I get asked all the time why you need a Web site for your home based business. You need to have a Web site for your business, even if you don't plan to sell anything on the Internet at this time.
A Web site address lends credibility and professionalism to your business when incorporated into your advertising media such as letterheads and business cards. Notice all the businesses, large and small, that now have Web site addresses at the bottom of their ads in the newspaper and television.
Use a Web site more as a marketing tool, rather than your primary sales tool. This especially true if you don't plan to actually sell anything online.
A Web site does not have to be expensive, or fancy, and don't let anyone try to sell you one that is. If you spend your money on a site that has too many pictures, graphics, or animations, the end result will be your pages loading slower, and your visitors getting bored and going elsewhere.
Concentrate on your content instead, and give your visitor a reason to be there.
One effective way to see what kind of site you like is to visit poorly designed sites and see what you don't like! See what doesn't really work, and then don't repeat that mistake. Look for colors that don't display correctly, or dark backgrounds with text you can't read, tacky, ugly design, terrible grammar and spelling mistakes.
Think of your site as supplying your sales, not necessarily making them.
Give people a reason to want to return. It goes without saying that you won't be coming back to visit me if I never give you anything new to learn about starting your home based business, or finding your legitimate home employment.
Use your "signature" file to promote your site. A signature file is the four or so lines at the end of all your email messages, and you can use this option by going to your "preferences" or "options" folder of your email program.
Keep it short and simple, no more than a few lines at the most. Just list your Web site address & the name of your business is really sufficient.
Your email has potential to be seen by a lot more people than just who you are sending it to. If you send anything that may be forwarded to someone else, any number of people may see your information, and in this case, that would be a good thing!
Print your Web site address on everything. Your business cards, letterheads, flyers and any ads you may place in the newspaper.
Be honest and courteous when dealing with people, including those you meet online. Word-of-mouth is really a powerful tool, and if you treat people with respect, they will tell others that you are an honest and friendly person.
The first step is to check and see if your desired domain name is available. If not, keep playing on variations, and you might even come up with something better!
Domain names are cheap-as-dirt these days, and I personally use & recommend GoDaddy.com:
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Home Business Start-Up Center
