Do It Yourself
The first way would be the obvious, to do it yourself. If you have technical knowledge and time on your hands then this is a great way to put up a site that suits your business.
Pros:
Cons:
Results:
In most cases the results are the business owner builds a site that brings no results. The site is a creation that only the owner appreciates. Due to the lack of expertise and time they miss many critical elements in their site. So though the price was not much more than registration of a domain name, purchasing of software, hosting fees and time, I cost the owner thousands in loss time and sales.
Friend and Family
Many business owners have friends and family that have some web design experience but few have people in their circle that have a full understanding of developing a business site and how it interacts online.
Pros:
Cons:
Results:
In most cases the results are the same as the results of if the business owners would have done it themselves. With out the expertise in web design and Internet marketing the site brings no results thus waste valuable time and money.
Templates and Sitebuilders
Templates and template driven site builders are the newest trend in web design. There are numerous sites that business owners can go to and download a template or go through an easy step by step process which will put them online in a matter of minutes.
Pros:
Cons:
Results:
The results tend to be slightly better with template driven sites due to the web site layout is visually appealing and structure is functional. The challenge is still to get people to come and by from your site. This still is placed on the ability of the business owner.
Directories
Many business owners rely on online directories to place their contact information and a brief description of what they offer. This is fairly inexpensive but you are relying on the merit that that site has many visitors interested in your offering and you have little competition on that site.
Freelancer or Employee
Many businesses have an employee dedicated to tend to their webmaster needs. They work on salary and can perform many different functions within your organization. You can also have freelancers bid on your project and work within your budget. This is a very popular approach since the fall of dot.com. Many highly qualified designers are looking for work and will do a stand up job within your budget.
Pros:
Cons:
Results:
If you get a quality designer that is freelancing you will have a very quality web site. If you specify your needs and have the proper budget you should see some return on your investment.
Web Design Firm
Hiring a design firm that specializes in business development is a smart decision. They have the expertise and focus on developing you a web site for your business that is geared to accomplish your goals.
Pros:
Cons:
Results:
You will have a professionally designed site with the functional structure and components to generate business. If the design firm is quality it will be a higher closing rate once visitors come to your site. Many design firms have people versed in marketing that can give you tips on how to bring traffic to your site. This will be priced higher than the other methods but will bring higher results.
eMarketing Firm
The final way to get your business online is employing services from an eMarketing firm. These firms provide you an online solution customized to your business model which will include web development, online software application and Internet marketing. This typically is the most expensive out of the seven methods but it is the most complete solution for most business that needs an effective online presence.
Pros:
Cons:
Results:
Once again you will have a professionally designed site with the functional structure and components to generate business. You will also have a marketing plan with strategies to generate business through your site. Return on Investment (ROI) is typically gained in a shorter period of time.
Conclusion
Many have been told the myth, “Build a business web site and they will come”, which proved to fail many businesses eager to expand. To see how to put your business online with no cost you must first understand what cost means in contrast to price. Price defines the amount of purchase where cost represents the end result. To better explain this I will give you an example.
If you paid $100 for a web site that generates you no business in a year then how much did the site cost you?
If you paid $1000 for the same site but that site brought you $100 a month for a year, how much did that site cost?
The first site cost you $100 after a year were the second site paid you $1200 at the end of the year and cost you nothing. Actually the site paid you $200 for having it. Makes sense. The only guaranteed way to get a site for nothing (so to speak) is to have it built right as well as marketed to your targeted market the first time. So decide your method wisely.
Jeffery Beale is an eMarketing specialist and eBusiness consultant working mainly with small business owners and independent professionals. He runs Jazar Dezign. Jeff firmly believes that all businesses can succeed if given the proper resources and knowledge. If you would like to write a web design related article for Xemion.com, please contact us.
