In the times in which we live, a web site is a necessity to do business in almost every industry. After all, building a web site is a relatively simple task.
Step 1: Admit You Need a Web Site
As the saying goes…the first step is to admit you have a problem. Getting over the fear of the unknown, the misconceptions that web sites have to cost a fortune to build, and the idea that the Internet might hurt the reputation of your company are the biggest steps you can make in the process. Everything else is smooth sailing from that point. In our society, not putting yourself on the Internet at all is likely hurting your business more than having a poorly designed web site.
Step 2: Dream Big, Aim Small
The key is to start somewhere. Building a small, informative web site about your business and product lines can be a relatively inexpensive process. It will expose you to how the Internet works and better prepare you to tackle more and more as your web site grows and is refined into the e-Commerce masterpiece you might envision in the beginning.
Step 3: Keep Costs in Perspective
A professionally designed, well-built and marketable web site can cost a lot less than you might think. Your requirements and business objectives will determine the total bill in the long run. Decide what your budget is and inform your development staff up front. Most web design firms can work within the confines of just about any budget. Some of the costs involved in a web site that you might not immediately consider are hosting (where will the files live, safety, reliability, etc), security certificate (e-Commerce requirement, but useful in other cases as well), and any custom development (modifying a pre-built solution takes time and talent). Make sure your web development company goes over every expense with you before they start, so you don’t exceed your budget with expenses that might be above and beyond the cost of your web site.
Step 4: Get It in Writing
I you are outsourcing to a development firm, as a business owner, this one should be a no-brainer. As with any other business transaction, know what you will receive and how much you will pay for it all. Even the most amateur of web developers should be able to spell out the specifics of your web site, with associated costs, into a document or spreadsheet. Get a couple signatures on the bottom and file away copies. Standard business procedure…and practical precaution.
Step 5: Your Success Depends on Your Participation
During the development of your web site, you should be given the chance to see progress and give any feedback at any given time. That is not to say you should hound your developers eight times a day looking for progress reports. What I mean is, if you aren’t involved in the process of designing and developing your web site, how will developers be able to deliver a site the way you want it? Being involved in the selection of colors, layouts, font choices and many other details of your web site’s function and appearance will help your developers deliver a satisfactory product. After all, they know how to write the code… they need you to know your business and how you want it represented.
Step 6: Timelines are Made to be Broken
Even the best developers have unexpected delays from time to time. Your participation will go a long way toward keeping things on track, but be aware that launching a site rarely happens “on time”. As a business owner, if you’ve put off building a web site, you may be anxious to get the site launched and in full view of the public. What you must realize is, if the project is even the slightest bit involved, there are bound to be scenarios that noone thought about in preliminary interviews or unforeseen complications of one kind or another. Be prepared. Don’t schedule the parade and fireworks prematurely. Announcing your web site to the world unfinished is a lot worse than announcing it a couple weeks behind schedule.
Follow these six steps and you will be on your way to a successful online presence for your business. A world of consumers is only a few clicks away.
Step 7: Listen, Test & Re-invest
Launching your web site allows you to begin receiving a return on your investment. However, launching also means it is time for the real work to begin. As you get visitor feedback, you will find out what works and what could use some tweaking. Almost inevitably, you also have a list of things you wish you could have done given more time or budget. ROI is important, but remember to re-invest some of your new sales into your web site for improvements or new features for your customers.