1. What is a domain name?
The purpose of a domain name is similar to that of a street address or telephone number. The domain name directs customers to you on the Internet. The domain by itself is not your email or web address. The domain does form the base from which these addresses are derived.
For example:
Company Name: Websites 4 Small Business
Domain Name: web4business.com.au
Web Address: www.web4business.com.au
Email Address: info@web4business.com.au
2. Do I need to register a domain name to have a website?
The simple answer is NO, but a better answer is YES it is a good idea. The cost of registering '.com.au' domain name is only A$140 for 2 years and has many advantages. Read more.. http://www.web4business.com.au/GettingStartedStep1.htm
3. How do I find out if my domain name is still available?
Once you have decided on the domain name that you would like, you need to check if it is available. To check go to: www.melbourneit.com.au
4. What do I do if my domain name has been registered by someone else?
Panic! Just kidding!!! Simply call us and we can recommend alternative names that would be suitable for your business.
5. How do I choose a design for my website?
The best way to start is by choosing a colour scheme – 2-3 colours are the best. If your company has a logo or preferred colours on its stationery that’s a good start. For those of you starting from scratch, choose two or three complementary colours and stick with them – don’t change colours on every page.
If you’re not sure what colour scheme to choose, surf the internet and find a website that you like. You can then model your colour scheme on what already exists.
Can’t find a website you really like? Another option is to choose a template. There are many templates or pre-set designs. These come as part of your web design software (such as FrontPage) or you can check out some websites that specialise in designing templates.
You can find many templates by going to:
http://www.web4business.com.au/GettingStartedStep2.htm
These templates can be customised to suit your business. Templates are great, as they allow you to see what your website will look like before you spend any money. One suggestion for using templates – if you are planning to add a lot of your own pictures and photos, stick to a neutral, basic website which doesn’t have any graphics. This way your photos will stand out, instead of competing for attention.
Naturally, your designer is a good source of information. If you are looking for a custom website, he/she can design one for you from scratch, but knowing your preferable colours is a great help.
How do I get my small business on the internet? How do I promote my website on a shoestring budget? Who can help me with my home based business? If you are asking yourself these questions, then read on ... you will find plenty of useful marketing tips for your small or home-based business.
Saturday, June 24, 2006
Wednesday, June 14, 2006
Don't Waste Your Money Getting a Website
Don’t Waste Your Money Getting a Website …
By Ivana Katz
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Some time ago a distressed client (let’s call him Charlie) called me “I’ve distributed over 20,000 flyers about my business and nobody has bought anything from the website”. My first question to him was “did you check the spelling of your website address on the flyer?”. His response “I didn’t put my website address on the flyer – should I have?” … I didn’t know how to respond.
Shortly after, I got another call from Charlie … but more on that later.
Let’s face it, some people are just not ready to have a website. It seems that many first time entrepreneurs’ idea of starting a business is getting a website. And that’s it! They have no intentions of doing any marketing and if they do have a marketing plan it consists of telling their friends about it and possibly distributing a few brochures in the neighbourhood. Some people go as far as planning to advertise their business/website in the local newspaper. More often than not, they expect that as soon as they have a website, the money will start rolling in. They believe a magic internet fairy will appear and announce the arrival of their website to the world.
The truth is, it doesn’t work that way. With millions of websites popping up on the internet every month, you are competing against a lot of businesses … not only locally, but globally. So please please, before you think about getting a website, decide how you are going to promote it.
If you are about to declare bankrupt in your business and are thinking of putting your last few dollars into getting a website designed, hoping that it will bring you instant cash, don’t do it! A website will not solve your problems unless you are willing to put in some money (and it doesn’t have to be much) or time to promote it.
When I meet potential clients my first two questions are:
“Why do you want a website?” and “How are you going to promote it?”
Depending on their answer I guide them to the best solution. On a few occasions, I’ve had to tell them they were not ready to get their business on the internet.
In fact one client, who was desperate to make money from her website told me that she didn’t have time for marketing, because she needed to start earning money quickly.
On the other hand there have been lots of very successful entrepreneurs who have made their website work for them.
Lisa Pearse-Sargeant of Paper Scissors Rock Kids Group (www.paperscissorsrock.net) says “For the first six months of starting Paper Scissors Rock Kids due to a limited start-up budget we only had a basic web page in a newsletter format. This was until we had a better understanding of the business and direction it would take. Through a combined gathering of information at trade shows and print advertising, we felt ready to invest time and money in a proper website. Now our website has proven to be a cost effective way to showcase our product instead of printing costly catalogues. I believe for my business I need to have a crossover marketing approach ie. target trade & public through a mix of web & print advertising, store presentation/merchandising and trade exhibitions”
Josslyn Harrower of Snugzeez (www.snugzeez.com.au), found she desperately needed a website to showcase her products. “My business had been up and running for 3 months and most of my orders were from word of mouth. An international sleep expert 'Tizzie Hall' was personally recommending my sleep comforters to her clients, and they kept asking to see what the products looked like and what variety was available. My products were not available in stores so the only option was to have a website. It wasn't long before I was being approached by other websites to link their site to mine. This has definitely helped with marketing my products. I receive more hits on my site from Tizzie Hall's website and a few others than advertising in magazines or newspapers. Winning 'Best Product' at Sydney Kidz Expo last year certainly helped to boost my site's exposure."
