Building a website to promote your business isn’t particularly difficult if you happen to have some training in the field of web design. You also need to know about graphics, with perhaps a smattering of SEO thrown into the mix.
If you don’t already have these skills, devoting several hours a day to the subject could provide you with sufficient knowledge to cobble together a workable website, but your business website needs to be so much more than simply “acceptable”. As the showcase for your goods and services, it really needs to shine. To do that effectively, it needs to be built by professionals in the field.
Where to start
According to a recent article in Forbes, over 54% of small businesses opt to outsource their website design and build. This makes good business sense as it allows you to concentrate on growing your business, while skilled professional web designers and developers create your perfect online showcase.
Your first step should be to set out in writing what you hope to achieve from your website. Will it be a new build, or are you adapting and improving your current site? How many pages do you think you might need? Do you plan to update content yourself? Will you include a blog?
Once you’ve established a rough guide for your needs, it’s time to start looking for a compatible web designer.
Choosing a web designer
Your options when it comes to enlisting the help of a web designer are wide open. Depending on your requirements, you might opt to take on a talented freelancer, an international high-flying web development team, or a smaller, more local organisation. Many local concerns, such as the Cheltenham web design team at www.craigpauldesign.co.uk/web-design-gloucestershire, also provide additional services such as marketing, making them a one-stop destination for your complete website package.
For most small-to-medium businesses, choosing a local designer is the best option. You won’t have far to go when you need to spend time with them to discuss your options, and you know that they’ll always be close at hand if you need to make amendments or alterations to your site.
Establish a budget up front, and keep an eye on the design process to make sure your new website is a good fit for your business.