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Monday, September 14, 2009
Creating and deploying your website
One of the biggest hurdles small businesses face when developing their website often is deciding how to build their site and how to get it online - in front of customers eyes. Building a simple website is not that hard, certainly no harder than creating a business plan. But without the right tools and some basic knowledge it can seem like an insurmountable hurdle to overcome.
Build or buy?
The biggest first question is will you build it yourself or are you going to hire someone? Do you have 30-40 hours you will likely spend building a Web site yourself? Does your site require complex tools and features you do not know how o create and do not have time o learn? Do you have at least $1,500-$15,000 to hire someone reputable? Answer these questions first, then you can move on to the rest of your implementation!
If you decide to build your website yourself then you will need to learn to use some basic web development tools and invest the time (fifty to a few hundred hours) to learn the tools and build the site. Some common tools are:
If you decide to hire someone doing it on the cheap is not necessarily the best choice to make. You want to beware of the solo Web site designer/builder. They are less likely to give you a quality website and may not be available to update your site. Instead look for a true HTML/JavaScript coder who's up to date with the best coding techniques. Also look for a company that has been in business for a while and will be available when you need to change the site dramatically.
Even when you hire someone you want to make sure they are willing to show you how to make small edits to the sites content yourself. You do not want to have to wait for some designer to be available when you want to change your product description or price (and you do not want to have to pay them to make those minor changes).
Hosting and Email
Every website needs a host. A website hosting company maintains the computer (server) where your website files are placed. They can also set you up email addresses using your domain name (free email accounts like Hotmail, Yahoo, and Gmail are fine for personal use, but actually damage the credibility for your business).
When looking for a hosting provider you want to find a reliable hosting company that provides some sort of uptime guarantee for their servers. If possible you will want to speak to satisfied customers to see how quick the company is to respond to problems and if there have been any issues with their account. You may also want to look at a hosting review site like http://hosting-review.com/ to see what they have to say about different hosting sites.
Site Maintenance
It is surprising how many small companies believe that creating their website is a end in itself. That once it is deployed it is done. Your website needs to be a living document that evolves with changes in your company and in the competitive environment. This means you need to have a plan for updating your site. You need to know which pages and content need to be updated and how often. Finally, you need to know what technologies are needed to maintain your site before you build it.
It is surprising how many sites I visit that have outdated or obsolete information. Remember: your website is one of your most public faces to the world. As I mentioned in a prior blog post (Your website and your credibility), a well designed website can help establish the credibility of a new venture. However a poorly maintained website can damage that reputation even faster.
Build or buy?
The biggest first question is will you build it yourself or are you going to hire someone? Do you have 30-40 hours you will likely spend building a Web site yourself? Does your site require complex tools and features you do not know how o create and do not have time o learn? Do you have at least $1,500-$15,000 to hire someone reputable? Answer these questions first, then you can move on to the rest of your implementation!
If you decide to build your website yourself then you will need to learn to use some basic web development tools and invest the time (fifty to a few hundred hours) to learn the tools and build the site. Some common tools are:
- Dreamweaver, Expressions: HTML Web pages
- PhotoShop: Images
- FTP software: To upload your site to the Web.
If you decide to hire someone doing it on the cheap is not necessarily the best choice to make. You want to beware of the solo Web site designer/builder. They are less likely to give you a quality website and may not be available to update your site. Instead look for a true HTML/JavaScript coder who's up to date with the best coding techniques. Also look for a company that has been in business for a while and will be available when you need to change the site dramatically.
Even when you hire someone you want to make sure they are willing to show you how to make small edits to the sites content yourself. You do not want to have to wait for some designer to be available when you want to change your product description or price (and you do not want to have to pay them to make those minor changes).
Hosting and Email
Every website needs a host. A website hosting company maintains the computer (server) where your website files are placed. They can also set you up email addresses using your domain name (free email accounts like Hotmail, Yahoo, and Gmail are fine for personal use, but actually damage the credibility for your business).
When looking for a hosting provider you want to find a reliable hosting company that provides some sort of uptime guarantee for their servers. If possible you will want to speak to satisfied customers to see how quick the company is to respond to problems and if there have been any issues with their account. You may also want to look at a hosting review site like http://hosting-review.com/ to see what they have to say about different hosting sites.
Site Maintenance
It is surprising how many small companies believe that creating their website is a end in itself. That once it is deployed it is done. Your website needs to be a living document that evolves with changes in your company and in the competitive environment. This means you need to have a plan for updating your site. You need to know which pages and content need to be updated and how often. Finally, you need to know what technologies are needed to maintain your site before you build it.
It is surprising how many sites I visit that have outdated or obsolete information. Remember: your website is one of your most public faces to the world. As I mentioned in a prior blog post (Your website and your credibility), a well designed website can help establish the credibility of a new venture. However a poorly maintained website can damage that reputation even faster.
Labels: design, implementation, website tips
