So, You Need a New Website - Part 1
So, You Need a New Website - Part 1
To help you plan out the process of building a website, I have written a series of three articles, this being the first. I have broken the process down into seven stages, which may seem like a lot. I have found, however, that the smaller the stepping stones, the easier it is to manage and the better you feel after having accomplished each stage.
Please note that building a website is not an exact science, and you may find that you have already completed some of these stages. These stages are meant to be guidelines, so don’t worry if, through necessity, you have to do some of them out of order.
Stage 1 - Branding
Most companies and organizations that have been in business for awhile have already gone through a branding process. If you haven’t been through it, I highly suggest that you do it before you begin designing your website.
Branding is everything and anything that identifies your company with the services or products you supply. For example, think of Coke; most people who hear that name can instantly visualize the logo and even hear some of the jingles in their head.
You brand will be used in every marketing venture you undertake, including your website. Your website should be a representation of your brand: from your logo, colours, content, and even fonts you use. So the reason why I suggest you go through your branding process before you build a website is because you don’t want to waste a lot of time and money on a website that will have to be changed in the near future. And with your branding completed, designing your website becomes a lot easier, because a lot of the design work has already been done.
Now, life is not perfect; you may not get the image you want on your first try, so your need to market yourself may be a necessity before your branding is complete. Whatever the setback may be, remember, the more you can accomplish on the branding front, before you start your website, the better.
Stage 2 - Domain Name
Registering a domain name can literally take you about fifteen minutes. But some thought should be put into what domain name you use, because your domain name becomes a part of your brand. You want a domain name that is easily memorable, catchy and represents your company or organization.
Deciding on and registering your domain name is stage two because it is sometimes hard to get the domain name you want, so the sooner you can register it, the better. The most effective way to choose a domain name is by using the name of your company. For example, I own and operate Virtue Creative Designs, so my domain name is “virtuecreativedesigns.ca”. If I want to be known by the acronym, I would choose “vcd.ca”.
A domain name does not have to be your full company name (especially if it is a long one) or even part of your name. Your domain name, however, should be either at least part of your company name, or a word or slogan you use in other marketing materials. If you choose part of your company name, make sure it is the word most used or recognizable. For example, if I had just wanted one word for my domain name, the best bet would have been “virtue.ca” (but alas, it was already taken). If you choose a slogan for your domain name, make sure it is the one that will be used for a very long time, and strongly reflects what you do.
This brings me to an important point. If you find out that the perfect domain name for your company has been registered by someone else, don’t think that you automatically have to choose another name. It is common practice, good or bad, for people to register names they may use. Through the domain name search you can find out who holds the license. If you really want the name, they just might sell or give it to you.
Finally you will need to choose an extension (.com, .ca, .net, etc.). This is a less important choice than the name, but it still deserves some thought. For some people, they will choose the extension that has the name they want available. So if I wanted, for example, just “virtue” and the .com was taken, but the “.ca” was available, then I would go with the “.ca”.
The extension can be a useful tool, similar to an area code. With an area code, you can tell if a company has offices in Toronto or not. It won’t tell you exactly where their office is, but it will give you a general idea. If you want people to know, for example, that you are a Canadian company or that you have a branch in Canada, choosing “.ca” could automatically help the viewer to assume that. Note that most large corporations, such as Dell and Staples, not only have a .com (for their American or international operations), but also have a “.ca” for their Canadian operations. As well, if you are planning on setting up shop in another country, most countries have their own domain name; you might want to register that one as well.
If you don’t care whether or not people assume you are Canadian, then your choices have just opened up. There are a plethora of choices, some specific to particular industries. Here is a sample list (not exhaustive):
Stage 3 – Type of website
One type of website does NOT fit all businesses or organizations. The type of website your company/organization will need will depend on the products and/or services you provide and what the goal of your site is.
If the main goal of your website is to market your organization, then you will be developing a promotional website. Your site will be about giving the viewer a full picture of what you do, how you do it, and how they can contact you. Think of it as an elaborate business card. Say you are at a networking event, and you have given a potential customer a thirty-second commercial of your business. There is no way you can give anyone a full picture of your business (especially if your services are many and complex) in thirty seconds.
