Are you ready for a website?
So many business owners understand the importance of having a website, but sometimes don’t always understand what’s involved.
Nowadays, a website is a part of your marketing campaign. Just like that ad you put in the paper or on the radio, your business website is an extension of your store, intinally an extension of you – the owner. So why do so many business owners drop the ball when it comes to their websites?
Most of the time, it’s because they don’t understand the Internet world and no one has explained to them properly the value of a good business website. Another reason is that they’ve met a not so good web designer that was not there to help them grow their business and probably not very good at designing too and left as fast as they came leaving them with no information, no way to update, no nothing – so the site gets tossed to the side.
That’s where AMW Assistants comes in! More than half of our clients are wary business owners that have already experienced one or both of the above mentioned reasons and were left a little frustrated with the thought of having a website. We have reformed a number of businesses and their owners to go on and have beautiful and informative company websites that have become an addition to their business and not a hindrance.
Thus, we ask the question – Are you really ready for a website?
Though we have had to do so much rehabilitating, there is one thing we have noticed – there are two types of business owners:
· Those owners that understand the importance of a website to their business.
· Are happy that someone has finally come along they can trust.
· Takes to doing what is needed and necessary to make sure their site has up-to-date information all the time.
· Those owners that understand the importance of a website to their business, but are too busy to make it a priority for their company,
· Having it take months to complete because they do not have the information together and do not send regular updates to the designer/webmaster.
· Get frustrated with the designer because they don’t see results quick enough because of their lack of planning and interest.
We will discuss the latter of the two types. They are eager for a website, but fail to get the information together that the designer needs in a timely manner. *Note: AMW Assistants can complete a website (depending on size) in about a week, IF we’re given all the information required* Some, under this type, for some reason feel that the web designer knows all about their business and therefore doesn’t need their help in designing their website.
Okay, we have to stop here and take a moment to address this. You, the owner, are responsible for what goes on your company’s website, not the web designer. They are just their to take the information you give them about YOUR COMPANY and create a nice and cohesive site that people will be interested in and can clearly find the information they’re looking for about your company. They are not there to call you everyday, email you every week, etc… asking for new information for your website – that’s your responsibility to get it to them.
We here at AMW Assistants want everyone to be informed about what it takes to have and maintain a website. We know that there are those that would just like to hand it off to someone else to do, but the fact is, it’s your business, it’s your business website – you should know what’s on your page. Like any other avenue of marketing you use for your business, thousands, even millions of people will see what’s on your website. Your able to offer more information about what you do, who you are, specials, news, events, etc…. than you’d ever be able to fit into a 30 sec radio or TV ad or a small 3x5 magazine ad.
You also have to be ready to market your website. If you want people to go it, they have to know that it’s there. Adding your website address to your business cards and all other marketing materials, guarantees that people will start checking it out – you just have to show them the way.
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Answer yes or no to the following questions:
If you answered yes to all these questions, then your ready to meet with a web designer and plan your website.
If you answered no to any of the questions, then I would advise you to review why you answered no to that question and work on that before contacting a web designer.
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Being prepared beforehand makes a big difference on how fast a site can go up and how well it will be maintained. Here is a handy checklist you can use to prepare for speaking with a web designer:
____ Domain names (ex: www.amwassistants.com) Do you have some ideas about what you’d like your domain name to be or do you already have one? List some here:
_____ Do you have a logo? Do you need a logo? Have a design in mind or let the designer come up with one for you. If you have one already, put a large size picture file (.jpeg, .gif,.tiff) on a disc with any other marketing photos you’d like to be used. Take that to your meeting with the web designer.
_____ What colors would you like to use? Color makes the site and represents your company. What are your favorite colors? List your company colors or favorite colors here.
_____ Website layout-- The layout is how everything is set on the page. Even though you may not know what the layouts are called, spend some time looking at different websites and making a note of which sites you like the look of. This will help the designer decided what you like and what would work best for your site. List some website addresses here that you like and a note about what you like about each site (www.amwassistants.com for example) so the designer can check them out later.
____ Buttons – Have an idea of what buttons you want to have on your site. This determines the basic number of pages your site will have and also make it easier for you to write out information (per page). The most typical buttons are HOME, ABOUT US, & CONTACT US. Everything else is up to you. What other buttons would you like to have on your page? List them here.
____ Who will maintain your site once it is designed? You, an employee, or the web designer? Knowing this answer upfront helps the web designer plan on what type of designing program to use based on computer level of experience, give you a more precise quote all at once, and both of you an understanding upfront of the business relationship your starting.
____ Be prepared to pay. Like you with your own company and clients, they have to pay you for the goods or services you give them. The same goes here. Web designers usually work even more hours than they charge to make sure a site is designed properly, but that’s their business, that’s how they pay their bills. Be respectful of that. Most web designers are willing to work with people to a point. Down payments are usually required, so be prepared. If you don’t have what you think it’s going to cost, wait to talk to web designer. ( At AMW Assistants, most common business websites run between $1200 -$2400).