A web site in a search result list is like a resume to an HR manager. It gets about 20 seconds to convince a user to stay and explore the content. Whether you design your own site or hire a developer, follow these steps to leave an intriguing first impression.
Envision Your Site. Write a Creative Brief to outline the purpose, functionality and theme of your site. Get ideas from your competitors’ site (think they don’t do that?) and make your site unique. As you explore the Internet, you may come across elements from sites that you would like to include in yours. Add those sites to your Favorites list and send them to your developer to help them formulate a quote. REC Determine Your Budget. Set a reasonable budget for your site based on the design and content you desire. Ask the developer to break down the costs for the site so you know the price for each component. By knowing the details, you may be able to substitute two graphics for a streaming video in order to reduce expenses. This will also enable you to more effectively compare price quotes from different web developers. Include costs for maintenance, upgrades, animation, QA testing, etc. Register a Domain Name. Network Solutions is the Grandfather of .com domain registration but has since spawned generations of inexpensive domain registrants with a number of extension options. You can check for name availability on most sites and reserve your name for as little as $5 a year.
It is against the law to cybersquat on names. If you hold Farnsworth Bailey’s name hostage, it will end up costing you!
Compare Web Host Providers. Dependability is crucial when selecting a web host. If they have problems with their servers, your site will not be displayed. Choose a reputable provider who can demonstrate longevity, responds quickly to your concerns, and offers competitive rates. Select a provider that offers a range of plans so you can upgrade if need additional storage or greater bandwith. Free web hosts may be more trouble than they are worth if they inundate your site with their pop-up ads and blinking banners. Appraise Web Developers. Like a potential suitor, a web developer may court you with visions of grandeur to enter your house. But once inside, they may end up a coach potato holding your remote as a hostage. The developer controls your site--content, accessibility, and performance. Anyone who can post something to the web can call themselves a developer. Unscrupulous ones may prioritize their work by the highest bidder or leave you without the password to change your site. Enter into any relationship with caution and insight because you are essentially allowing them to manage a part of your business. Choose a developer whom you feel comfortable with and can articulate your vision. Review samples of their work, request references, and ask thorough questions during the interview process to evaluate how they operate. Consider their reliability, innovativeness, experience and capabilities. Once the project is complete, always ask for a copy of your site on disc as well as the specification sheet.
A “Receta” is a recipe for success developed by Black Butterfly Consulting. REC indicates that a more detailed checklist on that topic is available at www.black-butterfly.com
Visit www.blackbutterfly.com and click on Resources for links to business development sites.
© 2005 black butterfly consulting 888.364.4222
Design It Yourself. With the proliferation of DIY home stores, why not create your own site? There are a number of easy-to-use templates that you may customize. Most sites require that you use their web hosting services so comparison shop for the best deal with sites like www.register.com. Setup an Online Store. Ecommerce has altered the business model for distributing products to consumers. Set up a merchant account and create an online shopping experience. Have a fulfillment process in place so your customers can rely on timely shipments and excellent customer service response. There are also cooperative sites that enable you to sell “custom” products without carrying an inventory such as www.cafepress.com. Get Noticed. Submit your site to search engines. Include descriptive combinations of words in your metadata so engines may find you. Use common and not-so-common phrases that a user would enter to find your services. For example, “how to start a business” or “home training”. This does not guarantee that you will be first in line, but at least you will make the list. Terminology
Phrase Bandwidth Browser Cookie Domain Name/ Registration Frames FTP HTML Hyperlink Metadata PDF
Visit www.blackbutterfly.com and click on Resources for links to business development sites.
© 2005 black butterfly consulting 888.364.4222
Search Engine Server Web Host
Definition Bandwidth refers to the data capacity of the connection between one computer or device and another. A program that runs on your computer that can access and display HTML pages (i.e. Netscape or Internet Explorer). A piece of information that a Web site can install on your computer. When you return to that site, it will recognize you from your cookie and may display a site you requested on your last visit. A unique address that specifies who owns a Web Page/Site and directs the BROWSER to go there. Very much like a postal address that is unique and directs the mailman to deliver something to you. Frames break up a browser's display window into sub-windows. File Transfer Protocol. A protocol for moving files over the Internet from one computer to another. Hyper Text Markup Language is a set of tags that markup a document for use and display in a Web browser. The browsers use default display data to present the HTML-tagged document visually. A hyperlink is text or an image that perform a specific function. When the reader clicks on the hyperlinked text or graphics, the appropriate action happens. Descriptive words used to attract search engines. Portable Document Format. A way of storing and displaying files so that, using the Adobe Acrobat reader (a free software application), the files appear with all their original formatting, fonts, graphics, and other details. A search engine is the program that translates a reader's search request into a query that searches an index or database and returns a list of matching results. A place to store your pages so they can be accessed by all Internet users. A web host stores the web site you create on their servers and transmits it to the internet.
A “Receta” is a recipe for success developed by Black Butterfly Consulting. REC indicates that a more detailed checklist on that topic is available at www.black-butterfly.com