There is really only one purpose to having your own website for business. And that is to get more clients.
Many small businesses struggle to build an effective website for themselves. The technology feels overwhelming. They are unsure what a ‘good’ website should look like. They are unaware of any clear strategies to use. Especially when you don’t know the right price to pay for a quality website. How much is too much? How much time and effort should you put aside to deal with a freelancer who may or may not understand your needs?
Suddenly, the thought of building a website – or upgrading an existing one – feels difficult and easily postponed.
3 things to avoid
- Certainly, a poorly designed website hurts your business. Don’t go for bargain-basement deals and lowest bidders. There is your online credibility at stake. You want to build trust and confidence in your brand. You don’t want competitors with lesser offerings to steal your thunder because they have a better looking website.
- You probably shouldn’t go for cookie-cutter, pre-fabricated solutions like Wix and Squarespace. While there is nothing wrong with these template-based technologies, they demand a certain level of time commitment from you. The learning curve can be steep for many. And the template solution may not allow you to tweak your site to your satisfaction. (We have done a few sites for folks who tried these solutions first and then came to us. That’s how we know.)
- A dirt-cheap website is a waste of your time. Save the money till you have enough to hire a pro freelancer. Like with all quality products, you are paying for some real skills – design, writing and putting together a cogent presentation with adequate features. It needn’t be very expensive these days to get a good person to work with you, but beware of dirt-cheap deals.
3 things to do
- Look at sites in your category or a nearby category. Make a note of those who are doing it well. Even an hour spent on browsing other sites can help you get objective about what you should have on your own website and what you shouldn’t.
- Think in terms of pages. What are the basic minimum pages your website should have? Most sites have a home page, a services page, an about page and a contact page. You may need more.
- Shop for a freelancer with good design and writing skills. Ask for their portfolio. Their work may not include any from your industry, but as long as they have good design and writing skills, you will be fine. Make a call and see if you feel comfortable with the inputs they are initially suggesting. This is vital. You should work with only someone who adds value to what you have in mind.
It really can be as simple as this: 1. Talk to a pro freelancer 2. Ask for a price quote 3. Get to work.
All the best for your spanking new website. It’s time you got it done.
