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BY
BILLY ZACK
Chances are most business owners today have thought about
putting their business on the Internet. Here are seven steps
(made easy) to owning and successfully operating a business
website:
Step
one: Choose a domain name for your web site. A domain name
is the short simple address of your web site. It's like
forwarding your mail. For example my business domain name
is gowebdesign.com which points to the real address which
is http://www.hypermart.net/gowebdesign/index.html. All
domain names are assigned by networksolutions.com and cost
$70 for the first two years and $35 a year thereafter. Have
a few choices ready, and be prepared to wait a while for
your domain name to be registered (this is why I suggest
you do this first).
Step
two: Decide what type of web site you need. Will you be
selling merchandise online (you'll need a merchant account
for that), or do you have a service business and need a
more informational web site?
Step
three: Organize your content. When it's time to build your
site you will need your logo, photos and graphics saved
in digital format. All the text and information you plan
to add to your web site must be researched and composed.
Creat a list of descriptions along with keywords which will
be added to the META tag programming, hidden from plain
view. META tags are what most search engines use to index
your site.
Step
four: Decide who will build and upload your site. Do you
have the time and know-how to do it yourself? Use caution
when recruiting a family member or friend. I've seen friendships
end because a web site wasn't updated as regularly as it
should have been. Hiring a professional web designer is
your best bet, but always ask to see real working examples
of his or her work on the Internet. Ask for referrals and
find out what it will cost up front.
The
last three steps are often ignored, but these are the most
important steps you will take toward Internet business success.
Step
five: Submit your site to every search engine and directory
you can find, and then do it again every 30 days or more.
Step
six: PROMOTE, PROMOTE, PROMOTE. Put your web address on
everything anyone will ever see, from business cards to
company vehicles. The "If you build it they will come" mentality
only works in the movies!
Step
seven: Add content and change your site on a regular basis.
Most visitors will buy or use your service only after repeated
visits to your site, so give them a reason to come back
again and again.
One
last note: The best web sites contain 80 percent free stuff
(usually information, contests, links, interactive programs,
cards, games etc.) and send the message, "If you like our
web site, maybe your should use our service/buy from us."
Billy
Zack is a web site designer, consultant, writer and the
owner of GO Webdesign (http://www.gowebdesign.com).
Contact him at [email protected] for more information
or to subscribe to his free weekly online newsletter.
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