Small Business Internet Guide-SBOguide

If you're not interested in learning how to build your own website or don’t have the time to do so, then hiring a professional is the obvious solution. Before you sit down with your developer to discuss your website needs, be sure you have done your homework and invested some time in researching what it is you expect your website to do for your business.

As with any endeavor, success is dependent upon both a good plan and a plan for its execution. Clear communication of the plan is a key element to that success.

If you haven’t already done so, study your competitor’s websites. A simple search using Google, MSN, or Yahoo! will uncover any that have a web presence by entering the search terms (keywords) that you think might apply to building your own website. You may even discover competitors that you weren't aware existed.

Are there any features of their websites that you like and want to include in yours? Also consider what there may be about your competitor's websites that you don’t like – and why? This exercise may reward you with some ideas that are specific to your industry that you may otherwise not have considered.

Working with your web professional, revisit your list of items to be included in your website – and prioritize them according to importance and cost. In this way should budget issues be a concern, you will still be able to make sure the most important items get included.

Have your web professional develop a proposal and have him or her spell out exactly what will be included in the developer’s fees. Get it in writing along with a timetable for delivery. Ask for referrals and ask your business associates if they have had any experience with this web developer, or another that they would recommend.

Have your developer prepare a mock-up of what your site will look like and understand how a visitor will navigate your site. The design should be inviting and easy to use – keep it simple. Use graphics appropriately and with purpose – nothing turns away some visitors faster than gratuitous graphics or Flash animations that serve only as window dressing.

Graphics on a website definitely have there place, and may even be essential when used appropriately, but they can slow download times, add clutter, and may create confusion for the visitor. Remember that nothing should stand between your visitor and the message you are trying to deliver. If a graphic, an animation, video, or audio helps you deliver the message, then by all means use them.

But consider this - according to the Government Accounting Office, despite the rise in broadband access, slow Internet access via dial-up in the US still hovers around 30%.

So you need to evaluate how your typical customer will access your site; especially if a large percentage may be using a dial-up service. As a rule of thumb, you want your pages to load quickly and deliver your message in the shortest possible time. Remember this when you are tempted to add those big, beautiful multimedia elements. Make sure each serves a business, not just an aesthetic purpose before you include them. That said, keep in mind that a few well placed graphics can dramatically increase the appeal of your page and encourage readability.