Don't Get Caught In a Web (Site) of Terror

One way or another you're going to end up with a small business web site. With the ease of creating a web site using an automated online vendor, point and click web site design software, professional web design services or some hybrid approach, you're going to end up with a web site. If you're not careful you'll get caught in a web (site) of terror.

A lot of time and money spent on a site that doesn't produce the results you expected can be very frustrating. How can you be sure you're weaving a web site capable of providing your small home based business with positive results? Let's put the many things you could do to avoid a web of terror into two categories: education and editing.

Education Is Mandatory

Education focused on two key areas is mandatory to achieving web site success for your small business. One, know your business and two know web site basics.

What, exactly, are you trying accomplish with your small business? Your web site development process needs to serve your business plan goals. Go to school on your business objectives. Make sure you have a good understanding of them. If you're like many small business owners you use a project to define your goals not serve them. If your web site is an exercise in defining your business you'll soon get tangled in a web of twists and turns with no end in sight.

Web site basics of design, traffic development and Internet marketing require some study. Use the vast number of articles published on the Internet to begin your studies. Study other web sites that reflect your business goals. Talk with other small business owners about their experiences. Invest in some basic books or spend some time in your favorite book store with coffee in hand for a couple of hours.

Editing Is Critical

Editing both your business goals and your web site is critical. If you set a small business goal and never review your progress and make changes based on results you'll reduce your changes of profitability and success. The same is true of your web site. You must constantly monitor your web site traffic for patterns of use and keep up with the techniques and technologies of web site design and Internet trends.

Small business and web sites are dynamic; neither exists in a static world. You must constantly monitor your business and site against the goals you've set for them and the Internet habits of your target market. If you're only willing to set up a web site and let it stand unedited for months at a time, it will be many months before it can reach its full potential, if at all.

Every facet of your small business must be examined and tweaked to optimize it full potential. Set goals for your web site's performance and edit your site elements to improve your results. Some elements to constantly monitor and edit include design, content, interactive features, opt-in options, keywords, in and out bound links. As you become a better student of your business and related web site goals you'll develop an action list of the most important elements you need to constantly edit.

The web (site) you weave is up to you. If you'll educate yourself about your small business goals and web site basics and edit them both to fit together you'll catch what you want with your site. If you fly by the seat of your pants, you'll only get caught in your own web (site) of terror.