| Why does a small business need a website? Today, | | | | place on the web, there are many off-the-shelf, |
| most businesses need an online presence as much as | | | | even free, products and services that may be all you |
| they need a phone or mailbox. Clients simply expect | | | | need.o If you are going to be selling products online |
| you to have one. For some small businesses, a | | | | and need to set up an e-commerce site, there are |
| website is the primary selling tool, and for others it is | | | | many more complex products and services.o If your |
| little more than a directory listing with contact | | | | site is going to be the entire basis of your online |
| information. From simple to complex, websites have | | | | business, then developing it may involve a great deal |
| become a requirement for doing business. | | | | of time and resources to create and launch. No |
| Most people begin their search for a product online | | | | matter what your needs, it is a good idea to have a |
| using a search engine like Google, Yahoo, MSN, or | | | | logo that can be recognized on your web site and all |
| Dogpile (which searches several search engines at | | | | your printed materials. |
| once). Having a website that is designed to be an | | | | Selecting a domain name: |
| effective Internet marketing tool, can be very | | | | A domain name, sometimes called an URL, is the |
| valuable for small businesses. Without the right web | | | | "web address" string of letters that will serve as a |
| site, people may not be able to find your business. | | | | means for people to find your website. Often the |
| Should you hire a graphic designer or do it yourself? | | | | cost of getting a domain name or web hosting |
| Yourself: | | | | service is your responsibility, separate from your |
| Pros: You'll save money by doing it yourself, and you'll | | | | design fee. You can register your desired address |
| have complete control over the look and feel of the | | | | easily through services called "domain registrars." |
| site. If you have a working knowledge of basic web | | | | Costs for registering a domain name can be just a |
| design there are free tools that will allow you to | | | | few dollars per year if you use a service like |
| create a website on your own. | | | | GoDaddy.com, or much more if you purchase the |
| Cons: If you don't know much about computers and | | | | name from someone who already controls it. Coming |
| or web design it could take a while to learn enough | | | | up with a web address that has not be registered |
| to get your site up and running. Also, you will have to | | | | can be a challenge. Many of the obvious and short |
| spend even more time dedicated to making any | | | | words and letter combinations have already been |
| updates and changes in the future. | | | | registered. However, with a little creativity, you can |
| A Graphic Designer: | | | | still come up with an address that will be appropriate |
| Pros: You will get a clean well designed web page in a | | | | for your business. |
| short amount of time if you hire a web designer. | | | | Choosing a web hosting service: |
| Also, the designer can take care of any changes and | | | | Often, the same company you use for Internet |
| updates in the future. Plus, it will give you more time | | | | access will provide a website hosting plan as part of |
| to devote to actually running your business. | | | | the service. A website can utilize design templates |
| Cons: You may not always have as much control | | | | that are available from your web hosting service or |
| over the outcome of your site, and very busy | | | | you can request that your web designer stay away |
| designers may take a while to get your site | | | | from common templates, but that will often cost you |
| completed. | | | | more money. |
| One way to begin considering your options is to | | | | Hopefully, this has pointed you in the right direction - |
| decide if your needs are simple or complex:o If your | | | | small businesses really need to have a website, |
| business is not web-based and you merely want a | | | | whether it's simple of complicated. |