To Create a Small Business Web Site
Begin With a Plan

"Creating a small business web site development plan" sounds so official and formal doesn't it?

And it's sure a mouthful too!

This is your first step of the website planning process and the most important!

"The Idea" is the gift you give yourself for your future.
A well researched idea will provide the spring board necessary for your small business web site plan to take shape.

Then you will be able to more forward with the next steps in formulating a comprehensive internet business plan. You will develop a web site plan that will clearly establish your business perspective, framework, purpose and goals.


Though, when described like that developing a website business plan can begin to sound just a bit more complicated than it actually is.

As a matter of fact, the planning process for building a small business website can be compared to doing an ordinary daily chore like preparing dinner for yourself (or your family).

Believe it or not, they both include the very same activities.

Let's break it down to the basics:

It really isn't any harder than deciding what you are going to make for dinner.

• What's for dinner? (The Idea)
• Preparing your shopping list (The Plan)
• Determining which store has chicken on sale (Research/Market Analysis)
• Organizing your ingredients, utensils and cookware before you start the meal preparation process (Organizing/Structure)
• Preparing the dinner (Hosting/Building Your Website)

See?

Developing your plan for your website just became much simpler didn't it?

Once you have the vision of your web site thoroughly explored you can roll up your sleeves and begin formulating the specific elements of your plan.

The essential website planning steps include:

• "The" Idea: Think of a good one!
  
  Brainstorming Web Site Ideas
  Defining Your Site Niche
  Type of Website that Fits the Idea
   
• Objective: Clearly define your goals for your Website Business Plan
  
  
• Research: What is Business Research and What Does it Have to Do with Starting a Website?
  
  
• Competitive analysis: Understand your competition. Conduct a comprehensive small business internet marketing analysis
  
  
• Structure: Create a blueprint to organize your site theme and topics
  
  
• Visitors: Understand what your visitors want and plan out how you will deliver
  
  
• Keywords: Start a list of the best keywords possible in order to drive traffic (visitors) to your site and earn you money at the same time. (You'll want to fill up your shopping cart with these!) The Google Keyword Search Tool for ideas or use Search It to find great keywords.
  
  
• Name: Research a valuable, keyword rich domain name for your website. Factors to consider when choosing the best web domain names.
  
  
• Branding: Consider your branding strategy as you plan your website. Corporate internet branding is a web marketing strategy that reinforces recognition and your small business promotion efforts.
  
  
• Website Host: Select your site building program and website hosting service. (Get the most bang for your buck. The more features the hosting service offers in the monthly fee the better!)
  
  
• Monetizing Ideas: Start making a list of the viable and profitable options that relate to your site's theme as possible revenue generating resources. (Go for the top of the line products and services!)  Here's a quick overview on "How to Make Money on Your Website".
  

Your small business web site plan is already
starting to take shape isn't it?