Building a Website

Now you have a plan about how to get you website together, where do you start? You can pull up your sleaves and start yourself or you can outsource the whole process.

There are benefits and disadvantages to both, and the best approach will change depending on your needs.

Who should build your site?

DIYWeb Designer
  • Purchase & Learn software
  • Time away from business to build
  • Free to change site at will
  • No additional cost to add content
  
  • No need to buy or learn software
  • No time taken away from business needs
  • Need to pass details on
  • Cost to amend or install software

Selecting the right approach for you is the start. Sometimes you need a little of both and your needs will change, just make sure your with someone who will change with you.

If your using a web designer, my advice would be to using the hosting company they recommend. They well be earning an extra 5% out of it, but they will know the "behind-the-scenes" stuff and the site will be produced quicker. BUT, make sure there is a clear and and easy exit route, that you're happy with and know the cost of before you start the build.

Make sure you update your site, it helps retain clients and search engines love an active site. If you can maintain the site yourself, all the better.

Be down to earth when looking at cost of a site. A £500.00 entry level site will not give you all the bells and whistles, but it should still be professional and easy to maintain.

Design Issues

Once your website starts to offer goods or services, it changes from a "fun thing to have" to a "business tool" and as such comes under Uk law. If you're selling good then you should really know about the Distance Selling Regulations and every business website should be Accessible. This allows the most number of visitor access to your site, increases your potential market and can help you search engine rankings. Not bad for something you have to do anyway.

Every terminal page on your site should have a "Call to action". This is something you want the visitor to do - by far the easiest is to include your phone number so they can contact you.

If you want your website to do something, like send a form or add up the contents in a shopping basket, then you'll need to start looking at the functionality of your site. This can also have an affet on your hosting.