It surprises me that so many small businesses do not have web sites. Do they realise how much potential business they can be missing out on. Many put off creating a site for three main reasons. First they think it is expensive, secondly they think it is difficult and lastly, and perhaps most importantly they do not have the spare time to build it.
Web sites need not cost a fortune. In fact you could set up a web site in minutes. If you used some free tools and a free web host it could be free. The only cost is your time. Free sites do however present problems. You will have to carry their advertising and if you do not get a minimum number of visitors per month, they will take you off line without warning. If you plan to sell your products online, you will need to consider what type of script you want to use and be prepared to pay for licences. Some can cost as much as £1000 (or more). There are however open source scripts which you can use for free.
You will read a lot of technical jargon about web site design. Many web design companies use this language to create a aura of superiority over their client. But quite simply a website is a collection of information about a particular topic or subject. Therefore designing a website is the arrangement and creation of web pages that in turn make up a website. A webpage can be compared to a page in a book and a website is to a book.
When designing a website, the important things to consider are who your target customers are and what are you offering them. Then comes the hardest part, describing your company, products and services. This is where you need to take a little time. You have plenty of space to explain in detail what you offer, but be careful not to patronise or bore your visitor. Try and keep it factual, informative and short. Do not get carried away with loads of flashing symbols and an assortment of colours. Keep it simple so visitors feel comfortable and stay. In most cases you have 30 seconds in which to grab a visitor's attention.
Finally once your site is live, you will need to keep it updated. I tried an experiment with one of my web sites and did not update it for a few months. I still retained a steady flow of visitors but they only stayed commented for around 30 seconds. Clearly, visitors feel that if the information is not up to date, then they will go somewhere else.
Now if this feels too much, then consider appointing a company to design and build a site for you. Costs vary from as little as £50 for a basic site up to several thousand pounds for a top of the range site. Shop around and find a web designer that is right for you.
DTS Web design services can help you get a presence on the web. We also use non technical language. Why not give us a call on 01795 664914 or send us an email.
