Power
Tools
How to Create a Simple Web Site to Boost Your Business
By:Larry Chase, Web Digest for Marketers
It’s not too late to put your business on the Web. Virtually any size company can create a simple Web site. I know a massage therapist who brings
in three or four clients a week with hers.
Getting Started: Your site needn’t be fancy. One that functions as a digital business
card can boost business profits and generate sales.
Get a domain name from a Web hosting company: The least expensive options ($35 or less) are available from the company you already use for Internet service, whether it is a dial-up or a broadband account from your local cable TV or phone company. In most cases, the hosting company will keep
your site’s content on its central computer as part of your monthly
service arrangement.
Design your site: You probably already have the software. For
example, some versions of Microsoft Office include Front Page
Web-design software. Using this is almost as simple as creating and managing
Microsoft Word document files. The software shows you how to post your site
on the Web and create a “mail-to” tag so customers can e-mail you.
Post only three or four pages at first: See how many hits or sales the site generates before adding to it.
Go light on photos and graphics: Designers want to load up sites with bells and whistles. They make
for nice pages in their portfolios but can interfere with your message
and slow its display.
Using professionals: To
find a Web designer, get referrals or search for “Web designer” at www.google.com.
Check the candidate’s references and previous work. Have him / her handle
everything from creation to uploading the site to the Web. |
