Small Business Website Design Solutions

Your Business on the Web

Have a look through the small business services directory of your local newspaper and you'll see very few small and local businesses referring to their website. It's not hard to understand why. Expense, hassle, and simply not knowing who to turn to have prevented many small business owners from going online. Many others have invested in ineffective websites that contribute little to the bottom line.

I believe that most small and local business owners have been conditioned to believe that the only way to get their business on the Web is to pay a web designer several thousand dollars and entrust the whole process to them. If you were lucky and dealt with a website designer who understood Web BUSINESS, not just how to create a website, then you stood a chance of success.

Unfortunately that was often not the case, and you were left with a website that was probably a joy to behold, but had no traffic, low conversions (visitors to sales) and generated little or no income. It was just another "business expense".

It Doesn't Have to Be That Way!

Your average accountant, landscape designer or plumber does not need a website that requires hundreds of hours to create, and they do not need to be burdened with expensive design and hosting fees. Nor do they need a "designer driven" site that is loaded down with "Flash" animations and high-tech gizmos that achieve little other than allow the web designer to charge you more!

What do YOU look for when you need a local service provider? Information, or entertainment? Your average visitor to a commercial website is not looking to be entertained - if they want that they'll turn on the TV. What they do want is information and they want it fast!

They are seeking solutions and answers to their problems. And if you want to do business with them, your site must provide those solutions.

Don't Just "Put Up a Website" - Build a Web BUSINESS

A web "presence" isn't necessarily a web business. There are many site building solutions out there. Some are very easy to use. Others require a high level of technical skill. But at the end of the day, what you'll finish up with is...

A website.

NOT, a web business!

You might be proud to show it to your friends, but is it adding value to your small business?

If your goal is to build a web business then your site must be able to attract targeted visitors and convert them into customers. Most site building solutions ignore these vital aspects of building a web business, as do many website designers or developers. They figure that their job is to deliver you a nice looking website. To "put up a site". What do they care if your online business fails? Their job is done.

Is it any wonder that websites built to this formula wither and die, with the owners convinced that the Web simply doesn't work for small and local business?

"Brochure" Style Websites

We've all seen "brochure" style websites. They usually have an introduction something like this...

"Welcome to our website. We have been in the web design business for many years. Our company was founded by Frederick Derps in 1956 and today employs hundreds of people. Feel free to browse our site...... blah blah blah"

How do you react to these sites? Exactly. Yawn...click...away.

Don't build an online brochure. Give your visitors solutions to their problems! Give them the information they are searching for. Provide useful and helpful content. Build trust. The sales will follow.

The resources and tools on this site will help you research, plan and construct a site that will be an asset to your business, not just a web presence.

Build it Yourself with a DIY Solution

Do you really need a professional website designer? Most web professionals would argue "Yes, of course you do. You don't build your own house, so why would you try to build your own website?" If your needs are complex or you require specific functionality or custom software design, then that's probably true.

If you plan on building the next Amazon or YouTube then your needs are probably better met elswhere. Good luck with that...

But what if you're a small business service provider e.g. accountant or auto electrician and you just want to generate targeted leads for your business? Do YOU need to hire a professional or is it really possible to do it yourself?

What if you don't know HTML (or even what that stands for) and have no idea about how to market your business on the Web?

And what if you have no existing business but would like to "monitize" your passion? That is, create an online business around your hobbies or skills.

Are there Real, Workable, DIY Solutions?

The good news is yes, there are. But there are also pitfalls. There are products which appear to be quick and easy, but in the end leave you short-changed.

So, the objective of Web Business Solutions is to help you find workable DIY solutions that I've personally tested and evaluated. Then, if they make the grade, to not just recommend them but to help you use them.

Don't Have Time to Build Your Own Website?

Don't fancy doing it yourself? SiteSell Services is now open. Click here for more info.

Where to from here?

• Learn how to build your own website with a complete online design, hosting, domain name and marketing solution
• Discover a website design software package that's easy to use but creates effective websites
• Don't have time to build your own website? Have a "website that works" built for you

australian small business website designer - Create Web Site

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