Part 1: what makes up a website?

There are 3 basic components to a functioning website.

1. Website Files: The website itself is a collection of files (html, php, asp, css, or other language), and images (jpgs, gifs, and png's) containing the the site's design and content.. These files are typically created and maintained by your web developer/webmaster using a web editing program such as Adobe Dreamweaver or Microsoft Expression Web. All these files are then uploaded to a website server.
   
   
2. Web Server / Web Hosting Account: A site needs to be hosted on a public web server. There are countless hosting companies offering plans for as little as $6/month on a shared hosting plan, which is sufficient for most websites, however hosting cost could be around $50-$100 for more advanced hosting plans that may be necessary with eCommerce sites. Large corporations will typically host on their own servers, or lease a dedicated server at a hosting facility. You can also have your own email accounts using your domain as part of this.
   
   
3. Domain Name. People need a way to address your site, which is done with a unique domain name (yourwebsite.com). You must register a domain and keep it renewed. The domain name does not need to be registered the same place as you web hosting account, though this usually makes some administrative tasks and setup a little easier. It is difficult to find good available domain names, but one of the most important pieces to your website.
   
   Find a ".com" address if possible, however ".net" or ".org" is a usable alternative.
   When someone types in your domain name, there are Domain Name Servers (DNS) which route the domain to the correct web server and to your website files.
   
   
   1. Tips for choosing a domain name:
      1. Any domain registrar site will let you search for available domain names. You can often buy premium domains which range in price depending on the value of the name.
      2. Use targeted search keywords if possible in the domain, but often just the company name makes the most sense.
      3. Try to find the shortest possible while keeping it easy to remember.
      4. While you can have multiple domains for a single site, all marketing efforts should focus on using only one domain
      5. There are numerous domain registries out there. There are also many unethical company that will try to steal you from other companies, and trick you. Once you have a domain be very cautious of any emails, faxes, or letters you get saying you need to renew the domain. Typically these are scams. Make sure you are aware of which Domain Registrar your domain is hosted at.
         
         Name.com - We recently transferred our domains to Name.com and have been happy with them. Good prices and an easy to use admin interface.
         
         GoDaddy.com is a popular and reasonably priced registrar and hosting company.
         
         Register.com is a reputable domain registrar.
         
         Network Solutions used to be the premium registrar, but there prices are very high. Also avoid searching for available domains using Network Solutions as they started locking all domains searched so you have to buy it from them. They also recently entered the business of web hosting, but we have worked with it and it is very poor.
         

Part 2: do some homework before contacting a designer

1. What is the Goal of the Website? Determine what the main purpose of your website will be, as well as any secondary functions it should have. Do you have a product that you are trying to sell online? You probably need an eCommerce site. Is the site simply to provide online information on your business? If so you may just need a static "brochure" type website. Try to think about every section, page and function the site will need and make a rough outline. A designer/developer is going to need as much information as possible to plan and accurately quote the project.
   
   Don't try to accomplish too much at once. Certainly include any important and neccesary elements in your site, but trying to jam in every available bell and whistle is a recipe for disaster.
   
   
2. Who will be Involved: The saying "Too many cooks in the kitchen" can definately apply to planning a website. Expecially with larger companies with more stakeholders. From our experience, we have found that the more people involved in the decision making process, the longer the project takes and the more it costs to complete. In some cases projects end up in an endless cycle of decision and difference of opinons.
   Having one or two key people in charge of the project on your end will result in a much smoother development, lower costs, and a better final site.
   
   
3. Find Some Example Websites: Spend some scouring the web and try to identify likes and dislikes. Having a collection of designs you like and designs you don't like is very helpful. A designer will be able to look at those and recognize specific elements that appeal and do not appeal to you and take those into consideration when designing your new website. Aside from design its also important to look for Navigation menus, general layouts, any special features, the way content is structured, and really anything else that stands out to you or you see could work with your site.
   
   
4. Have a Rough Budget in Mind: In most cases it is beneficial to share your budget range with a designer or developer while discussing the project, but use your judgement on this one. This shouldn't affect the way your project is priced, but it should help determine what can and can't be done within your budget.
   READ OUR GUIDE ON "What Does a Website Cost" for an overview on different costs and how to budget for a website.

Part 3: Writing content for the site

Get started on this as soon as possible. One of the most common hang-ups in a website development project is waiting for content. When possible it is best to have someone within your company write the content for the site, or hire a professional copywriter who understands how to write for the web. You will know your business better than anyone. Remember content is easily changed and should be regularly reviewed and updated anyway, so don't feel like it has to be 100% perfect the first round.
Here are some basic guidelines for writing content.

1. Say Enough, but not too much: You'll want to make sure you have enough content on your site to thoroughly cover everything that a visitor may be looking for, but at the same time you want to be careful not to flood the site with excessive text. People generally skim through websites intiially and expect to easily find the information they are looking for.
   
   Be specific when describing your company and the products or services you sell. A site visitor is usually looking for a specific product or service and if they don't find it on your site, they'll move on to another one. Any confusion or uncertainty usually leads to a visitors exit from the site, and therefore a potential lost sale.
   
   
2. Know your Search Key Phrases: Before starting on the content it is important to create a list of important key phrases and key words that you are targeting. Try to think what your ideal customer will be typing into the search engine where you want to appear. Each page should be specifically targetted for a key phrase. These key words and phrases should be strategically used where possible within the content and headings. The developer will likely make some adjustments and implement additional SEO methods when building out the page.
   
   
3. Page Titles and Headlines: Put careful thought into these. A "Page Title" is what shows up the very top blue bar of a browser window. A "Page Heading" will appear at the beginning of the main content and usually matches the navigation menu. (The Heading on this page is "Website Starters Guide". These are important for search engines, but also for user readability.
   
   Remember that not all users will enter your site from your home page, so rather just putting a generic "Our Products" heading on a page, a more useful heading would be "Energy Efficient Home Improvement Products". That will be great for SEO, and a user will instantly know what they will find on that page.
   
   
4. Consider Visual Ways to Show Something: Studys have shown website visitors typically will look at images first and then maybe read a small amount of the text. When possible use a more graphical way to show your information. A product comparison chart is a great example. These are very effective at efficiently displaying large amounts of valuable data.
   
   
5. Photography: Do you currently have quality photography of your products, store, business, events, or staff? High quality images can really make a website shine and if you don't have them you should add this to the plan. Consider hiring a professional photographer. Stock photography is also available from sites such as istockphoto.com, gettyimages.com, shutterstock.com and many others, but it's always best to use real high quality photos from your business.
   
   
6. Formatting: Don't spend too much time trying to style the content and make it look nice. In most cases it will have to be completely reformatted when the developer puts into the website. All the special tables, colors, font-sizes, special fonts, etc, may actually complicate the process. All the styling and formatting should be done after it's placed on the website.