Recently I met someone who was having a website created by a local designer. They were not happy with the lack of progress – 3 months on, the website was still not completed and adding insult to injury, the site looked unprofessional (graphics not sized properly, no coherency in design, poor navigation etc). It was a disaster to put it mildly. Unfortunately for this individual, his choice of a web developer did not only cost him time and money but also the opportunity to build his business with what should have been an effective marketing tool. The sad fact is that this catastrophe could have been avoided if a few simple guidelines had been followed during the selection process.
Choosing a web design firm is a crucial decision, as a well designed website can bring you more business and a bad one can drive business away. Doing a quick online search (or looking through the yellow pages) will reveal a whole slew of design firms to pick from in just your area alone, so how do you go about selecting the right one?
Continue reading this article »
Congratulations! You have not only decided to build/redesign a website, but you have also chosen a web developer to help you make it happen…but don’t sit back and relax just yet. Many business owners are unaware that even basic websites require your input at key junctures. Being prepared, knowing what you want before starting, and effectively communicating your requirements will save time, money and will get the website you want quicker and easier. Here are five things to think about to help you work effectively with your web developer:
Continue reading this article »
Money – we all want it and want to spend as little of it as possible. We intrinsically know that we can save a substantial amount of money if we do the work ourselves. We do it when we are renovating our homes, or performing basic auto repairs, or selling our homes privately. This desire to save money and tackle projects yourself has spawned the whole Do-It-Yourself industry. Why should building a website be any different?
Continue reading this article »
The complexity of your website depends on what you want the website to do for you. There are many configurations that you can consider, but we’ll look at four different types here. The one you choose needs to suit your budget, your type of business and your online goals.
Continue reading this article »
Attaining high rankings on various search engines is the holy grail of search engine optimization. The top ranked listing will get about 40% of all clicks while the second place ranking will get only 20%. In essence, if you don’t place well on search engines then you really don’t exist to potential new visitors that are looking for you.
Continue reading this article »
This is the second of three articles that looks at strategies to promote your website. Last time we described ways to enhance direct traffic to your website. This time we’ll discuss referral sites.
Continue reading this article »