| Here is a recap of the content of our first | | | | need to find a source for revenue to pay for |
| two guidelines for getting a successful | | | | site development and ongoing hosting and |
| business started: | | | | other incidental costs. Make sure to develop |
| | | | open space on your website to allow for the |
| Step 1: DECIDE WHAT YOUR BUSINESS IS GOING TO | | | | inclusion of sold advertising once your site |
| BE | | | | takes off. Always think ahead. |
| | | | |
| Step 2: CREATE A WEBSITE | | | | Your website is something akin to a canvas |
| | | | just waiting for a brilliant piece of art to |
| This article will extend the ideas for | | | | take shape. Carefully map out the pages you |
| CREATING A WEBSITE. In the last article we | | | | will need for your site. First, you need a |
| talked about the design of the site which | | | | homepage - then determine what other pages |
| provides a critical first impression with | | | | you will need. |
| your visitors. Remember, with website design | | | | |
| it is better to have no online presence than | | | | Your homepage should accurately explain and |
| a lousy one. | | | | summarize your websites mission. Work through |
| | | | the mission carefully to minimize words while |
| As important as the design is, you must | | | | maximizing the clarity of the purpose |
| convince your visitors that your site is | | | | statement. If you are selling a product or |
| worth a return visit. This is typically done | | | | service your homepage needs to catch your |
| through QUALITY content throughout your site. | | | | visitors attention immediately. Dont make |
| | | | your visitor search to discover what it is |
| A quick tour through cyberspace will show | | | | your site does its a game very few will |
| that there are many good looking websites | | | | play. |
| that contain nothing of value for their | | | | |
| visitors. These types of sites lack the | | | | The following is a list of common pages |
| longevity needed in todays cyber savvy | | | | visitors expect in a website: |
| culture. Style and substance must go hand in | | | | |
| hand. | | | | Contact Us |
| | | | |
| Because content is a key to website | | | | About Us |
| development, you must determine whom your | | | | |
| target audience is. If your target audience | | | | Products |
| is fishermen, it would make little sense to | | | | |
| include Grandma Sarahs recipe for apple pie. | | | | Services |
| It doesnt take long to visit a variety of | | | | |
| websites that contain advertisements for | | | | Links |
| products that have nothing to do with the | | | | |
| website. It is also easy to find websites | | | | These pages are often called by other names, |
| that contain content that, while interesting, | | | | but once you determine the primary categories |
| have little to do with the products, goods, | | | | for your home page you will want to divide |
| services or information the site is expected | | | | your content into appropriate pages. One of |
| to provide. When a website owner misses their | | | | the cardinal rules of site development is to |
| target audience it leaves the impression that | | | | always make sure your site is easy to |
| they have little skill in providing the very | | | | navigate. What this means is that your |
| thing the visitor came to the website for | | | | visitors should be able to easily find what |
| the very thing you wanted them to leave with. | | | | they are looking for. If finding the material |
| | | | they need requires a site search, you may |
| Once you decide who your target audience is, | | | | have lost a return customer. Dont make them |
| you need to determine content and direction | | | | search for content. On the other hand you |
| for your site. | | | | should always provide a prominent link back |
| | | | to your homepage on EVERY page of your site. |
| For example, if you are selling fishing | | | | |
| equipment, you may want to have other content | | | | When you place multiple ads, images and |
| related to fishing such as fishing tips or | | | | flashing text on your web pages, your visitor |
| fishing locations, etc. You will want to | | | | may leave confused and frustrated. Keep |
| provide content that will keep your visitors | | | | things simple never over produce a webpage |
| coming back for more. | | | | and make your content easy to read. A key |
| | | | component to this objective is to maintain a |
| Many site builders have discovered a message | | | | consistent and universally utilized font such |
| board to be an effective tool for bringing | | | | as Arial or Times New Roman. Little known |
| likeminded consumers together. You can make | | | | fonts may not display correctly for all |
| this happen on your website with very little | | | | visitors and may provide further frustration. |
| time commitment required. Whatever the focus | | | | |
| of your website, the message board should | | | | BE SURE there are no spelling errors anywhere |
| operate with a similar focus. This can | | | | on your site! Spelling mistakes make a |
| provide an additional tool to drive visitors | | | | website look very unprofessional. It doesnt |
| back to your site. | | | | take long to load the content onto a word |
| | | | processor to check for common mistakes in |
| Visitors can be consumers of either products | | | | both spelling and grammar. Having someone |
| or information. If you are effectively | | | | proof your pages can also add to the |
| catering to their informational needs you can | | | | professional objectives you desire. |
| still derive a financial return by providing | | | | |
| links to shopping resources that may benefit | | | | Should you require assistance in devising |
| the visitor. It is also possible to create a | | | | quality content for your site, you may want |
| specialty shop of your own that caters to a | | | | to consider hiring a freelance writer to |
| specific segment of fishermen. If you dont | | | | assist in content development. It will be |
| want to develop your own shop, you can link | | | | well worth the investment! |
| with existing outlets that provide a | | | | |
| financial return for every sale directed from | | | | When developing content for your website, |
| your site. You may not get rich from this | | | | keep in mind that your text should be as |
| approach, but it provides an added benefit | | | | search engine friendly as possible. We will |
| for your visitor and may be another means of | | | | talk more about this in Part 4. |
| encouraging their return. | | | | |
| | | | Please look for Part 4 of Building Your Way |
| Unless you are independently wealthy you will | | | | to Online Success. |