| Running a business is not easy. So much to do and to | | | | Such costs will be for graphic design, implementation |
| think about! A decision about your company's website | | | | of the site, domain name registration and hosting of |
| is one of many on your plate but it could be one of | | | | the site. Market varies widely and research will need |
| the most important. | | | | to undertaken. Contact few local web design |
| Whether you need a website and what sort depends | | | | companies and request quotes in order to chose one |
| on the nature of your business, target market and | | | | that will suite you best. Good web design company |
| ways you are planing to reach your potential clients. | | | | will make sure that your site is search engine friendly, |
| A website can be a highly functional selling tool or a | | | | well structured and they will recommend to which |
| simple on-line brochure. | | | | directories it will be beneficial to submit your site. |
| What you will need | | | | Also they will optimize the site's content and |
| Domain name registration | | | | recommend ways of marketing. |
| The process by which a company or individual selects | | | | Product Based Business or Business with regular |
| a domain name and later officially registers the | | | | changing content |
| domain name through an approved domain name | | | | Product based Business model |
| registrar. There are few official companies through | | | | If your business is product based the need for a |
| which you may check domain mane availability and | | | | website increases. You may not want to sell your |
| register. Cost for such service may vary but is | | | | product on-line but being able to show it to the |
| relatively low and will start at about £3 per year. | | | | potential buyer is crucial. |
| Web Hosting | | | | Look at it as on-line catalog. If your product range is |
| The business of providing the storage, connectivity, | | | | small in and more importantly constant the static site |
| and services necessary to serve files for a website | | | | will also suit you. You will need to use a |
| A company that provides web hosting services is | | | | recommended web design company and the cost |
| called a web host. There are literally thousands of | | | | may vary on average between £400 and |
| web hosting services, ranging from individuals to | | | | £2000. |
| worldwide corporations. Your web site developer will | | | | Content Management and website growth |
| be able to advise you on what hosting services are | | | | If your product needs regular updating, for example |
| suitable for your company. | | | | you sell antique furniture and each peace is different, |
| Email | | | | you will need to be able delete, replace your product |
| You will also need an e mail account. Normally a | | | | or mark as sold the best solution for you is Content |
| hosting company will offer email services as well as | | | | Management System (CMS). |
| hosting services. | | | | A Content Management System is what allows |
| Service based Business model | | | | company employees to publish new content to their |
| If your business offers services that cannot be sold | | | | web sites. It will allow you to be in control of the |
| over the Internet, for example, landscaping, plumbing, | | | | content of your website. There are many such |
| consultancy, etc, the purpose of a website will be to | | | | systems on the market but main thing is to look out |
| serve as an on-line brochure, advertising in local | | | | for is user friendliness. Complicated system will not |
| on-line directories and generally to appear professional | | | | only irritate and puzzle you but slow down the |
| and trustworthy. | | | | content managing process and take time away from |
| Design | | | | running the business. Therefore it is recommended |
| Pre-designed template | | | | that before such system is bought the |
| The most cost effective solution in this case will be a | | | | demonstration is requested. Contact few companies |
| static website. Static website is a website that does | | | | to compare the cost, usability and suitability of the |
| not provide any interactivity between it and its users | | | | products on the market. |
| and any changes to the content of the site will have | | | | A good CMS will have a wide spectrum of usability |
| to be undertaken by the web developer. | | | | and will be adaptable to the businesses ranging from |
| Such site can be purchased pre-made where buyer is | | | | a small one user system to large multifunction, |
| guided to chose from several different templates | | | | multiuser system. |
| (looks). Often such service is paid for monthly and | | | | E-commerce |
| the charge is low and include domain name | | | | E-Commerce (electronic commerce) is the buying and |
| registration and hosting of your website. The benefits | | | | selling of goods and services on the Internet. |
| of such ready made websites is the relatively low | | | | An E-commerce and CMS solutions together can |
| cost. The drawbacks to be considered are not very | | | | provide you with all the tools necessary to establish |
| personal look and feel of the site, limited room for | | | | your company as an Internet retailer. A good |
| development and growth and fact that you paying | | | | E-commerce system combined with CMS will allow |
| for using the web space and do not own your site | | | | you to perform a multitude of functions from |
| outright as you would if you paid a web developer to | | | | managing your products to running promotions. |
| build the site for you. Which is the other of the | | | | So, what ever your business there is a solution out |
| options. | | | | there which is right for you. The main advice when |
| Bespoke design | | | | buying a website is shop around and do your |
| If you use a web developer to build the website to | | | | research. |
| your specifications higher cost are to be expected. | | | | |