Starting Smart For New Businesses - How To Hire And Work With A Web Designer

Many businesses think a website is a no-brainer use the free site hosting offered by one of many providers, add some content and wait for the money to roll in. But just as you wouldnt plunk down thousands to rent a store and wait for the customers to come flocking through the doors, nor should you so blindly put together a website.

There are several steps business owners should take to maximize this important investment in their business. Hire a good designer with whom you can work with over the months it often takes to develop a strong on-line presence. Keep your site up-to-date with relevant content and information for your visitors. And make sure that everything you send out with your business name has your URL on it so people know where to find you on-line.

Finding a designer that you will have a strong long-term relationship with should be the first thing you do. I get frequent calls from business owners who have lost control of their domain names or who hired a friends brother to do their site and who no longer returns their calls, says Jann Mirchandani of Mirchandani Consulting Graphic and Web Design. It may seem like you are getting a bargain, but in the end you save yourself time, money and aggravation by working with a pro.

Mirchandani advises all her clients to register their domains themselves so they own the URL they are investing in. Likewise, she has her clients set up their own hosting accounts or works with them to do so, so they have all the information they need to maintain control over their website. But, she cautions, make sure you consult with your designer or developer first to make sure you are getting all the features you need, and not paying for those you dont.

Another mistake businesses often make, says Mirchandani, is putting up a website and forgetting about it. Its important to keep your website content fresh for several reasons. Most importantly, visitors will not come back if your site is out-of-date or does not contain information that will provide them with something they need or want. Additionally, the bots search engine robots that cull the web for site content and relevance will recognize that the site has no new information and place it lower in its search results making it harder for prospective customers to find you.

Once you have your site up and running, and filled with fresh, relevant content, its important to let your prospects know its there. Everything that has your business name on it should also have your URL. A beautiful, content-rich site does no one any good if they dont know its there.

The most important thing to realize, advises Mirchandani is that your website is another aspect to your business. Its another way to provide a service, sell your product or provide information.

Jann Mirchandani, owner of Mirchandani Consulting Graphic and Web Design, is a graphic and web designer with over 15 years of marketing and design experience.

Mirchandani Consulting specializes in working with start-ups and small to mid-sized businesses develop their marketing material and message in print and on-line.

Prior to starting her own business, Mirchandani worked for several large asset-management companies in Marketing. She can be reached at jann@jannmirch.com. http://www.jannmirch.com

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