Not everyone knows these things…they aren’t written in stone. But avoiding the following things CAN increase the success of your web site and your visitors will thank you by visiting over and over again.

If You Build it, They Won’t Come
Hasn’t nearly every web hosting and designing company told you that the minute you get your business online you are seen by 30 million customers! Unfortunately it’s not THAT easy. This isn’t Field of Dreams.

Your website, as I’ve mentioned before, can be a virtual office, an online store that is open 24/7, handling requests for info, providing company information as well as customer service. The fact is, however, you can build it to be the fanciest, schmanciest, most efficient place online. But if you don’t get the word out about your web site, online and off, no one will even know about it, let alone visit it. You most promote it!

www.YourBusiness.com -OR-

www.SomeLameFreeHost.com/yourcompany

Which web address seems easier to remember and is more professional-looking? The first, naturally. If you picked the latter, there’s something you’re not getting, and I’ll help clear it up for you. A web site is a serious investment and can bring you a return on that investment, however, if you are going to spend time and money getting online, why not do it right? No one is going to take a website hosted at AOL or Angelfire seriously, they’ll just go elsewhere to buy. Having your own domain name is not only your permanent identiy on the Internet, but you also have complete control over your site functions and e-mail.

An example of this is

salesoffice@YourBusiness.com - info@YourBusiness.com - repairs@YourBusiness.com

The possibilities are practically endless.

Besides, the minute you change your ISP (Internet Service Provider) or hosting company, you might have to also change your web address, so then what happens to all the people who used to visit your site? Think about it. You also will have to order all new letterhead and business cards! Also, you may not have known that there are search engines (like Yahoo) that DON’T list subdomains. The risk and hassles involved in setting your site up at a free web space provider can be avoided, when you can get a full web site hosting account, at your own domain, (name included) for only $12.95 per month!Click here for more info

Not getting a professional server. There are many companies offering very low-cost and even free webspace on the Internet. However, be forewarned that although this may look appealing it is usually a big mistake. Most of these companies have gone out of business. What happens to your website when a company folds? Not only that but there are many companies who keep the service free with the condition that they post banner ads all over your website, many times which are unrelated to your web site’s subject matter.

In addition, all of the ultra low-cost hosts offer virtual hosting (often called ’shared’ hosting because your site is stored on the same webserver or computer as several other domains) which will limit your website and make it invisible to many search engines and some browsers.

Don’t Use your Internet Service Provider (ISP) for your business’s web site host.
(Like your cable or phone company). Many people assume that Internet Access is the same as Web Hosting. The reality is they are very different services and you are much better off to keep your ISP for access but setup your website with a company that specializes in Web Hosting.

Why? Internet Access providers are concerned with getting you and thousands of other consumers connected to the Internet and dealing with all the subsequent technical and support issues.

Web Hosting companies are concerned with serving the information that all these consumers are viewing — two very different functions.

Very few companies can do both effectively. With a Web Hosting company, all their attention, resources, and bandwidth goes toward maintaining your website and helping your build your web presence. Use an ISP for your Internet Access, but a Web Hosting company for your website.

You need to have a marketing plan!
Because once have your web site setup, you will need to aggressively promote it to drive traffic.

Granted, you will automatically receive traffic from your existing customers and advertising, just by announcing your URL (your domain name plus the http://www part) on all your printed letterhead, envelopes and brochures. Don’t forget to do this with giveaway items and ads, too.

However, if one of your goals is to gain new leads and sales from the Internet, you should have a plan for promoting your site online.

Here are a few suggestions to get started:
-Register with search engines.
-Participate in Discussion Groups appropriate for your business.
-Contribute articles to online publications.
-Send out an electronic press release about your business.
-Offer samples and free giveaways from your website.

Make it look good and Keep it Simple!
Many fine businesses and products are failing on the Internet, simply because they make their sites look horrible, make them hard to use and then adhere to such practices.

Websites are about conveying information, not pretty pictures, and whiz-bang gimmicks. Too many are created by technical types with no idea of the basic rules of copywriting and the reasons why people buy.

You can start by adapting your existing sales materials to the web. Graphics and photos should certainly be used to enhance your message, but use them sparingly. Take full advantage of the medium, but make sure you are presenting a clear message in a website that is easy to navigate.

Give people a reason to visit.
Why should anyone visit your website? What’s in it for them? These are the questions you should ask yourself before you design your website. One of the easiest things to give away is information.

Health Food store websites can provide information on selecting vitamins used for certain purposes, Wine & Gourmet Food vendor websites can provide information on selecting and storing wines & cheeses. Real Estate company websites can provide a report on what to look for when shopping for a new home. Mortgage Broker websites can provide a free loan calculator. Attorney websites can provide a report on pros & cons of filing for Bankruptcy; etc, etc. Give people a reason to visit, something they can use (like free information) advertise it widely, and they will visit.

About The Author:

B. Woods Design
904 Rice Street, Ste 212
Saint Paul, MN 55117
Phone: 651/488/5676
Email me