Building a webpage for your business without  knowing exactly what you are doing can have disastrous consequences. The simple reality is there are many different ways to “build a website” but the way you organize your content and the technology you use can make all the difference as to whether your site generates traffic or sits vacant.

There are multiple places your website design and layout can go wrong, and a small mistake can kill your long term chances of traffic. For example, a site developed primarily in flash has very little text content, and therefore, little chances of getting found by search engines. Or, take the example of a design that incorporates text content or the site navigation into images or the amateurish “click here” instead of anchor text optimized for your most important keywords. Fine examples of seemingly fine details that can have large consequences moving forward.

The technology you choose to build your site will also have drastic consequences for how you manage your site, and by default how much traffic it generated. If you are planning to aggressively market online, you want to make sure you have complete control of keeping your page up to date and adding new content. Why? Adding new and exciting content is perhaps the best way to bring your traffic to your website and keep it interesting for those that find it.

For the inexperienced web designer, we have found that WordPress is usually the best option for a number of reasons. First, WordPress is incredibly powerful and relatively easy to understand if you have someone who fully understands it break it down for you in simple terms. Next, WordPress is dynamic, and will allow you the capability of updating the entire website in just a few short clicks. Third, search engines love it and if you set it up correctly and promote it correctly, you can expect traffic. Last, it is incredibly easy to install plugins that make your site more interesting and useful for visitors.

If you are considering building your own webpage, consider taking lessons with us. It will speed up the process, and allow you to get your business on the web, the right way, in half the time at half the cost.

Right now, you might be asking yourself if your business needs a website. Maybe you are worried about the cost, or the time it will take to manage it. Perhaps you think your customers aren’t using the Internet, or that your leads come primarily from word of mouth referrals. The bottom line is that whatever it is that you do, your business needs a custom website because your customers expect you to have one.

Once you have accepted the fact that you need a website for your business, the next step is to find a web designer. Those stuck in this position have lots of options, and selecting the right web designer and technology for your project can make or break your chances of success. The question becomes, how should the business person with no practical knowledge of web design or Internet marketing proceed with the task of picking a designer and building a unique website?

Since times are relatively tight right now, the first thing most businesses are going to consider is the cost, so it is a logical place to start the discussion. Luckily for businesses, there is heavy competition for web designers, you can find sites anywhere from a few hundred to a few thousand dollars. What is important to consider is what you are getting, and for how much?

If you are going to go the route of hiring a web designer to do it for you, consider most what happens after the site is built, including the fees for hosting and who will manage and improve the site? In addition, you should think whether the site is going to be built from scratch and customized to your business, based off a template, or built using open-source software. Be careful to find a designer that can explain the benefits and drawbacks of each solution.

Once you have found a few designers that are willing to work within your budget, the next item you should use to make a decision is concerning management. Generally, you want to pick an option that will allow you to manage your site independently because frequent updates and content additions is what it takes to make your site a success. Extra points for custom website designers that are willing to provide their online marketing help free of charge!

On the Internet, CONTENT IS KING! It’s what initially brings in the visitors, as well as encourages them to come back.

Theoretically, the more quality content a webpage contains, the more favorably search engines will rank it. In reality, there are numerous factors that come into play, but all else being equal, the more keyword-laced, search engine optimized text your site contains, the more traffic you will receive for free from search engines.

The way you present the content on your site is also important. Text-based websites typically load quickly and are easy to navigate, which leads to a pleasant visiting experience. People do not typically visit websites to watch elaborate “flash-intros,” they generally come for information. The easier you make that information to find, the more useful your site will be for visitors.

Why text is best: For search engine optimization purposes, a text based style allows us a considerable amount of experimentation ability. SEO is not an exact science, but you can increase your chance of traffic by controlling certain onsite factors, as well as incorporating a link-building campaign to your Internet marketing efforts.

For quality, highly targeted web traffic, a serious effort to go after the most important terms is essential, and BizDetail can show you how to tweak various on-page and offsite factors to increase your chances.