Small Business Web Development

Get it Right the First Time

• Clear, concise, relevant content
• Simple, consistent page design throughout the site
• Simple navigation and user-friendliness
• Clear relevant images (the less images the better as the site loads faster)
• Content that makes an instant impression

I have been working on the Internet for a number of years and my bias is toward sites that are clean, clear and concise. Websites with too much rambling content, flashy annoying graphics and are difficult to navigate are not open in my browser for long. An affordable small business website doesn’t need to be flashy to get your customer’s attention.

Research shows that most people do not read web pages word for word; they scan. Credibility is very important to web users and if your site is high quality, well written and easy to navigate you have a much better chance of holding your visitors attention. If you can hold their attention and win their trust then you have a new customer.

What sort of results can I expect from my website?

If your website is only one page with your contact details then it is unlikely to receive traffic from the search engines. It will however serve the purpose of being a place online that you can send your clients to through your print advertising.

If you are relying on traffic from the search engines to increase your customer base then you need to have your website built accordingly. Search Engine Optimization is a term you will find out about in Part 5. It involves things such as designing your site around popular keywords to ensure you rank high enough in the search engines for your prospective customers to find you.

What are Keywords?

There are many other strategies which will be part of your Small Business Marketing Plan that you can implement to make sure you get the results you need from this important investment in your business.


How much do websites cost?

It depends on how many pages you need, whether you will update the content yourself, whether the site uses a database to store information and what other functions your site may require. 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 for website maintenance and optimization. And your website hosting is normally a monthly or yearly fee which can vary considerably.

Obviously if you build and maintain the site yourself then it will be cheaper but you must consider the time you are putting in as well; time is money after all.

More Information about Website Costs

Are free websites and hosting alright? Do they do the job?

The question to be asked here is can you afford the risk. Free websites are really only suitable for personal use. The domain name looks unprofessional for a start. Free web hosts have been know to go out of business and they are not suitable for small business websites. You cannot afford to look unprofessional or upset your customers with a website that doesn’t function properly.

The biggest problem with free website hosting is the “down” time when your site is not accessible on the internet. Bottom line: you lose customers. Your business is worth the small investment into a reliable website and hosting company. This investment will pay you back in increased sales and satisfied customers into the future.

Next: Part 5a What are 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.

Part 5b What is Website Traffic?

Website traffic and a first page ranking with Google or Yahoo is worth a lot to your business. It is not an easy task and it is best to build your website from scratch with the search engines in mind.