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What’s it take to put a business on-line?

March 15, 2008

Since most business owners outsource their website work, few of them can explain the step by step process of launching a website. But, like most things you get involved in, it may help to know what’s involved in the process. The steps are as follows:

1. Select a website name
2. Determine the content to be displayed
3. Build a website
4. Install the website on a server
5. Attract visitors
6. Install periodic upgrades

Typically business owners who outsource their website design are involved in the website name selection and in selecting the content. Due to time constraints, this is often true even in cases where the owner has the necessary skills. But let’s assume that you wish to the job yourself. Each step is explained below:

Selecting a website name

Just like your address or phone number, every website name must be unique. The first choice is generally to use the company name. For example “Joe’s Landscaping” might become “www.joeslandscaping.com”. However, since there are so many websites out there, that name is probably taken. (It actually is.) No need to panic - this happens to just about everyone. In this case “www.joeslandscaping.biz” is available. But if you prefer a “.com” extension, the next step is to think in terms of subtitles. Maybe “www.joeslandscapingbyjoe.com” or “www.landscapesbyjoe.com” would work. Idealy the name is easy to remember, easy to spell, and not too long. We will guide you through this process and supply you with additional name choices until you are satisfied with your choice.

Building a Website

Just like many other services, you can do it yourself or you can get someone else to do it.Generally if your running a business doing it yourself isn’t a good choice but if you do want to do it, you require the necessary training. Let’s say your business is slow and you know how to design websites, you still may want to outsource the work. Your time would be better spent selling.If you get someone else to do it, there’s quite a few choices. At the low end of the spectrum you can have a two or three page “brochure site” put on-line for about $300 ($100 per page). At the high end you can pay well over $10,000 for an interactive website such as the type used by the real estate companies. Our product is positioned slightly above the low end. (It’s a pretty good deal!)

Installing the Website on a Server

The content of the website is transferred to a server at a web hosting company. That company provides and maintains the computers and keeps backup copies of the website. Hosting companies generally charge between $5 and $15 per month. This cost can be lowered by ordering a longer term contract.

Attracting Visitors

Ideally, your website will immediately be visited the masses, you will be flooded with requests for your service or product, and your business will suddenly grow. By some stretch all of that is possible, but typically the ramp up is much more gradual. Most business do not entirely rely on the web. They use it in conjunction with traditional advertising - at that is a powerful combination! The website address is on the business card and is included on any printed add. Then over time the website begins to take the leading role. But, it’s not unreasonable to expect some amount of new business just because you have a website.In order to attract visitors the website must be “search engine optimized”. This involves setting up the site’s content to contain words and phrases that are frequently searched for. Also, Google and Yahoo accept payment for better search positioning.Here’s the good news. Wordpress based websites are naturally search engine friendly and all VantageSites use the Wordpress engine.

Installing Periodic Upgrades

Sometime after your website is put on-line you will want to have updates installed. Generally, these are the reasons:

• You’re business has changed. Maybe you’ve added a new product or service. Maybe you’ve changed your prices.
• The website needs to have some changes just to keep a fresh look.
• You have decided that there’s content that you would prefer be stated or pictured another way.

Updates are normal and keep your website interesting. For this reason, VantageSites are designed for flexibility.

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