If you're setting up an online business, your website should get a great deal of your attention as you create what is effectively your "window into the world." If you don't have an actual physical location for your business or a "stone and glass" operation, the appearance of your website will convey volumes about your business to potential customers and clients.
In a perfect situation, you would have your entire website on your own server, or at the very least a VPS (virtual private server), so you don't have to rely on the rules and regulations of someone else. If you don't have much experience with coding, choose one of the simplest platforms, allowing you to work on your site without this effort taking up all of your time. If you know that any alterations to your site represent a formidable challenge, you're much less likely to keep up with its development. Online companies such as iCapitalise can provide you with a very user-friendly option, using a WYSIWYG approach.
It's essential that you develop an understanding of how the Internet actually works and what it takes to make your website really visible. You will want your website to appear within search results when your prospects search for something that you could provide. This is quite complex, as the search engines themselves utilise a variety of rules to determine what is appropriate and what isn't. The process of "search engine optimisation" helps you to specify certain appropriate elements of code as well as the overall structure of your site. There are an array of experts in the elite field of website development, and you may want to invest in the services of an expert virtual assistant to help you keep up with everything. At the very least, you should understand the fundamentals, including what your "keywords" should be and how the content on your page should be developed.
If you remember how you used to write an essay or a thesis in school or college, where you would design and map out your content to ensure a natural progression, then you should apply the same approach to website design. You will have many different pages, with a variety of different topics covering products or services, each of which may spur further pages of associated content. Within the home page you need to have a clear description of your business, with easy to find links giving a logical path of progression for visitors to follow as they seek out your information.
Visitors rarely take the time to read all the information on your page, and this is where the term "surfing" originated. It's said that most people tend to look for "frequently asked questions" and other areas that they can scan through quickly to get the gist of what you're offering. Therefore, don't forget to compile a FAQ and link to it prominently.
A blog is a very important part of an online strategy initiative, and you would do well to include one within your website. Social media is becoming very important as we go on, and your blog represents an opportunity for you to update daily news and information for prospects and interested parties. You should make sure that you keep current with blog posting and establish a close bond between yourself and any visitors. If you're clever about the type of content you include, you could end up creating your own social "buzz."
Even though you may only have an online presence, visitors will be looking for reassurance before they do business with you, and because of this, you should include your contact details in a visible position for when this trust is established. Take a photograph or two of the owner and key staff, as this helps to add a human touch to your site. The customer service contact number is essential and a physical address is highly recommended.
Once your website is up-and-running, make sure that it's maintained on a very regular basis. You should learn as much as you can about search engine optimisation, and get to know software packages that allow you to analyse your visitors. The analytics program accessed via the Google website is a great and free tool, enabling you to set up goals and events that can help you to see whether certain promotions are working for you.
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