Wed, 07/29/2009 - 16:01 | Lyena
If you decide to develop your site yourself, your first step is setup.
- Formulate your website goal and strategy: what you want your website to do and how
- Get a domain name
- Get a website hosting account (does not necessarily have to be the same provider as the domain name registrar)
- Set up your email accounts
- Pick a template the hosting service provides
It is better, however, to find a good web developer.
During the process of selecting a designer for your website, remember that they are supposed to work for you. They should explain to you how your website is going to fit into your business model and how your business will benefit from your new website. If you do not understand this clearly after meeting with your developer, move on to the next candidate. Your developer should be able to explain your new website goals and strategies to you in your own language, on your level. It is their job. A good web developer should be an expert in site usability, browser compatibility and functionality. This means that the site should look the same in Internet Explorer, Firefox and Safari; it has to be designed to match your clients' internet patterns and be clear and functional so your clients easily find what they are looking for.
Look for a person or a company that has both technical and design skills. Coming from a technical field, I believe that clear navigation and well-implemented functionality along with a clear goal and strategy will attract your user to your website. Search engine optimization, good coding practices, and relevant content will make your website search-engine friendly. A good, contemporary design, however, will show your client that the site is up-to-date and will make a positive impression.
Make sure that your new web developer will take care of all the setup. Some companies expect you to do the setup yourself and just provide them with an FTP access. You hve to understand completely what their responsibilities are, what you will have to provide, and what the outcome is. Sign the contract and go to the next step.