These are interesting time we live in for the budding entrepreneur. With the combination of the economic down turn and advance in understanding of the internet, more and more people are setting up shop in all kinds of weird and wonderful areas of business. Thankfully, this is now easier to do than ever before.
The first step is obviously deciding on a business model that you are interested in, committed to, and has the potential to make you some cash ? well, you?re not going to do it for free are you? Once this is decided and the groundwork has been put in to ensure you can offer a good service via stock, tools, transport or qualifications etc, then it?s time to think how you are going to get customers. You can guess what is coming, but in simple terms if you haven?t got a prominent website you can forget about ever fulfilling your potential.
So where to start? Do your research. You might be employing someone to do this for you but if you know the process then you can ensure they don?t pull the wool over your eyes. Find out about the structure of your competitors websites, what keywords you want to be found under on search engines (for example a FLORIST in MANCHESTER), where your competitors appear on the internet (do they use Google AdWords etc). Then research web design companies in your local area. They should offer you a number of options including ecommerce, bespoke, CMS etc so have in mind what you need. For example will you have and online shop? Will you need to regularly change images or information? Do you have a specific design you would like to see implemented? If so you have the options, if not they could provide you with a website from a template. This is fine, but ensure they show you prototypes so you can change things you don?t like. It should also be relatively cheap (under ?100 per page) so make sure you get more than a few quotes.
One way to really save some money and ensure your websites long term success is to learn some SEO techniques. At first it will seem confusing, but with some solid research and a simply organised plan it can be achieved with time and effort. When your website is ready us some SEO software such as Web CEO or online sites such as seoworkers to analyse your page. If it?s not up to scratch let your web designer know and get him to fix it! Then split your SEO down into Link Building (Directory Links/Recipricol links), Social Media (Twitter/Facebook etc), blogging, blog and forum comments, and article submission.
Lists of the best free and paid directories can be found through a quick search, but keep a spreadsheet of them or you will soon lose track! You can use software and Google searches to find your competitors backlinks. The last few (blogging, forums and articles) give you quality back links often with all important anchor text. SEO is an ongoing process so don?t give up after a few weeks. Keep going and try to at least comment on a few forums every day when you have reached a good level.
Now you have a high ranking, successful site. The internet is where most of your potential clients are waiting, so you have done the best thing possible for your business. Is that the phone ringing?
Rapture Web Design Lincoln offers advice and quality web design / SEO services so feel free to have a visit!
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