Placing Your Business On The Web
If you own a business, it's time to get on-line. Although the Internet is relatively new, this technology has quickly become indispensable for attracting and converting customers. In as little as thirty minutes and for as low as $50, you can be on the Internet with your own computer and broadband connection.
Before you can place your business on the Web, however, there are a few things to consider. First, how much bandwidth do you have? Second, what kind of hardware and software are you going to need? Third, how will you market your Web site? Fourth, who will help you get started?
The most common mistake that business owners make is to dive into the world of cyberspace without first planning how they are going to use it. As a small business owner with limited resources for advertising, it is imperative that you have a plan in place before investing in new technology. You need to know all about appropriate bandwidth, hardware requirements for connecting to the Internet and whether or not your site requires software.
WATCH OUT FOR SPAM!
When planning your Web site, you need to know as much as possible about online privacy and spam. Since many Web sites regard Internet users as just another potential source of advertising revenue, spammers have taken advantage of this fact. There are now sites offering "free" e-mail services in order to lure unsuspecting users into sending them their information. As soon as they have your contact information, they may sell or share it with other companies that cannot use it for a legitimate purpose. A second type of spam is a low-grade hyperlink designed to take viewers directly from one Web site to another without presenting the user with the link's destination first. When a person clicks on such a link, his or her browser is automatically directed to the site of the spammer who designed the hyperlink.
Another major issue facing small business owners is Internet privacy. The Information Technology and Innovation Foundation estimates that a terabyte (1,000 gigabytes) of information is generated online everyday and that over the next year alone, it will require over 6 million worker-years to organize all of this information. [1] The United States Federal Trade Commission estimates that America's marketing departments spent $16 billion on 'snail mail' during 2004. [2] With more and more small businesses using the Internet to market their products and services, it is critical that business owners protect this valuable information.
When you are setting up your Web site, be sure that you are aware of the security implications. To avoid potential problems, do your research on the latest technology before making a decision. You can buy computer hardware and software at various computer stores or online through companies such as Dell, CompUSA, Circuit City and Staples. In addition to computers and software, there are many different types of Internet browsers (e.g., Netscape Navigator, Microsoft Explorer). It is crucial that you choose which browser will work best with your Web page design and operate well with your business's specific needs. For more information on choosing a computer, visit the government sponsored site www.computerhope.com
If you are new to the Internet, there are a number of sites that offer helpful information on how businesses can use the Web. One such site is http://startupguide.smallbiztechnology.com/default.asp?sid=39&pg=nt&tid=1 which provides top 10 tips for starting up your own web-based business as well as additional tips and information on how to deal with spam and privacy issues while using the Internet to market your small business. Another site that offers helpful advice is http://www.webdesignerdepot.com .
CREATING A WEB-BASED BUSINESS PLAN
The first step in placing your business on the Web is to create a Web-based business plan . Your business plan should outline all of the elements that will be required for your Web site and how you plan to incorporate them. In the beginning, it is a good idea to do this all by yourself. Soon, however, you may want to bring in outside support for various aspects of your site or for marketing. When hiring outside specialists, be sure to ask about their expertise, experience and portfolio. After finding a reliable partner , it is important that you work out all of the details with respect to payment, deadlines and other obligations. Before proceeding, however, you should make sure that your business plan is based on accurate information.
To begin, list all the necessary elements for a successful Web site. The following components are essential: Bandwidth - If your Web site is going to be interactive, it will need higher-capacity bandwidth than if it was just going to have information pages or product catalogs. You can determine this by visiting the Internet service provider (ISP) of your choice and requesting a bandwidth analysis. They will tell you how much bandwidth is available to you and what kind of speed it provides (i.e., 256 Kbits per second (Kbps), 1 Mbps or 2 Mbps). [3] This information is important because it will determine how many people can simultaneously be connected to your site, the quality of pictures for your Web site as well as how much information can be downloaded in a given amount of time.
You may feel that you don't need a large bandwidth, but one thing to remember is that many companies now have their own Web sites and they may link to yours. If your site receives a lot of traffic, then you will have to upgrade your bandwidth to avoid long delays before being able to access the information on your site or waiting hours for products and/or services to load onto your computer (e.g., online banking).
Domain name-A domain name is the part of a Web site address to the right of the Internet Protocol (IP) address that specifies the location of a particular site on the World Wide Web. For example, my Web site is located at http://www.webdesignerdepot.com . The domain name for this site is webdesignerdepot .com . There are more than one million domains in existence and it was recently announced that soon there may be over 10 million domains available for purchase through registrars such as Verisign, Network Solutions and Register.com. [4] If you want to register your own domain name, you will need to check with a Registrar or Internet Service Provider (ISP).
Conclusion
Creating a Web site can be a rewarding experience, but you will also have to do your homework. To ensure that your business plan is sound, be sure to hire the right people to help you design and host your Web site or outsource this function all together. There are many computer stores and online sources that can provide you with the necessary equipment and software. If you decide to go online, you will have to find an ISP who has high-quality bandwidth at an affordable price. After deciding on an ISP, select a domain name for your Web site and register it through a registrar. The secret to success is to build upon what works [5] and continually improve upon it.