Do-It-Yourself Small Business Website Steps

Listed below are the basic steps necessary to put together a small business website. If you find any ommissions, errors, or would like to see something added, please contact us.

1. Acquire a Name
   A Website name, or "Domain Name", is what people type in their browser to find you. Examples include www.microsoft.com, www.pepsi.com, and www.culpconsulting.com. You cannot use a name that is already in use. Once you decide on a name, you must pay a yearly sum to a Domain Name Registrar. Domain Name Registrars maintain a list of all names, keep others from using them, and keep track of what system on the Internet people should go to when the domain name is typed in the browser.
   I recommend Network Solutions for the do-it-yourselfer, as they have been around the longest and seem to have reliable customer support.
   
   
2. Purchase a Website Hosting Package
   Your website must have a place on the Internet to "live." Website host providers sell space and services on robust computer systems that reside on the Internet.
   The amount of space and type of services offered varies, and every website host offers a variety of "packages", which are simply bundles of website space and services bundled together. If this is your first website, start with the smallest website package offered. If you find that there is something it doesn't offer that you find you need later on, you can always upgrade.
   I recommend Network Solutions for the do-it-yourselfer. They offer good service, and pricing for the small buisiness website. Click here for more info.
   
   
3. Get Website Editing Software
   Website editing software works in much the same way as word processing or desktop publishing software, except that it is designed to generate web pages optimized for the web. I recommend one of two pieces of web editing software, depending on your goals.
   If you want web generation software that has a wide support base and is easy to use, I recommend Microsoft FrontPage 2002. It is pretty easy to learn, especially if you are familiar with Microsoft Word or Publisher.
   If you want web generation software that is significantly more difficult to master, but is also designed more for creating complex websites, I recommend Macromedia Dreamweaver MX. It is especially effective when you buy it with Macromedia Studio MX, which includes not only Dreamweaver, but also Fireworks for creating top-notch graphics and Flash, an animation program designed just for the web. Most animated websites you see are created using Flash. However, Macromedia Studio is expensive and complex, and I don't recommend stepping into it without being prepared to invest some time to learn it.
   If you purchase Frontpage, you might also consider augmenting the manual with another book such as Microsoft FrontPage 2002 for Dummies (simple), Microsoft FrontPage 2002 Step by Step (more in-depth), or FrontPage 2002 Bible (expert). Microsoft doesnt ship much in the way of printed manuals any more.
   Macromedia ships manuals, but I dont like them as well as the the Hands-On-Training books (Dreamweaver, Flash). Unfortunately, no Hands-On-Training book is yet available for Fireworks.
   
   
4. Find a Template
   A "template" is like a theme or a "look" for your site. Unless you are a graphics designer experienced with computer graphics programs, it's much easier to just go download a website template and "fill in the blanks." By far my favorite template store is Template Monster. I don't know where they get their graphic designers, but they blow away all of the other sites I have seen.
   If you find a Template site you like better, let me know.
   
   
5. Develop Your Site
   Better known as "work." This is where you fill out the template you purchased in the previous step with the details of your business, hobby, etc. The details of exactly how to create your website are covered in the documentation for the website editing software, or in the third-party books as discussed above. This may seem like a daunting task, but I find it flows pretty quick if you start by creating pages containing the information in your current printed company brochures.
   
   
6. Gather Feedback
   And I don't mean put the microphone next to the speaker. Before you start advertising your site, have a few friends and family fill out a questionaire regarding your site. It's nice to have a friend pick out the problems before a customer does.
   
   
7. Promote Your Site
   Your site is out there, but will they come? Nope, not unless you advertise. The most effective way to advertise is to get listed in the search engines, such as Google and Yahoo. 90% of web users find new businesses on the web by typing in a search, or "keywords," in a search engine. Of those, 80% find a suitable business within the first 10 results. In other words, if you arent listed on the search engines under the appropriate keyword searches, you will miss 75% or more of your potential clients.
   There are two tools the do-it-yourself website designer needs to obtain an effective listing in the search engines: WebPosition and WordTracker. WordTracker is a tool to analyze what keywords you should target listings under, and WebPosition is a tool to help you achieve those listings. I have been using both tools for quite some time, and can't say enough about them. Both tools have a free trial period, so give it a try for yourself.