer's shoes. They want to buy products and services from people they trust. Make it easy for them to do that by giving them information that will entice them to either email, call or visit your store.

4. Use the "K.I.S.S." method--Which stands for "Keep It Simple Stupid." In other words, don't overwhelm them. Keep your site clean (no flashing banners) or long bodies of text on the home page.

5. Marketing your site-- Once your site is built and available for the world, you have to let your potential customer's know. Use your web address on ALL of your marketing materials. From your business cards, invoices, any advertisements you do, yellow pages, etc. If your site is built by Creative Webs, we automatically submit to the major search engines for you. But BE PATIENT. Just because you are submitted doesn't mean you'll show up in the search engines immediately. It can take several weeks and sometimes months. In the meantime, you may want to explore other options such as "Pay Per Click" ads or other online marketing efforts anything that might help you get your site noticed more quickly. For more business and website tips, read our online newsletter. Click here to visit our newsletter section.

At Creative Webs, our business is web design. Our professional staff will work with you to create a website designed for your particular business. From logo, to copywriting, to site design and even technical assistance, we will hold your hand every step of the way. We want you to be happy and have a website you're proud of and more importantly, your customers use! Our affordable rates allow you to get online without breaking the bank. So why not call us and get started today?

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