Web Site Planning - Time to Take your Business to the Web
What Kind of Website does your Business Need?
Have you been putting off developing your site? With so many options, confusing trends, design and technical issues I really can't blame you.
But you can and should get your plans going now. Your business can't afford to keep ignoring the world of the web. And it's easier than you think. Are you ready for some advice that will help you create an effective plan? Even if you have a Web site and aren't getting the results you want from it, this advice can help you too. Read on and discover real information that you can use to make your business grow.
So what does it take to get started? A good first step would be to spend some time reviewing your competitor’s sites. Write down what you like and dislike about them. Bookmark other pages that appeal to you and use them as creative jumping off points.
To help you get started on designing a new or redesigning your site, I have put together a handy printable design worksheet
What Kind of Information are your Customers Looking For?
Informational:
This could be an online marketing brochure or branding tool that invites visitors to learn about the company and its offerings. It's a good choice when you expect customers to call or visit after researching online.
Educational sites also fall under the information category. They can take many different forms, such as a college site used for providing class schedules or campus information. Full blown online interactive courses complete with testing are another option for educational sites.
E-commerce:
These sites sell products or services online and some are even supported by brick-and-mortar shops. Something to consider with planning an e-commerce site is do you need a fully functioning online store or is your goal more focused on bringing people to your office or store location?
E-commerce websites can be as simple as selling a single item. More complex examples are sites that sell many products in a variety of categories.
Many e-commerce sites are dynamically data-driven, meaning they have a database that stores all the product information. Data-driven pages pull this information directly from the database. Database information can even be managed online when changes or additions are needed.
Relationship builders:
The web can be a great tool for building relationships with customers. By providing valuable data or expertise, your can encourage involvement and communication. Requesting and capturing visitor information is an important element in building relationships with customers. You might consider offering educational or time-sensitive information that help promote repeat visits.
Designing and Planning Tips
Once you have defined what type of site is needed and how the information will be presented, the next step will be to start planning the actual design and site structure. Here are a few tips to help guide you during this phase.
Navigation should be kept consistent through-out:
Your visitors should be able to find what they looking for, quickly and easily. If you provide alternative area specific navigation, make sure that you maintain a main site navigation on every page. Navigation should be clear and easy to follow. For example, group together links to pages on certain topics.
Graphics and page styles should be consistent as well:
Avoid using different logos or page banners. Pick a color scheme and stick with it. Don't change colors on every page. Maintain page titles, links, backgrounds, and fonts with a similar style.
Textual content should be readable:
Select a background that's easy on the eyes and contrasts well with your text. Avoid harsh colors and busy backgrounds.
Make your pages easy to read:
It can be difficult to read a web page that contains long paragraphs. Add a horizontal rule or use tables to add some white space to your page.
Bells and whistles should be used sparingly:
Use animation sparingly - only to draw attention to something important on your page. Some effects are not supported by all browsers. Test to be sure your visitors are seeing the effects the way you intended.
Taking your business to the internet
First of all you need to register your domain name. Start by selecting a few keywords that best describe your business. Once you have a few keywords written down you can begin to search for available domain names that match your criteria. NameBoy Domain Search has an excellent online tool that will take your keywords and turn them into domain names. Just type in one to three keywords that you think best describes your business or personal Web site.
Next, you need a hosting service that will grow with your business. Look for hosting solutions that provide a wide range of features, lots of disk space, and reasonable rates. Don't forget to look for easily accessible customer phone and/or online chat support available 24 hour a day, 7 days a week. Many hosting services have poor customer service, so look for free trails or money back guarantees so you can evaluate their services risk free.
Content provided by Altered Impressions - making websites that work!