This is where your promotional website comes in. The potential customer goes home or back to the office, and if they are interested in getting more information about you, they go to your website and learn all about your business. I have spoken to several people, who have this type of website, and they have said that it has cut their selling time in half, because less time is being spent at a business meeting explaining the workings and essence of their company.
Another type of website you can have is information based. If you are in the consulting or service-based sector, or in an industry that is not all that well known to the public, having an informational website can be very beneficial. An informational website has all the trappings of a promotional site, but with an added bonus: valuable and relevant information. You can have articles, videos, and other clever ways to explain what your services or products are all about, and ways in which it can benefit your potential customer. With this type of website, you are not just promoting your business, but providing a free informational service. And before you think, who would go to a website to learn, studies have shown that the vast majority of individuals in Canada who use the web on a regular basis, use it for informational purposes.
An information based website not only provides a beneficial service to the public, but also shows that you and your company know what you are talking about. The catch with this type of website is that it has to be maintained on a regular basis, especially if you want potential customers to come back frequently. Remember your branding process: the more people see and hear about your company, the more they will recognize you; and the more people recognize you, the better chance they will want to buy from you.
Yet another type of website is an e-commerce one. An e-commerce site is where customers can buy your products and services online without leaving the comfort of their own home or office. There is great potential for financial gain by selling your products online. Year after year, Canadians are becoming more comfortable with e-commerce, and are spending more online. An e-commerce site, however, has to be done right to be profitable, and there are a lot of variables to go through. If you choose to develop an e-commerce site for your company, I highly suggest investing in a consultant, or a developer who can guide you through the process, and spell out the options for you. This will ensure your e-commerce site is done right the first time and will be cost effective.
Keep in mind, not every product or service will be effective online. Do research within your industry, and find out how successful similar businesses have been selling online. If there is no precedence for what you are selling, or it hasn’t been successfully sold thus far, that does not necessarily mean that you shouldn’t do it, it just means the right way hasn’t been found yet (you could be a pioneer).
Overview
So we have the branding done, chosen the domain name, and we have a good idea as to the type of website your company/organization needs. In part two of this article, we will decide on the type of applications your website may need, who will create it, how it will be created, and choose who will host it. Look for it in a few weeks on this website. If you are interested in being notified when it has been published, send an email to: info@virtuecreativedesigns.ca
So You Need a New Website Part 1 - To learn more about this author, visit Kevin Virtue's Website.
Like this article? Share it with your friends
Like anything important to your business, building a website takes time and planning. Spending time figuring out exactly what kind of website you need and what you want it to do for your business can drastically improve the outcome, and make the process easier for you.
To help you plan out the process of building a website, I have written a series of three articles, this being the first. I have broken the process down into seven stages, which may seem like a lot. I have found, however, that the smaller the stepping stones, the easier it is to manage and the better you feel after having accomplished each stage.
Please note that building a website is not an exact science, and you may find that you have already completed some of these stages. These stages are meant to be guidelines, so don’t worry if, through necessity, you have to do some of them out of order.
Stage 1 - Branding
Most companies and organizations that have been in business for awhile have already gone through a branding process. If you haven’t been through it, I highly suggest that you do it before you begin designing your website.
Branding is everything and anything that identifies your company with the services or products you supply. For example, think of Coke; most people who hear that name can instantly visualize the logo and even hear some of the jingles in their head.
You brand will be used in every marketing venture you undertake, including your website. Your website should be a representation of your brand: from your logo, colours, content, and even fonts you use. So the reason why I suggest you go through your branding process before you build a website is because you don’t want to waste a lot of time and money on a website that will have to be changed in the near future. And with your branding completed, designing your website becomes a lot easier, because a lot of the design work has already been done.
Now, life is not perfect; you may not get the image you want on your first try, so your need to market yourself may be a necessity before your branding is complete. Whatever the setback may be, remember, the more you can accomplish on the branding front, before you start your website, the better.
Stage 2 - Domain Name
Registering a domain name can literally take you about fifteen minutes. But some thought should be put into what domain name you use, because your domain name becomes a part of your brand. You want a domain name that is easily memorable, catchy and represents your company or organization.
