How do I build my site?

Planning

Before building your site, you must clearly define the objectives of your site and determine your goals. Do you want your site to be purely informational or do you want to sell products online?

These types of goals determine the strategic direction your company will take and the different business models available to you. You should identify the different areas your customers would like to see on your site and tailor it to offer that type of information.

Tip: It's always a good idea to visit your competitors' Web sites in order to see what they are offering and to ensure that your site is not lacking important information or promotions. You can also use these sites to compare the presentation and content, and improve on it with your site.

Do I outsource or do it myself?

Outsourcing Web site design:

Employing Web designers to create your Web site is the easiest but most expensive option. If you have a complicated site, or limited resources and time, outsourcing your Web design might be the best choice for you. Normally, you will consult with the designers about the layout, content and look and feel and will create a design that matches your specifications. Consulting a Web designer is the best way to get a customized look and feel for your site and alleviate time and resource pressures.

Tip: When outsourcing your development projects to Web designers, it is important to ensure that once the site is developed and launched that you will be able to maintain and add information and functionality to the site.

Designing your own web site:

Many people elect to design their Web sites with their own tools, thereby saving a significant amount of money. There are many affordable Web design software packages on the market, such as Microsoft® FrontPage®, Macromedia Dreamweaver and Adobe GoLive®, which are all popular and very user-friendly. These packages make Web design easy, enabling the most novice designer to create a site that has all the required content and graphics.

Don't know HTML? Never fear!

One of the most common misconceptions in Web design is that you must know HTML to create the Web site you want! You don't! There are Web-based site-building tools on the market that enable you to build professional looking Web sites in a matter of clicks. Using hundreds of templates, these tools enable you to choose the color, layout and design of your pages, and the software generates the Web site for you! However, for Web sites that require more customized designs, these templates do have some limitations and restrictions.

By creating a Web site internally, you realize increased flexibility, control and overall cost savings. You will also not be dependent on someone else to develop your vision and have to abide by his or her timeline.

It's all about what you say:

The key elements of a successful Web site include clear but catchy content and presentation. Quality content will ensure visitor interest in your products and services while a concise but appealing presentation will enable your customers to fully understand the intricacies of your business.

Determining what content you want to offer on your site is the most challenging part of developing a Web site. You must provide easy access to your services in a very clear and concise manner but also offer navigation that is intuitive and usable. Your Home page, or front page, should provide access to all areas of the site, including promotions, product information, news, etc. This page must be easy to navigate and essentially act as a portal to the rest of your site. The Products and Services section will be the main information piece of your site, and will include all the details of each product or service you offer. Keep in mind that you will need to update this area frequently if there are changes to your offerings. Also make sure that your customers can access ALL information pertaining to these products…customers will not purchase anything without all relevant information. Don't be ambiguous!

Finally, an About Us section is important because it offers the customer information about your business and the people and resources behind it. This section usually includes information such as management profiles, company history, company mission and investor relations.

Next Steps:

4. Market your site
5. Add functionality/Upgrade

Previous Steps:

1. Register Your Domain Name
2. Find a Hosting Company