Have you just decided to start a business online ?
If so you will soon realise that having a website is number one on your list, you will then want to join affiliate programs.
Anyone in the business world knows that when someone asks, “What’s your website address?” you better have a URL to give them. They don’t want to hear “I don’t have one yet” or “I’m working on it”. Having an established, professional looking website, always scores credibility points for the business owner.
Of utmost importance though: it is far better to not have a website than to have a nonprofessional, cheesy looking site. You will do much more damage to your business by portraying your company in a less than top-notch light.
If you don’t have the knowledge, skills or abilities to produce an outstanding design yourself then hire a professional web designer. Web designers aren’t cheap, but that’s no reason to cut corners. Rework your budget or possibly try to barter for all or part of a website.
You can save yourself time and money if you have they copy written. Provide your web designer with the text and the layout of how you want it to look. Offer color schemes. Send links of other sites that you admire. You, of course, never copy someone else’s site, but by giving your designer an idea for the theme you’d like to have, the process will go much quicker.
The more work you can you do up front yourself, the easier it will be on your pocket book. Many designers work by the hour. If you want to have lots of links in your website, spell that out clearly. Ask your designer if you should submit your text and ideas in a Word document or if she’d prefer it some other way. You gather and forward the photos you want to use. Make sure you are authorized to use them. Web designers are not mind readers. Most will do as many edits as you like, however you will be charged for each time they rework it.
There are many DIY web design companies out there. They advertise that you can have your website up in an hour. Well of course you can. And there are canned templates that you can use. Most are very user friendly. However, how professional will it look? Do it yourself web templates are great for the novice who wants to put up a personal or hobby site. But if it’s your business, the one you’re trying to make profitable, image is everything. Don’t cut corners on this area.
Or you can do what I did and search the web for website tutorials, print them out and take your time as you follow instructions and find how easy it really is.
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