Deciding on and registering your domain name is stage two because it is sometimes hard to get the domain name you want, so the sooner you can register it, the better. The most effective way to choose a domain name is by using the name of your company. For example, I own and operate Virtue Creative Designs, so my domain name is “virtuecreativedesigns.ca”. If I want to be known by the acronym, I would choose “vcd.ca”.
A domain name does not have to be your full company name (especially if it is a long one) or even part of your name. Your domain name, however, should be either at least part of your company name, or a word or slogan you use in other marketing materials. If you choose part of your company name, make sure it is the word most used or recognizable. For example, if I had just wanted one word for my domain name, the best bet would have been “virtue.ca” (but alas, it was already taken). If you choose a slogan for your domain name, make sure it is the one that will be used for a very long time, and strongly reflects what you do.
This brings me to an important point. If you find out that the perfect domain name for your company has been registered by someone else, don’t think that you automatically have to choose another name. It is common practice, good or bad, for people to register names they may use. Through the domain name search you can find out who holds the license. If you really want the name, they just might sell or give it to you.
Finally you will need to choose an extension (.com, .ca, .net, etc.). This is a less important choice than the name, but it still deserves some thought. For some people, they will choose the extension that has the name they want available. So if I wanted, for example, just “virtue” and the .com was taken, but the “.ca” was available, then I would go with the “.ca”.
The extension can be a useful tool, similar to an area code. With an area code, you can tell if a company has offices in Toronto or not. It won’t tell you exactly where their office is, but it will give you a general idea. If you want people to know, for example, that you are a Canadian company or that you have a branch in Canada, choosing “.ca” could automatically help the viewer to assume that. Note that most large corporations, such as Dell and Staples, not only have a .com (for their American or international operations), but also have a “.ca” for their Canadian operations. As well, if you are planning on setting up shop in another country, most countries have their own domain name; you might want to register that one as well.
If you don’t care whether or not people assume you are Canadian, then your choices have just opened up. There are a plethora of choices, some specific to particular industries. Here is a sample list (not exhaustive):
- .com (originally for commercial purposes, but now open to all)
- .org (originally for non-commercial/non-profit use but it is open to all)
- .biz (for businesses only)
- .info (intended for organizations providing information)
- .name (for individual purposes only)
- .net (originally for network-related companies and organizations but now open to all)
- .coop (to allow cooperatives to differentiate themselves from other types of businesses and organizations online)
- .pro (for certified professionals around the world such as accountants, lawyers, doctors etc.)
Stage 3 – Type of website
One type of website does NOT fit all businesses or organizations. The type of website your company/organization will need will depend on the products and/or services you provide and what the goal of your site is.
If the main goal of your website is to market your organization, then you will be developing a promotional website. Your site will be about giving the viewer a full picture of what you do, how you do it, and how they can contact you. Think of it as an elaborate business card. Say you are at a networking event, and you have given a potential customer a thirty-second commercial of your business. There is no way you can give anyone a full picture of your business (especially if your services are many and complex) in thirty seconds.
This is where your promotional website comes in. The potential customer goes home or back to the office, and if they are interested in getting more information about you, they go to your website and learn all about your business. I have spoken to several people, who have this type of website, and they have said that it has cut their selling time in half, because less time is being spent at a business meeting explaining the workings and essence of their company.
Another type of website you can have is information based. If you are in the consulting or service-based sector, or in an industry that is not all that well known to the public, having an informational website can be very beneficial. An informational website has all the trappings of a promotional site, but with an added bonus: valuable and relevant information. You can have articles, videos, and other clever ways to explain what your services or products are all about, and ways in which it can benefit your potential customer. With this type of website, you are not just promoting your business, but providing a free informational service. And before you think, who would go to a website to learn, studies have shown that the vast majority of individuals in Canada who use the web on a regular basis, use it for informational purposes.
An information based website not only provides a beneficial service to the public, but also shows that you and your company know what you are talking about. The catch with this type of website is that it has to be maintained on a regular basis, especially if you want potential customers to come back frequently. Remember your branding process: the more people see and hear about your company, the more they will recognize you; and the more people recognize you, the better chance they will want to buy from you.
