Ways to build a winning web site21 July 2005
If you're taking your business online obviously the pre-requisite is a good website. However, there are many options when it comes to constructing your online presence. If you have a few programming and design skills you may be tempted to build your own or with a little investment a website can be designed for you - either from a template package or through a bespoke service.
Obviously, personal preference, skills, time and the websites purpose will all have an influencing factor but whatever you decide there are a few issues that should be considered; here we look at what those issues are.
DIY websites
Building your own site can be a cost effective option. To ensure this isn't false economy and the results do justice to your business, here are a few things that you will need.
- Experience and/or training in web design.
- A good computer with plenty of RAM (128 Mb and up) and hard drive space (6 GB minimum).
- Web design software -- either WYSIWYG (what you see is what you get) or a text editor (if you know html).
- A scanner or digital camera -- for product or service photos.
- Image editing software and illustration software to create graphics such as Photoshop.
- FTP software for uploading files to your web site.
These are only the basic requirements. For advanced features like video and online retailing, extra skills, hardware and software packages will be needed. In which case a web design service may be the best option.
Template based services
Template based web design services allow you to have a professional looking website created by experienced and qualified web designers at a reasonable price. You choose from a selection of templates from which you opt for your preferred style and image. All you need to do is provide the designers with the text and images that you wish to incorporate into the site.
The benefits of this approach include:
- Qualified web designers build your site based on your template choice.
- Your website can be delivered in a matter of days.
- A simple tool lets you modify your own site without specialist software or skills.
- You choose a style from an extensive list of templates.
- You provide the text and images for predefined pages.
- You can usually add pages, graphics and forms at a later date, offering the flexibility to grow your site.
- A low cost solution.
Bespoke services
For a highly individual site tailored to your company's specific needs, a bespoke website offers the best solution. These are supported by a high level of consultation with a personal designer that allows you both to create a unique style and image specifically for your business. Though more expensive and time consuming than the other options this approach offers the most freedom and allows you to create a genuinely unique online presence that is properly targeted from the outset.
