Tips for Small Business Websites

And while choosing a web developer might not be something familiar to you, following these few tips can help make your own website development experience more successful and ultimately more enjoyable.

Below are our Top 5 recommendations for selecting a web developer to help take your small business online.

1. Pick someone with extensive experience.

There are thousands and thousands of self proclaimed web developers out there. Finding web developers with a track record is important. It is now possible for anyone with a computer and a willingness to learn to be able to build their own website. The challenge lies in understanding the multitude of elements that go together to create an effective website. Writing effective content, creating page hierarchy, manipulating images, optimizing your website for search engines, setting up hosting and databases – it is all better handled by an experienced developer.

2. Choose local talent

Technically, you could choose anyone, anywhere in the world to develop your website. But let's be realistic, when it comes to customer support, timely responses and effective communication, a “local” developer will always provide better support than a remote one. Time, distance and your ability to communicate with a developer are critical to being successful online.

Too often, we see customer service confined to a chat window, or a email ticketing system, usually outsourced to someone half way around the would. The entire communication process breaks down, timelines get extended and your project suffers because something got lost in translation.

3. Provide a list

There are millions of websites online – so it should be easy for you to find a few examples of websites you like. Share them with the developer as examples of the things you would like for your own small business website. Select websites for how they are organized, the colours they use and any specific features you might want for your own website.

Be aware, however, that some features that seem “cool” can be complex to programme and add significant $$ to any budget, and often – they also negatively impact your site's ability to be found online.

4. Understand your audience in “online” terms

Websites exist for many different reasons. Knowing why YOU want the website is important, but perhaps more important is knowing how YOUR CUSTOMERS will use the website.

- How are your customers going to interact with your website?

- Is your website going to be an online brochure?

- Will the website need to be updated frequently?

- What kind of information will your customers require?

- What other aspects of your business can be assisted by leveraging your website?

5. Plan ahead

Be aware that decisions made in the beginning stages of your website development can impact your initial development costs and more importantly – your ongoing costs. Give consideration to how you may want to use your website in the future. Ask the developer about how future updates will be made, and what the cost of these updates are.

Utilizing these 5 tips will help put you on the right path to creating an effective, useful website for your small business.

Hyperweb.ca is a web development company with offices in Oakville and Brampton, Ontario. We specialize in personal and small business sites.

Hyperweb.ca is a full service web design firm dedicated to providing small business with a complete and affordable solution to today’s complicated Internet.

Hyperweb.ca offers web design, content management, search engine optimization and hosting for small businesses in Oakville and across the Greater Toronto Area. We are experienced professional developers and have hundreds of projects under our belt. WE know what works and what doesn’t and we will have your site up and running in no time.

We cater to the website needs of small business owners and companies in Oakville, Mississauga, Burlington and the whole Greater Toronto Area. Our belief is that the most effective small business websites are simple, direct, and give your clients and prospective customers the information they are looking for in an clean and straightforward way. We build websites and provide you with the tools and training to keep your website current. Not only do our small business websites look good – but they also work well allowing you to manage your site easily.

But don’t feel like we’re just handing it off and you’re on your own. Customer service is our specialty and we are only a phone call or email away, and always ready to help.

Great Services at Great Prices. All our quotes are fixed price estimates, which means once we start, there are no more annoying surprise bills. You know exactly what you’ll get and what you will be billed for Website Features