Getting a website needn’t be complicated, stressful or overwhelming at all. In fact it should be a very satisfying and rewarding experience where you get to see the pieces of a jigsaw all come together. From a business point-of-view it can also be very financially rewarding too as you hopefully get to see the sales coming in.
The whole process starts with a ‘brief’ where the client will outline the basics of their business; the sector they operate in and the objectives that they have for their site. We will then ask them to pick 4 websites that they like whether they are those in their sector or not and an idea of the kinds of colours they want to incorporate into their site. We will then consult with the client to establish what domain name (website address) they would like. The best long term domain names for their business are ones that incorporate :-
• The business name
• The business location
• The industry sector they are in
For example DESIGNstoreWALES.co.uk incorporates both our service and our location in addition to the business name. The benefit of this strategy is that it benefits the business once the website is live in that it then automatically helps google direct potential customers to you. If someone types into google ‘design business in Wales’ then there are 2 elements of our website address that features in this search. There are many many elements to Search Engine Optimisation (maximising the visits to your website) but this is one of the most basic and easy ways to do this without any additional effort at all.
Once a domain name has been decided upon we can then see if it is available for you and get it registered so that you own it for the next 2 years. We will then transfer it to our server for hosting which is what has to happen to all websites. Website hosting is vital for you to make your site live and visible to the world and our service offers the following features:-
• Comprehensive Stats on who is visiting
• Comprehensive stats on what search keywords they are using in google to find your site
• The times of the day they are visiting your site
• The length of time they spend on your site
• The pages they are viewing
This list is just a small selection of the statistics we can provide you with once we are hosting your website. We can also provide up to 10 email addresses for you to use. So for example john.smith@jonesbuilders.co.uk and maybe sara.smith@jonesbuilders.co.uk can easily be configured as part of your hosting package with us.
Once we have established these elements we will then put up a holding page on your site ‘New Website coming soon’ which ensures that google has a headstart on recognising your sites’ existence while we are developing and designing it. The reality is that it can take several weeks for a brand new site to appear on googles’ ‘radar’.
We will then take all the elements that you have provided and set about designing you a site that encompasses everything that you want and above all one that looks good, professional and attractive to potential and existing customers. Good quality photographs are vital to making a website look beautiful and the old adage really does hold true that ‘you can’t make a silk purse out of a sow’s ear’. Some people employ the services of a professional photographer but with the quality of digital cameras available today most people can take great shots and we can easily brighten them up or correct any minor blemishes. We will email you a proof for you to approve or criticise as you want and highlight any changes you want made. This process can take several attempts but we will not be happy until you are 100% satisfied with your proposed website. Once you are, we will then make it ‘live’ on the domain name you have registered.
It is not enough to have a website, you then need to promote it and the address should be put prominently on all of the following:-
• Business Cards
• Letterheads
• Newspaper Advertisements
• Menus
• Fliers
• Leaflets
• In fact any marketing material relating to your business.
All of the sites we design are thoroughly Search Engine Optimised to give them the best chance of appearing on Google searches but you will need to promote your website offline as much as possible to increase the number of visits which in turn will naturally promote it in the eyes of google.
Until the next time……
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