buznutt

When developing a web site there are a few essentials that every business needs to prepare for.

You read that right. The business develops a web site. Not an artist, not a designer, not a geek with mad crazy web skillz. The business. Your business. You.

If you have a business and you need a web site, then the site becomes part of the business. You are making an investment. You are entering relationships. With the web, with computers, with a hosting company, with a new audience, and with the people who develop and maintain your site.

Tools. Think tools. Never forget that a web site is a tool. One of many, but still a tool. One that takes some skill to use, and one that can be used correctly. Or not.

And never forget that you own it. Like your first pet, you don’t get to just have it. You need to do the work too.

So what do you look out for?

First, know your business needs. Does your business really need a web site?. Why? What advantage will it bring you? Are you ready to work with a development team, right now, and get it done? And when it’s done, what will it do for you? Besides adding more work? Because you’ll have to keep it up.

Can you make plans? Can you commit?

Once you start building a web site you’ve branched your business. Imagine getting a great deal on a side of beef. Prime steaks for your family, at a great price. But only if you act. Wait too long, dither, and someone else gets it. Have no plans when it’s ready and it spoils, waiting for you.

Agreeing to deadlines is one thing but meeting them is another. You have to be ready and willing. And then you have to do it too. For your business. For yourself.

Are you willing to produce?

Only you know your business. You know what it is, why it is, and what it can do. You know your history, who loves you, who your satisfied customers are. You are aware of which star you’re aiming for, and why you deserve to get there.

But you have to share.

You develop written copy, or get it done for you. You produce the photos and art that represents your business. Or get specialists to do them. Under your supervision. Without these (the "content" of your web site) you have nothing but a shell. Think of a big, shiny, clean building in just the right location, but empty. You need to fill it. Only you can do it.

Do you know what a web site is? Have you ever seen one?

You need at least minimal computer skills.

Absolutely true. How else will you test your site? How will you convince yourself that it’s working the way it should? Working today as well as yesterday? Tomorrow as well as today?

Can you converse by email? Can you save files? Upload files? Fill out a form? Will you be able to operate your own web site? And if not, then how will you tell if you got what you wanted? You have to do at least as well as your customers.

The customers you hope will use it.

You’ll have to know what they feel when they visit your site. Can’t have them hating it, can we?

Golden bells and silver whistles. Pretty, but do you need them? Or are they just fancy, pointless toys, like tinsel on shrubs?

This takes us back to the beginning. You know your business, you’re willing to cooperate and work hard to get a good web site built. You have the expertise to appreciate it, but do you need absolutely everything it’s possible to cram into one?

Remember, you have to pay for what you get. And not just once. Building a huge edifice might be impressive, but not in a good way. There are impressive catastrophes too, but maybe you’d rather not own one. Or pay for it.

And if there’s one thing about a web site, it’s change. They all need a little every so often. To look alive. But a site that’s too big and fancy might be too tricky. For your budget, for your customers, for your needs. And it might tend to break in odd places. It happens.

So back to basics. Think. What do you really need? A blog, a corporate home, an ecommerce site, a social network, a fan site, gaming, a humor section, international news, personal home pages for staff, psychic information, weather, a school site, a wiki? All together?

Remember, money talks, and it should be talking to your customers, in a nice way, and not scaring them. Do what you need, in a way that represents you and welcomes and intrigues your customers.

Use your limitations as advantages.

You don’t have unlimited time or money, so do what you need with what you have. Define your biggest challenges. Then defeat them. Accomplish. What you need to accomplish. Impress. In the right way. Convey the right information. Be honest. Stay focused. Be careful with resources, but unique. Stay fresh.

Work for yourself as if you meant it. As if you were in business.

Copyright © 2008 - 2010 by Dave Sailer

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