Your web site - some things to consider
The following information may help you to brief us on what you want from your web site. If you don't think you need to read this click here to go to the form.
the basics
The first thing to ask yourself is... why do I want a web site?
The answer may be obvious to you but it will help us focus on your goals for your web site.
Do you simply want to put your product catalouge on-line for everyone to see?
This can help save on printing & mail costs for product brochures & possibly reach a much larger market.
Do you want to provide a service for your customers?
Perhaps a web site would be an easier way for your customers to order from you or for you to help your customers. A web site can also help streamline your internal processes.
Do you want to sell your product directly on your web site?
If you have a suitable product for on-line sales it makes sense to use your web site as a storefront.
Types of web sites
There are many different types of web sites on the internet but most small business sites can be categorised into a few major types...
'Business Card' site
This is the most basic type of site - it does the same job your business card does (but with a much larger potential audience). They typically consist of one page informing people how to contact you & what your services/product is.
'Brochure' site
This is probably the most common style of site for small businesses. They go a step further than the 'Business Card' site by offering more detailed information on your products & services. This type of site usually includes some sort of basic order/quote request form.
eCommerce site
It's great allowing your customers to ORDER your products on your web site but its better if they PAY for the product at the same time. There are many ways to set up an eCommerce site - from a simple PayPal link to a 'Shopping Cart' style site.
Marketing your web site
Have you considered how people will find your web site if they don’t know your web address? Here are some ways of geting more people to visit your site:
- Search Engine Optimisation (SEO)
SEO is probably the slowest (but potentially most effective) way of driving traffic to your web site. SEO involves different methods of making sure your web pages achieve a high page rank on search engines. We will do all the technical things that Google recommends, but achieving & maintaining a high page rank can take some time. - Search Engine Marketing (SEM)
SEM is the quick way to get yourself on Google. By buying advertising space in the 'Sponsored Links' section of the Google results page you can reach your target market when they are actively looking for information about your products. We can manage a Google AdWords account for you or you can give it a go yourself. Click here to learn more about Google AdWords - Traditional marketing & public relations campaigns
A marketing & public relations campaign takes a much wider view of marketing possibilities including offline advertising, refer a friend promotions, competitions, online surveys on your site with prizes offered to generate traffic to your site.
Common areas of content
Most web sites have a combination of the pages below.
- Frequently Asked Questions
- About Us/Company Profile
- Products and Prices
- News/Tips
- Offers/Specials
- Privacy Statement
- Contact Us