HOW TO CREATE A WEBSITE

I just typed "How to create" into the Google search bar. And do you know what the first auto-complete option was? "How to create a website." 

It's really not that surprising. Businesses need a website, but they often don't have a budget for one. PLUS, do-it-yourself website builders have come a long way. More and more business owners are looking at creating the website themselves in order to save the expense of working with a designer.

Businesses can choose the level of involvement they want to have in creating their online marketing program. While some businesses are up for the adventure of creating everything on their own, others want to be led. And some are ready to leave it to the pros.

• Do-it-yourself : DIY website building tools are becoming easier to use, and this is a good thing. Not every business needs a professionally developed site, especially when just starting out. Read anything about starting up a company, and the advice will always be to start lean.
  
  My advice for DIY'ers :
   - Keep it simple!  The first version of your site should contain as few pages as possible (but should always contain the phone number, address, and essential product info.)
   - Figure out what you want your customer to do as a result of visiting your site and make that action the goal of everything you include in your site.
   - Decide on your logo and color scheme before starting to work on the site. Having that bank of colors to choose from will save you hours of re-inventing the wheel later.
   - Use beautiful photos taken by a professional photographer. A large photo of your friendly face or fantastic product on the homepage will go a long way toward reeling your visitor in.
   - I use Weebly whenever possible for small business websites. I think it is the easiest for beginners - allows you to build and customize without giving you so many options that you get lost.
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• Done-with-you : More and more of my small businesses are opting for a done-with-you or coaching relationship. For me, this consists of a once a week video meeting between me and the client. I walk them through all aspects of setting up their online marketing programs, including search, email, social, and building the website using Weebly.
  
  Done-with-you can be cheaper, and the cost can be spread out over the length of the coaching relationship. But the real advantage is the skill set gained. Participants learn how to build the site, plus they learn to plan content, understand search terms, create Facebook ads, email customers effectively, and more. A small business owner or team member that completes this type of program gains the knowledge to maintain the website AND drive customers to it going forward.
  
  My advice if you are considering done-with-you service : 
   - Done-with-you works best for companies that have a person dedicated to the ongoing pursuit of customers using online marketing strategies.
   - Know how much time you are able to commit to the coaching program each week, and stick to it. Be committed and expect homework.
   - Remember you will be doing the work. Your coach will guide you in the right direction and help you avoid major potholes, but they won't do it for you.
  
  This fall I will be leading a small group through the process of creating their web marketing programs. Together we will create/improve each website, build strategies for getting more customer through Google search, and plan new future content. Participants will bring new customers in using highly effective web marketing tactics. For more check out my Web Marketing Bootcamp.
  
  
• Done-for-you : And, of course there is always the option of hiring a professional. I find this is the best option for companies who are ready to level up. A done-for-you website will be professionally designed, and messaged.
  
  Your online marketing is the first exposure many clients ever have to your company. When you can't risk losing a sale to a competitor, it is time to call in the experts.
  
  My advice for choosing a professional website developer : 
   - Do your research. Get familiar with your prospective developer's past work. Make sure you like the flow as well as the design he/she tends toward.
   - Make a written list of expectations and make sure you both sign off on it. 
   - Plan your budget and communicate it. More often then not my clients don't set a budget before they call. The ensuing dance wastes time on both sides. Know what you are willing/able to pay, and be honest with your developer. It will really help your developer propose a solution that will work for you. (In the interest of transparency, I will tell you that a small website through Coulter Internet Marketing will cost somewhere in the $5K to $25K range, and larger sites with custom functionality will go up from there.)

Thanks for spending time with me. I truly love sharing this information with you each week. If you got something useful out of it, please 'Like' and 'Share' using the buttons below. And leave any questions/comments below. I look forward to responding.  

If you think you might like my help with your project please fill out the Project Inquiry Form as the first step.