For most small business owners, the internet, and websites in general, are a huge unknown. The lack of knowledge about small business website design, and even questions concerning “do I need a small business website” creates a lot of fear, anxiety and questions. The following are answers to five of the most common small business website questions owners face starting a website.
Starting A Small Business Website Shouldn't Be Scary
1. I hate computers! I don’t understand “geek-talk” and I don’t want to spend a lot of time learning about the web. What do I need to know to get started with a small business website?
Unfortunately, as with any technical product or service, there is a bit of a learning curve involved. But it doesn’t have to be a complex, torturous process! A cursory knowledge of the web, common small business website terms, advertising terminology and online marketing will be enough to get you going with your web designer.
From a broader perspective, the better defined your small business website goals and marketing strategy are, and the clearer your understanding of how your small business website will fill those short and long-term objectives — the more effective and smoother the development process will be. But, you certainly don’t have to become a small business website and marketing expert — that’s our job!
2. Isn’t a small business website expensive? I run a home based business. How much is a small business website going to cost?
True, a small business website can often be a sizable investment for a sole proprietor or a freshly-minted small business. But notice I used the term investment. If you invest $12,000 in a small business website and your website generates $120,000 in new business — Is your small business website an expense? Of course not! It’s an investment in your business.
More specific to the above question — small business website prices can very depending on the desired features and complexity. For example, a basic website for a small business starting a website, often referred to as a “brochure” website, from a reputable design firm, can cost upwards of $3,000. A more complex small business website with a Content Management System (CMS), an intranet, extranet, or other cost and time-saving features can cost considerably more.
And don’t forget — some small business website features may increase your initial development costs, but save you bundles in future updates and headaches. Be sure to ask your web designer point blank what options best serve your short and long-term needs.
3. I’m busy enough as it is! I don’t have a lot of time to devote to writing new content for my small business website. How can I keep my small business website fresh, and how much of my time will it take?
Like most things in life, this is another case of “you get out what you put in.” If you can set aside an hour or two each week to write a new website content, add more product information, or post a newsletter, the more valuable your website will be in the eyes of potential customers. But there isn’t a right or wrong answer here. Most small business owners start small and grow their small business website over time.
In addition, you don’t have to have the perfect small business website and content on day one of your site’s launch. Even if you only make minor updates three or four times a year, that’s far better than a lot of small businesses. And if you’re truly swamped, you can always hire a ghostwriter to write new content for you. That will free up your time, while preventing your small business website from going stale.
4. Initial development costs aside, what other expenses are there? And what kind of maintenance and upkeep can I expect with owning a small business website?
Once you’ve gotten past the initial development phase of your website, there are few costs associated with maintaining your small business website. You’ll have a monthly web hosting fee (What Is Webhosting?), which covers the server space, e-mail and bandwidth usage. Monthly hosting fees for small sites are typically less than most people’s cable or cell phone bill — about $25 to $35 per month. However, if your small business website has an e-commerce component, secure file sharing, or requires a database or greater bandwidth, fees may be higher.
In addition, you’ll also pay an annual domain name registration fee for your website domain name that ranges from about $25 to $35 per year. Often times, your web designer or hosting company can bundle your hosting and domain registration services for a sizable discount if purchased quarterly or annually; or, in the case of domain name registration, if you register in increments of three or five years.
Besides small business website hosting and domain name registration, the only other expenses may come from periodic content or graphic design updates. Ask your web designer about discounted rates for a quarterly, or similarly bundled, maintenance plan. If you plan on adding a lot of new content to your small business website, consider a Content Management System (CMS). A CMS will give you the freedom to add text, images, documents and products to your online store without calling your web designer.
5. How long will it take to design and create my small business website? How involved in the process of creating a small business website?
At Formulis, we try to make the web design process as quick and efficient as possible. For a somewhat basic small business website, the information gathering, design and programming of the site is usually completed in about four to six weeks. More complex small business websites are completed in stages over a longer period of time.
How involved is the process for designing your small business website? We typically require three to four meetings with you, along with constant communication via e-mail. But the entire process can be molded to fit your schedule and needs. For example, most of our small business website projects are completed entirely through conference calls, e-mail and updates posted to our website extranet. Be sure to read our Web Design FAQs (frequently asked questions) article for more information on ownership, fees and the web design process.
Don’t be shy! Let us know what you like, don’t like, or questions you have about starting a website for your small business. We’re more than happy to respond to your comments, and if you’re feeling extra brave, call us at 866-247-0605.
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