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Small Business Web Site
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!
Well, all it means is that you are going to outline your ideas then
research all the elements necessary to build the foundation for a
successful web based business.
Your notes on the findings of your
research will eventually become your small business website plan. So
just grab a scrap a paper and start jotting down your thoughts.
How
formal is that?
We'll list all the aspects that you need to consider as you begin the
research for building your website.
This is your first step of the website planning
process and the most
important!
Of all the phases of website development, this is the step where you
will benefit the most by taking all the time necessary to research all
aspects of your soon to be small business.
Taking the time to plan out your website will literally save you
countless hours down the road.
As you may have guessed the very first critical thing you need is. . .
Ta Da:
"The Idea"!
You will learn how to brainstorm website topics and refine your ideas
into defining a selected topic for your own specialty "niche" on the
internet. A profitable niche of course!
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!
- Objective:
Clearly define your goals for your Website
Business Plan
- 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!)
- 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?
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