If you're setting up a website for your company, whether you are launching a new idea or finally taking your decades old business out on to the web, there are plenty of different opportunities to get online for cheap these days.
Thanks to open source WordPress software, which improves daily it seems, and free information available all over the net, the learning curve has definitely leveled out.
But if you are setting up a website on your own, there are some things you absolutely can't forget, and today I want to cover 4 you should keep in mind.
1.
A Professional Domain It's important that you have your own professional domain.
What this means is you want to host your own website and upload the software from Wordpress.
org to your site rather than going with Blogger or Wordpress.
com (there is a huge difference between these two WordPress solutions).
What this means is that your domain name will be nice and cleansomething like "WeSellTrucks (dot) com" instead of "WeSellTrucks.
wordpress (dot) com.
" Does that make sense? Basically, when you go with a free hosting solution like a hobbyist would do, it's obvious because of the additional handle on your domain, and to many prospective customers, this is highly unprofessional.
To go further, many of these free solutions do not allow you to monetize your site or promote a commercial business.
This is not true with some, like Blogger, but it is true for many.
And even if you're a hobbyist, I highly recommend going with paid hosting because if you decide to get more serious later or just make some extra cash via banner ads, you will have to transfer your whole site.
Not fun, and for just over $5 per month, with companies like HostGator, and maybe a one-time $10 payment for a solid domain, it's really not that big of an expense.
2.
Contact Points As a marketer, it really drives me nuts to see people forget to put a contact point on their domainevery commercial website should have a page where a contact form, email, or phone number is available.
In other cases, businesses have this information, but it's out-of-date.
Big no-no, and this can lead to a lot of lost sales.
Even if you're strictly a virtual business and just want to get those clicks and leave it at that, you should always include an email at the least.
The occasional buyer will have a question they need answered, or your "Buy Now" link might not even be working.
If anything, you can use those emails to put together a solid FAQ and cut down on future inquires.
3.
An About Us Every corporate site needs an "About Me" or "About Us" page as well.
If at all possible, include a picture of yourself or some of the people at your companypeople online want to do business with a human being, and this will increase your conversions by a huge margin.
Use the About Me to build credibility while at the same time showing personality.
Don't be afraid to have personal photos of you relaxing with family, barbecuing, or hanging out at the beach.
Include qualifications, like how long you've been in business, accomplishments, and education/training.
4.
A Call to Action Many businessmen lose the sale because they never ask for it...
so ask for it.
A call to action can be as simple as "click here" or "contact us now" or "pick up the phone and call.
" Or, just come right out and tell them why they should buy, and then tell them to do it.
Just ask them to take action in some kind of way.