If you decide to have a website, it is extremely important you take the time to plan it and work out how it will fit in with the rest of your business. The website needs to be functional, rather than just “pretty”. It needs to provide your visitors the information THEY need.
If you don’t know where to start, you can download a free Website Plan by going to: www.web4business.com.au/WebsitePlanRequest.htm
The last time I heard from Charlie, our conversation went something like this:
Charlie: “Ivana, can you please send an email to everybody telling them about my website”.
Me: “Yes of course … just send me your mailing list”
Charlie: “What do you mean mailing list? I don’t have one. I thought you just press a button!”
So please, before you pick up the phone and speak to a website designer, think about how you will market your website. If you have a website already and are not getting the traffic you need, you may wish to read “30 ways to promote your website on a shoestring budget” - http://www.web4business.com.au/ArticlesIK30waystopromote.htm
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ivana Katz is the owner of Websites 4 Small Business, a company specialising in the design and promotion of growing, small and home-based business websites. She believes that every business deserves to have a successful website, no matter what its budget is. info@web4business.com.au - http://www.web4business.com.au
This article can be republished for free as long as the author information and website links are included.
By Ivana Katz
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Some time ago a distressed client (let’s call him Charlie) called me “I’ve distributed over 20,000 flyers about my business and nobody has bought anything from the website”. My first question to him was “did you check the spelling of your website address on the flyer?”. His response “I didn’t put my website address on the flyer – should I have?” … I didn’t know how to respond.
Shortly after, I got another call from Charlie … but more on that later.
Let’s face it, some people are just not ready to have a website. It seems that many first time entrepreneurs’ idea of starting a business is getting a website. And that’s it! They have no intentions of doing any marketing and if they do have a marketing plan it consists of telling their friends about it and possibly distributing a few brochures in the neighbourhood. Some people go as far as planning to advertise their business/website in the local newspaper. More often than not, they expect that as soon as they have a website, the money will start rolling in. They believe a magic internet fairy will appear and announce the arrival of their website to the world.
The truth is, it doesn’t work that way. With millions of websites popping up on the internet every month, you are competing against a lot of businesses … not only locally, but globally. So please please, before you think about getting a website, decide how you are going to promote it.
If you are about to declare bankrupt in your business and are thinking of putting your last few dollars into getting a website designed, hoping that it will bring you instant cash, don’t do it! A website will not solve your problems unless you are willing to put in some money (and it doesn’t have to be much) or time to promote it.
When I meet potential clients my first two questions are:
“Why do you want a website?” and “How are you going to promote it?”
Depending on their answer I guide them to the best solution. On a few occasions, I’ve had to tell them they were not ready to get their business on the internet.
In fact one client, who was desperate to make money from her website told me that she didn’t have time for marketing, because she needed to start earning money quickly.
On the other hand there have been lots of very successful entrepreneurs who have made their website work for them.
Lisa Pearse-Sargeant of Paper Scissors Rock Kids Group (www.paperscissorsrock.net) says “For the first six months of starting Paper Scissors Rock Kids due to a limited start-up budget we only had a basic web page in a newsletter format. This was until we had a better understanding of the business and direction it would take. Through a combined gathering of information at trade shows and print advertising, we felt ready to invest time and money in a proper website. Now our website has proven to be a cost effective way to showcase our product instead of printing costly catalogues. I believe for my business I need to have a crossover marketing approach ie. target trade & public through a mix of web & print advertising, store presentation/merchandising and trade exhibitions”
Josslyn Harrower of Snugzeez (www.snugzeez.com.au), found she desperately needed a website to showcase her products. “My business had been up and running for 3 months and most of my orders were from word of mouth. An international sleep expert 'Tizzie Hall' was personally recommending my sleep comforters to her clients, and they kept asking to see what the products looked like and what variety was available. My products were not available in stores so the only option was to have a website. It wasn't long before I was being approached by other websites to link their site to mine. This has definitely helped with marketing my products. I receive more hits on my site from Tizzie Hall's website and a few others than advertising in magazines or newspapers. Winning 'Best Product' at Sydney Kidz Expo last year certainly helped to boost my site's exposure."
If you decide to have a website, it is extremely important you take the time to plan it and work out how it will fit in with the rest of your business. The website needs to be functional, rather than just “pretty”. It needs to provide your visitors the information THEY need.
If you don’t know where to start, you can download a free Website Plan by going to: www.web4business.com.au/WebsitePlanRequest.htm
The last time I heard from Charlie, our conversation went something like this:
Charlie: “Ivana, can you please send an email to everybody telling them about my website”.
Me: “Yes of course … just send me your mailing list”
Charlie: “What do you mean mailing list? I don’t have one. I thought you just press a button!”
So please, before you pick up the phone and speak to a website designer, think about how you will market your website. If you have a website already and are not getting the traffic you need, you may wish to read “30 ways to promote your website on a shoestring budget” - http://www.web4business.com.au/ArticlesIK30waystopromote.htm
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ivana Katz is the owner of Websites 4 Small Business, a company specialising in the design and promotion of growing, small and home-based business websites. She believes that every business deserves to have a successful website, no matter what its budget is. info@web4business.com.au - http://www.web4business.com.au
This article can be republished for free as long as the author information and website links are included.
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