Business Websites – A Smart Business Move

Firstly, what is a website?

A website is a collection of files with a web address (URL) and can be accessed through a browser on a computer connected to the internet. These files can include text, graphics, images video and audio. There is usually a home page then any number of other pages linked to each other. The World Wide Web is a huge collection of web sites all hosted on computers called web servers all over the world.

In this day and age it is almost essential for a business to get involved with web marketing and have a website. Most customers and potential customers expect your business to be on the web. Whether you use your website as a simple one page site with your contact details or as a marketing tool to sell goods and services online, a web presence is a smart business move.

What do you need to build a website?

• Domain name
• Website Hosting account
• Web site design

Optional:

• Contact/Enquiry forms/Email address
• Shopping Cart (if selling products)/Payment Processor (to take payment of goods)

What are the different types of websites?

• One page brochure sites which simply provides contact details
• Sales page websites usually one or two pages selling a product
• Multiple page website with information and graphics and a contact page
• Multiple page website with products, a shopping cart, database and other custom developments

What is the purpose of a website?

The purpose of your website is whatever you wish it to be. It may simply be an online brochure where people can find your contact details. It may be a place for people to get further information about your products or services saving you and your staff time answering offline inquiries. If you are using it as a marketing tool then its purpose will be to attract customers, sell your products and services and increase your profits.

What should you put on my website?

1. Content – information about your business, products or services
2. Pictures – pictures relevant to your business and website content
3. Contact Form – a method for people to contact you via the internet (saves time on phone calls and staff time)

NEXT: Part 4b How to Build a Website

Part 4b How to Build a Website

The whole process of building a website should be easy, affordable and hassle free. Until recently creating a website for yourself was not an option unless you had the time to study to be a web designer, learn web graphics and the HTML language required to build a website.

Part 4c Small Business Web Development

Websites can cost any where from $100 to many thousands of dollars depending what you want and need. Some web design companies then charge a monthly fee to maintain your website plus a monthly hosting fee.

Part 5 About Search Engines

Part 5a What are Search Engines?

The purpose of your website is to find new customers and increase profits so you need to answer the question: What are Search Engines? They are very important to your Small Business marketing.