Having a website for your business is no longer an option. Your customers expect you to have a home on the Internet. If you’ve been putting off creating a web presence for your business due to the potential high cost of hiring a website developer/designer, there are alternatives to consider and it’s important to look at your options carefully. DIY, or do-it-yourself websites allow you to design, maintain and update your website as instantly, without the need to put in a service request or pay a designer to make small changes. DIY websites are available in two forms:
FREE Websites: They can have names like Webs, Weebly, Yola or Tumblr. Big-name companies you know like Google, Microsoft and Yahoo offer free websites. Blogging platforms like WordPress, Blogger, Typepad are also options. You will be able to maintain your website yourself, of course. Be sure to read the fine print regarding what’s included at the “free” level. Most often your website will be hosted as a sub-domain only or must include advertising. Understand what limitations exist if you choose to have your website hosted outside your control.
Low-cost Websites: Companies like Homestead, Intuit, Yahoo, Register, GoDaddy, Network Solutions and IXwebhosting are in the business of domain name purchases and website hosting. They offer a variety of standard templates that can be enhanced or used right out of the box. Some are better than others, so do your homework before selecting a company. You will purchase and OWN your domain name and the website will be hosted by the company. You will still be able to maintain your website yourself.
Things to avoid:
1. Advertising (flashing banners, Adsense links or “get a free website” link in the footer).
2. Sub-domain hosting. It looks like http://www.yourcompany.weebly.com
3. Templates that look like everyone else’s.
If you’re not sure how to organize your website, lack the time or expertise that may required to give you the best results, consider hiring a marketing assistant to help. Most site-builder software is relatively easy to use once it is set up properly. You will be able to manage your website yourself, or you can outsource the maintenance as needed.
