I talk to people every day about getting a website for their business and one of the things I find most is that businesses of all sizes have the same problem: They don’t really know what a website is for!

Do you know? Or like many of my clients do you just have some unformed idea that it is a good idea, lots of other businesses are dong it, and it seems to be the thing to do?

My advice is this: You MUST know what your outcomes for having a website are long before hiring the designer or finding the right software and hosting.

If you do not know your outcomes you will end up, like many business both large and small with a site that has to be fixed, changed to suit your purpose, the wrong hosting package, the wrong kind of software package…..

Here are some questions we ask all our clients well before designing anything for them, please if you are thinking about having a website for your business, sit down and write out the answers to these questions as best as you can:

1. Why do you want a website for your business?
2. What outcomes do you want your website to fill?
3. Do you want a brochure site, an online shop or a site that becomes the main ‘go to’ site for everything in your niche?
4. Do you want to send newsletters?
5. Do you want a blog?
6. Will you want to have a membership area?
7. Will you want to use video?
8. Will you want some social areas e.g. where members can interact with each other on your site, like a forum or chat area?
9. Do you want to be able to have affiliates, to help market your product or service?
10. Will you need autoresponders?
11. What do you plan to do with your site over time? What expansions do you think you will need later?
12. What are the main objectives starting out?
13. What are the main objectives long term?]
14. What type of visitors do you want to attract?
15. What is the most important action for your visitors to complete on their first visit?
16. What outcome is the most important one for your site to fill for you?
17. What is your budget?
18. How do you want to brand yourself?
19. Where will the content come from?
20. Which sites have you seen that appeal to you? and why?
21. Which sites have features you would like to include on yours site and why?

It is really important to do your research and ask these questions, if you do not know what some of the terms mean, then your website provider should be able to explain and discuss them with you and give you a reason why you need or do not need that particular addon.

The Zen Bull

© 2009, AnnieInfinite. All rights reserved.

© AnnieInfinite for The Bulls Roar, 2009. | Permalink | No comment | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: Ask an Expert, Brand, Business, Online shopping, Research, Small business, Website

Feed enhanced by Better Feed from Ozh