Not much as changed in the last seven years in regard to the options small businesses have in designing a web site. The technology may be better, but that is relative because your competitors have the same access to technology as you do. The major challenge with a small business designing a web site is determining your budget and finding the right expertise to meet your business needs. Below are web site design options for small businesses:
1. Do It Yourself. Do you really have the technical expertise and time to design your web site yourself?
2. Friend and Family. Do you really have a friend or family member with the technical expertise and time to design your web site?
3. Templates and Sitebuilders. Do you have enough technical and design expertise to pick your web site templates or select a site-builder that can deliver an unique web site that meets your business needs?
4. Directories. Can you find an online business directory that is cost-effective and creates sales leads for you?
5. Freelancer or Employee. Can you find a freelancer or employee that can design a web site that can meet your needs at an affordable price?
6. Web Design Firm. A web design firm should be able to design you a pretty web site, but can you afford it and will the web site produce any sales for your business?
7. eMarketing Firm. An eMarketing firm should be able to help you design a great web site that generates sales, but can you afford it and get the return on your investment?
None of these web design options listed above are easy choices. At the same time, a small business needs to have a web presence. A web site is critical to most small businesses today because more and more customers are online. People regularly buy things online and search for local businesses online. A small business needs a web site to attract customers, to educate customers, to generate sales, and to maintain a relationship with current customers. See Jeff Beale’s article, Seven Ways to Put Your Business Online And The One Guaranteed Way to Do It at No Cost, for more information on web site design options for small businesses.
