How,get,your,business,online,T DIY How to get your business online
When starting a new work at home business it is very easy to become consumed by it. We spend so much time trying to get the business up and running that we may end up becoming burned out and lose our motivation. There is so much to learn and Normal 0 false false false MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;mso-style-noshow:yes;mso-style-parent:"";mso-padding-alt:0in
This article is for all those who have asked "how do I getmy business online?" or have just plain been putting it offbecause you dont know where to start or who can help or howmuch it will cost.Why should I put my business online? Well, there are severalreasons why you should.Firstly, its a great 'connection point' between you and yourcustomers or partners. They can visit your website atanytime that suits them to find out more about you, yourproducts, ordering, or just get more information. Previouslythey would have had to physically visit you or use thetelephone and actually speak to you. They can contact youwith questions, complaints, recommendations or just to gaugehow helpful/efficient you are at anytime without speaking toyou or being face-to-face with you. Its another way to deal,communicate and interact with you. It puts the emphasis onthe customer and their needs and removes the pushy salesmanfrom the process. This level of anonymity encourages thecustomer to get what they want more than ever before or gosomewhere else where they will get it.Secondly, the Internet enables the customer to shop aroundmuch more easily and cheaply than ever before. It is as easyto research and buy a product that is sold in anothercountry as it is to do it for one in your own country andall for the cost of a local call. Timezones are largelyirrelevant on the Internet.Thirdly, a website is entirely flexible and can be designedfrom scratch specifically for your business and customers,regardless of the industry you are in and the size of yourbusiness.Fourth, it is low cost. You can build a website to meet yourbudget.What do you need to do?Get a web address - often called a domain name/URL. Whensomeone types in your web address i.e. www.youraddress.cominto their Internet enabled computer, they see your website.Get a name that is easily remembered by your customers.You'll need to renew it regularly to keep the name.Get some webspace - often called hosting. A company (thehost) will rent you space on its computer. You store yourwebsite in that space. Your web address will point here sothat when the web address is typed in by the customer, theywill be directed to your website automatically. Make sureyou get a fast and reliable host and therefore your websiteis always available and quickly. Read host reviews or askpeople you know to recommend a host.Research - before doing anything else do some research. Lookat other websites, styles, navigation, content, functions,etc. What do you like? What dont you like? What do yourcustomers want? What dont they want? What are yourcompetitors doing? What arent they doing? Set some clearobjectives for your site. Write them down in order ofpriority and work towards them throughout the project.Content - The most important of all. Whether its text,images, functions, data or anything else, spend some timegetting it right. It must of course, all meet your clearobjectives.Design and build your website - you can do this yourself butI dont recommend it unless you are confident you can do itwell and have enough time to do it. Hire someone to do itall for you. Make sure you are happy to deal with them andthat they dont just want to design a pretty website fortheir portfolio. They should make all the right noises abouthow the website will fit into your business and how yourcustomers will benefit from it. Again, remember your clearobjectives.Evaluation - check your website meets all your objectives.Check everything works as it should and is easy tounderstand and use by your customers. Do you need to makeany improvements/changes?Publish - put your new website into your webspace.Congratulations your business is online!Finally, review your website initially and regularlythereafter to make sure it is still meeting your customersrequirements and to see if it can be improved or developedfurther.Good luck and dont forget to let me know how you get on. Article Tags: Business Online
How,get,your,business,online,T