The first option is to hire a designer. If you are willing to invest a good sum of money into the initial stages of developing your business, hiring a professional website designer or web design company should be something to seriously consider. The job will cost you thousands of dollars (if you hire a reputable designer) but all the pressure and work will be on someone elseís shoulders. Spending a lot of money right at the beginning of your venture may seem a little risky, but compared to other business endeavors the cost ñ and risk ñ are minimal. And the amount of money you have the potential to make after your site goes live will far outweigh the amount of money initially invested in its construction. Also, if you expect a professional job, hiring a professional is the best way to attain that objective.

A designer will consult with you regarding what you need in a website ñ a simple basic website, flash-based design, and ecommerce sites are the most common. You will also discuss form, functionality, color scheme, graphics, and other important points. Sometimes content can be obtained through your web designer as well, or you can fulfill your content needs after the basic website design is completed. In the end, hiring a web designer offers you a lot of flexibility and gives you the ability to fully customize your website in all aspects of its design.

Go it Alone

If you donít have the money to spend on a good web designer or feel itís unnecessary for your purposes, thereís no reason why you canít create the website yourself. And this option applies to everyone ñ even if you know nothing about HTML or web design. Of course, if you do know a little bit of HTML – or are willing to put your nose to the grindstone and scour the Internet and your local library to learn HTML – you can certainly build a website from scratch. But nowadays there are other ways to make your own business website without struggling with HTML or a costly designer.

Website templates, for example, combine the professional design talents of an experienced web designer with the cost-effectiveness of going it alone. Templates are ready-made web pages that a designer or design company sells for a small sum ñ the cost is so low simply because the template can be resold over and over again. In addition, if you purchase a website template that wonít be resold after you buy it the cost will rise but still ends up being much more affordable than working with a designer one-on-one. The cost is kept relatively low because, although the template cannot be sold to another person, the design was already created and the buyer agrees to purchase it ìas is.î

When you visit a website selling templates you are given the freedom to browse through a wide selection of different styles of website designs. Once you find the perfect match for your business you simply purchase and download. All thatís left is to edit it using a simple HTML editor to add content, graphics ñ you name it. One such website template company I found that offers quality, reasonably priced templates is TemplateDogma (see the link in Resource Box).

The final option is to use an online website builder to do the job. This type of program holds your hand every step of the way so that you can build a website without knowing anything about computer languages or design techniques. Even if you use a WYSIWYG editor it is possible to get lost along the way, and as mentioned above, templates do require editing after you make the purchase. A website builder is the only option that essentially automates the entire process. You might not be able to customize every aspect of the site, as templates are usually part of the procedure, but adding content, pictures, charts and tables to the site is made entirely hassle-free.

As you can see, there are many different ways to build a website from the ground up. In the end, choose the option you think will lead you down the path toward online success and youíll be happy with the results.

The links to your site in online news databases may remain for years and have significant weight with link popularity. Donít bother stuffing your press release with insignificant content. Make sure you offer newsworthy information. There are several reputable press release services available to you. One of them is PR Web. PR Web can help you to distribute your press release to a wide audience. Placing your website URL in online copies of your press release showed increase your siteís link popularity.

Include Your URL on Stationery, Cards, Brochures, and Literature

It is obvious but sometimes overlooked. Be sure that all reprints of cards, stationery, catalogs, brochures, and literature contain your company’s web address. Always double check that the syntax for your website address is correct.

Promote using traditional media

Traditional media advertising can be a great compliment to your online advertising efforts. You can drive significant amount of traffic to your site through print advertising. Because it is so expensive constantly, monitor its effectiveness. Your online business can succeed without traditional media, but donít write it off as an option.

Always include your Web address in any display or classified ads you purchase in trade journals, newspapers, yellow pages, etc. View your website as an information accessory to your print ads. Refer readers to your website and let it close the sale for you. You have a limited space in print advertising, so use it to drive traffic to your site. Once in your site you will have an opportunity to provide detailed information about the benefits of your product.

Provide Free Information

Providing free information to your site visitors could lead to sales. You might have a new book for sale, and making the first chapter freely available might help you close more sales. Letting your customers try some of your product before buying reduces buying stress, and it can lead to higher conversions. If you are a consultant, you could give away free online reports.

Publish an E-Mail Newsletter

It requires a significant time commitment, publishing a newsletter may be one of the most effective ways to keep in touch with your clients. The newsletter can help you, generate trust, develop brand awareness, produce leads, and build future business. In addition, it helps you build a list of e-mail addresses from those who visit your site but aren’t yet ready to make a purchase. Always, ask for an e-mail address and first name so you can personalize each newsletter. The key to an effective newsletter is quality not quantity. If you cannot produce enough quality content each month, release your newsletters less frequently. Provide quality and your readers will thank you for it.