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Getting Started
Well to start with, do you need a website?
In the strictest sense, no you don't, anymore than you need to have a business. In both cases the alternatives just aren't as attractive. Yes, you can get your business listed on the Internet without having a website through phone company listings or using Google (or Yahoo or MSN) Local, but that's like sticking your toe into Lake Superior; there is a whole lot of water that you're not going to experience. If you want to learn how to swim, you might at least want to try wading in a little deeper.
A website lets you leverage your knowledge and experience and show people what you have to offer. With the right message and supporting information you may find that a whole lot of people are interested in talking with you further.
And if your business is a local service business? All the more reason to be on the Web. Your website can convey your attitude, your values, and how you take care of people, and since 77% or American adults go online, you have the potential to reach a similar percentage in your local area.
The best part for your visitors? They can check you out safely and easily without fear of a sales pitch or a hard sell. That means that you can connect with people that might ordinarily have passed you by. Even better for you if you're one of the many business owners that are uncomfortable selling to people is that your website works without your personal involvement until they actually pick up the phone.
What's involved in having a Website?
 Think Real Estate. Look at your Website as if it were your home on the Web, with your domain name being your address.
You need a host. That's where your website will be located -- your land.
You need a domain name. That's your address.
And you need a website. That's your Internet house.
Important Design Considerations
- Most people come in the front door, so make sure your home page is warm and welcoming and encourages them to want to see the rest of your website.
- Each page should have a specific purpose. You wouldn't normally sleep in your kitchen or cook your dinner in the shower. Each page on a website should have a specific reason for existence. If it doesn't then you probably don't want or need it.
- Many homes have similar design conventions. For instance, common areas such as the kitchen, dining room, and family room are usually located in central locations and have similar furnishings such as appliances, dining tables and couches. Websites also have conventions. People expect certain things in certain places and may be frustrated if they don't find them there.
So What's Next?
The most important part, the planning.
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