Yet another type of website is an e-commerce one. An e-commerce site is where customers can buy your products and services online without leaving the comfort of their own home or office. There is great potential for financial gain by selling your products online. Year after year, Canadians are becoming more comfortable with e-commerce, and are spending more online. An e-commerce site, however, has to be done right to be profitable, and there are a lot of variables to go through. If you choose to develop an e-commerce site for your company, I highly suggest investing in a consultant, or a developer who can guide you through the process, and spell out the options for you. This will ensure your e-commerce site is done right the first time and will be cost effective.
Keep in mind, not every product or service will be effective online. Do research within your industry, and find out how successful similar businesses have been selling online. If there is no precedence for what you are selling, or it hasn’t been successfully sold thus far, that does not necessarily mean that you shouldn’t do it, it just means the right way hasn’t been found yet (you could be a pioneer).
Overview
So we have the branding done, chosen the domain name, and we have a good idea as to the type of website your company/organization needs. In part two of this article, we will decide on the type of applications your website may need, who will create it, how it will be created, and choose who will host it. Look for it in a few weeks on this website. If you are interested in being notified when it has been published, send an email to: info@virtuecreativedesigns.ca
So You Need a New Website Part 1 - To learn more about this author, visit Kevin Virtue's Website.
Like this article? Share it with your friends
 | |
 |
No article feedback found. |
| |
Leave Your Feedback |
 | |
| |||
Jeff FosterWebBizIdeas.com is a Minneapolis website design company founded to help people start an internet business by providing them with website, business, and internet resources that help foster the growth of successful online businesses and develop innovative Internet business ideas. We specialize in internet consulting & internet marketing. - Visit Jeff Foster's Website |
|||
Casey GollanCasey Gollan, Business Coaching & Mentoring Programs. Add $1 Million to $10 Million in the next 1 to 3 years. Since 1996 Casey has to added hundreds of millions of dollars to businesses. Watch a free video see client results Business Coaching website. - Visit Casey Gollan's Website |
|||
Jay Kubassek(Jay's Full Bio: EvanCarmichael.com/jaykubassek) In five years, Canadian-born entrepreneur Jay Kubassek went from selling mufflers at a Midas franchise to revolutionizing Internet marketing with the 2004 launch of CarbonCopyPRO, a online marketing education company, now worth over $20 million with customers in over 160 countries.
As an independent film producer, his upstart film fund Aliquot Films is currently producing a films with Spike Lee and Abel Fererra (starring Ethan Hawke and Dennis Hopper.)
Jay's entrepreneurial spirit is irrepressible. He’s the owner of five companies, a professional speaker and trainer, international real estate developer/investor, extreme sport enthusiast and emerging philanthropist. Jay resides in NYC with his wife Jamie, son Milo and dog Cooper. Visit Jay's official website: www.JayKubassek.com - Visit Jay Kubassek's Website |
|||
|
To learn more about the Evan Elite Author Program please contact us. | |||
 | |
|  |
Subscribe to Kevin's articles
 | |
|
|  |
 | |
|
| |
 | |||||||
|
 | ||
 |
||
|
||
 |
||
|
| ||
 |
| Have you written articles that would be of value to entrepreneurs? Become an expert on our site by publishing them! Expose yourself to a wide audience, drive more traffic to your website and get more sales! Click Here for details. |
|
|
 |
| Modeling the Masters: Learn the true secrets behind Walt Disney's business success factors & grow your company! Video produced by Phanta Media |
|
|
 |
"Learn straight from Evan how you can Make a Full Time Income (And More) from a Website"
Click Here To Learn More |
|
|
|
|
Get advice & tips from famous business owners, new articles by entrepreneur experts, my latest website updates, & special sneak peaks at what's to come!
|
|
|
 Sample Credit Application Management vs. Leadership CAN-Spam Checklist Interview Coaching Positive Thinking |
|
 | ||
 |
The Top 10 GTD Times Posts
Best Posts for Productivity | |
 |
Fortune Hunters
CBC Entrepreneur TV | |
| ||
 | ||||
| ||||
|
| ||||
| ||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
|
Email us your ideas on how to make our website more valuable! Thank you Sharon from Toronto Salsa Lessons / Classes for your suggestions to make the newsletter look like the website and profile younger entrepreneurs like Jennifer Lopez and Sean Combs!
|
|
|
| ||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||
|
|
||||||||||||