Online Business

That was one of the questions most frequently asked by small business owners. They feel pressure from their customers and competitors, but for many business people, it is a daunting task, because they do not understand the whole process.

In fact, many people are even asking the question of whether they should have a website. Whether you are a consultant, florist, designer, builder, architect or a doctor, consider the many benefits of a website provides:

1. Making money - Establish an online store or to pay for advertising other companies
2. Save money on advertising - Instead of paying for major announcements, it is sufficient to advertise your website
3. Be flexible in your message - Modify the contents of your business change. No need to re-print brochures costly.
4. Exposure to new customers - You get more local customers as well as global markets and inter --
5. Having more professional image - Continue with time and your competitors
6. Save time - not to spend hours on the phone, directing customers to your site
7. Keep your business open 24 / 7 - Provide information when customers need ILS. If you do not do it, someone else will.
   

So what does it really take to get your website set up?

Step 1 - Register your domain name or not.
The big question is whether you need to register a domain name or not. The answer is simple: NO, but a better answer is YES, it's a good idea.

What is a domain name?
The purpose of a domain name is similar to that of an address or telephone number. The domain name which you refer clients on the Internet. The field itself is not your e-mail or web. The area has formed the basis upon which those addresses are derived.

For example : Name : QikPhone Domain Name : qikphone.com.au Web address: www.qikphone.com.au Email Address: sales@qikphone.com

Do I need to register a domain name for a website?
The only advantage of not registering a domain name is that you will save a few dollars.

The drawbacks to NOT have your domain name:

• If you decide to change your Webhosting company, or if it ceases to operate, you will lose your website address. Your site can be transferred to a new company, but your address will change. And that means re-printing stationery and re-doing all your advertisements, notify all your clients,
• The addresses of Web sites that contain information other than the name of your company are long and difficult to remember and do not appear as a professional. Compare the two and see which one you are more likely to remember: www.ozemail.com.au/ ~ JBCleaning OR www.JBCleaning.com.au
  

So it is a good idea to register a domain name, even if it is just to protect yourself for the future. Say for example, your company name is JB Cleaning and you decide not to register your domain name for the time being. Just along Joe Bloggs who opens her own cleaning business and registers JBCleaning.com.au domain name. After a year you decide you want to have your own domain name, but since Joe Bloggs already possesses, it will not register. Not to mention your customers who know your business as JB Cleaning can visit its website, thinking, it's your Internet address, and instead of hiring Joe Bloggs Cleaning.

Step 2 - Plan your website.
Planning your website is a two-pronged process:

(A) A decision on the design of the site (play of colors, buttons, special effects, etc.). Therefore your website designer's job. However, you may have a preference for a certain color or appearance. To help you choose a design, you may wish to check out the Web sites of other persons or working with your web designer models predetermined.

(B) The contents. There are many items you can include on your website. The most common are:

1. Product / Service Details
2. Coordinates
3. Pricing
4. Testimonials
5. Frequently Asked Questions
6. Response Form, such as "Join Mailing List"
7. Magazine on-line or Newsletter
8. Resources & Articles
9. Warranty
10. Survey
11. Calendar of Events
12. My site search form
13. Refund Policy
14. Privacy Policy
15. Who are we? Information
16. Site Map
17. Copyright Information
18. Useful links
19. Media Information
20. On the online shop
21. News
22. Accessing your bricks and mortar premises
    

Step 3 - Choose a company Web hosting.
What is a company Web hosting?
A host is a company that provides server space for your website. You can think of a Web hosting service as a commercial building. The host provides space for your website as a commercial building has space for your shop or office. You can build your own building and you can host your own Web site, but because of cost and expertise, it is easier to rent space.

Which company should I choose?
Web Hosts are not created equal if you need to take a number of things into account when selecting one. A proven track record, experience and reliability are the foundation of any successful business partnership.

Some of the issues that you should consider when choosing a hosting company include:

1. Support - Does it provide technical support - 24 hours a day, seven days a week?
2. Reliability - there multiple large-scale linked to the Internet to provide a safe path to your customers from anywhere in the world?
3. Security - Does a robust security system that minimizes the risk of intrusion?
4. State-of-the-art - Does the company uses the latest technology and is supported by a large uninterruptible power supply (UPS).
5. Scalability - Does the range of products and services allow your company to grow unimpeded by facilitating the upgrade and add components to levels of products.
   

Step 4 - Getting people to your site.
The marketing of your site is important if you want to attract visitors to your site. If you do not promote your website, no one will ever see. There are several different ways to advertise your website. The best strategy is one that integrates your methods of promoting your website.

1. Stationery Office - including your web address and e-mail address on your stationery is probably the easiest way to draw attention to your site. It is cost-effective and gives you your presence on the Internet, which exists on the market.
2. Business Cards - When printing of business cards, you must include the person's email address and the address of your main website.
3. Radio Advertising - Radio Advertising should include your web address. Do not include the http://, try "Visit us on the Internet at www-dot-qikphone-dot-com-dot-com." If your budget is limited, you might consider community radios.
4. Mail and Mail-Outs - Let your current customers know the details of your website. You can send them an email or a letter or postcard. Keep your website content updated, and they keep coming back!
5. Print Media - Print advertising should include a generic email address of the company and include your website address. Normally positioned at the bottom right or bottom center of your ad.
6. Search engines and directories - People looking for your website who do not know the Web are most likely to use a search engine online to find your organization or types of products and services that you offer. There are more than 300 major search engines and directories, but we must focus on the largest and most commonly used. These include: Google, Yahoo, Altavista, Anzwers, Inktomi, Infoseek, Lycos, Excite, HotBot, MSN, Dogpile, AllTheWeb etc.
7. Links from other websites - A good way to attract visitors to your site is by using hyperlinks placed on other sites. If you know another site that has a list of links and you think that your site would be a good addition, I know the website owner. You could also offer to provide a link from your site to another site. This will encourage the webmaster to include your site. You must also find partners for trade relations, including vendors, suppliers and vendors of complementary products.
8. Link Exchange - Another way to make a link is through a system called Link Exchange, a free public service designed to help advertise websites each other. With the link exchange, you agree to display banner ads for other members of the exchange link, and they agree to display banners for you. The system is automatic, you can just add a piece of HTML code to your web page and link exchange to display an advertisement for another site. The drawback with the link exchange is that you do not get any control over the location of your banner is displayed or the type of banner ads that appear on your site. It is not possible to guarantee that a competitor of yours may have their banners displayed on your site.
9. Paid Banner Advertising / Marketing Affiliate Programs - Various sites give you the opportunity to buy banner ads on their site. Some sites will charge a flat monthly fee while other sites will charge based on the number of people who see your ad.
   

Step 5 - Follow your site stats
Your site must show statistics that visit your website in the world where they come from, how they are to find your site and what pages are viewed. Knowing your customers is the first step in effective marketing. Most web hosting companies will provide access to this information for free.

Step 6 - Maintain your website
It is important to update your site regularly to keep your customers interested. One of the great advantages of having a website is that you can modify its contents, virtually overnight at a minimal cost (unlike re-printing of the brochures and flyers).

This is just a brief overview of the process involved in getting your website up and running. In future articles we will cover each step in greater detail.