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How to Get Your Business Online
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BGGE Web Design Offers 3-Page Custom Business Websites Starting at $100!
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A website is an essential business asset that can benefit a micro or home-based entrepreneur in various ways. First of all, a business website can "legitimize" your organization in the minds of your customers, clients, & charity donors,as well as potential employees, business partners and investors. In today's computer savvy world, many people search the internet before deciding to do business with you. A well-developed site conveys professionalism, trust, and credibility.
Providing vital information about your products & services 24-hours a day / 7 days a week, a business website also allows interactive communication between you &your customers / staff via live chat, newsletters, message boards, etc.
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Characterized by low startup and operational costs, a business website is cost-effective. That is why it appeals to both the novice entrepreneur wishing to showcase their talent and the veteran entrepreneur wishing to add a complementary revenue source to their brick & mortar establishment. On a "shoe-string budget", a website allows you can create a virtual storefront within days instead of months or years as with a traditional start-up business.
Cheaper than the yellow pages and most print ads, your website is also a cost-effective promotional tool. Changes & updates can be made easily and quickly without the delays of printing, publishing and distribution cost associated with traditional print media. Cost-prohibitive by any other means, a business website allows you to compete not only on a local level, but you can market your products & services nationally or globally.
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In today's slow economy, your business website can be a convenient money-saving option for your customers. Your website will allow them to save on gas, time, & the hassle of standing in long lines. They will appreciate the option of making purchases on-line or browsing your catalog from the comfort & privacy of their home. An interactive map on your site that provides driving instructions to your place of business saves new customers the cost & inconveniences associated with getting lost.
Like any business asset, a well constructed website adds value to your company. It is not just an expense.
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So, What Do You Need to Get Your Business On-line ...
1. Get a Custom (Personalized) Domain Name -
- A domain name is the text name corresponding to the numeric IP address of a company's computer on the Internet. For example, http://www.bgge.com is the address of this website. Click the link for Tips on Choosing a Good Domain Name
- BGGE Web Design will perform the technical setup for our customers - FREE.
2. Decide Who Will Build It -
- Build it yourself. With many of today's easy website builders, there is nothing to download .... just type, format, & save to publish. Other website builders dictate that you to use a web page editor and FTP (file transfer protocol) software to upload pages to their hosting server to publish it. This option is not very user-friendly for some beginners.
- Have it professionally built. A custom built page website may cost hundreds or thousands of dollars. It depends on what you want - informational/brochure website vs. fuction driven website vs. E-commerce/online products website. Some web designers charge a flat rate per page or project, while others may charge by the hour. It is not unusual for a website designer to charge $50 an hour, billed at 10 minutes per change minimum. Dependent on the quality of work & the time involved, the fee may not be unreasonable. Believe me, website design can be quite labor-intensive. Just google & compare costs.
- Let BGGE Web Design build it. Not only will I build it for you, I will personally coach you through the crucial aspects of promoting & maintaining your website. It is my goal to create a website that is a geninue business asset for your company.
3. Select a Hosting Plan -
- In simple terms, a web hosting service provides individuals and organizations with an on-line system for storing, maintaining, & publishing information, images, video, etc. The service provider offers hosting plans with a set number of features and functionality at a set price. Dependent on the plan you select, domain name registration may be included free of charge.
- Signing up for a free hosting plan is typrically discouraged for a business website because of the limited features. Server reliability, security, and non-existent customer support are just some of the draw-backs. The address of your website is usually the subdomain of the hosting company. On the other hand, a free hosting plan allows you to "test-drive" some of the features and you can upgrade when you are ready.
- BGGE Web Design customizes the templates provided by your hosting service provider using your company log and colors or will help you create a visual identiy from scratch. If you have not chosen a hosting service provider, I will help you decide on one based on price, features, server reliability, security, and customer service. Your computer expertise and ultimate goal for your website is also a consideration.
4. Promote It
- "If you build it, they will come". Well, in the internet world, much more is needed.
- BGGE Web Design optimizes your web-pages for search engines inclusion during construction. I will develop & recommend the best promotional strategy for your website niche. I will then promote your website FREE for 30 days.
5. Maintain It -
- Your website requires periodic maintenance after it is built. A poorly maintained or out-dated website will cause you to loose sales.
- Website maintenance includes, but is not limited to - checking for broken links, optimizing your graphics for faster downloads, adding fresh content and updating web copy & graphics. Many of today's website builders feature an intuiative user-friendly control panel, so you may already possess the skills needed to maintain your own site. However, many site owners do not have the time or inclination to maintain their website.
- BGGE Web Design will provide FREE maintenance for the first 30 days after the completion of your website. After that, you have options: 1) Continue to let BGGE Web Design maintain & promote your site based on an agreed upon monthly fee; 2) Pay on an as-needed basis; 3) Request on-site training; or 4) Do it yourself.
- Regardless of what plan you choose, subscribe to BGGE Webmaster Newsletter for tips and tools that will help you keep your website fresh and marketable. "Knowledge is power".
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