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March 16, 2009

Designing Your Site for E-commerce

The internet has become such an integral part of today's business economy that many feel their organization cannot truly thrive without a website.  Although one may be able to survive, you will need a website if you want to compete in the global market powered by the internet.   Getting yourself some web space isn't difficult, but success starts with designing your site in a manner that brings in visitors and most importantly, strengthens your bottom line.

Establishing a credible online presence begins with hosting, which can be as low as $5.00 a month.  The actual price depends on the requirements of your business.  A domain name registration is about $10 per year with website design ranging up to $500.  Even when factoring in these additional costs, getting your e-commerce site online is still relatively inexpensive, especially when compared to setting up a physical store out in the real world.   Whether you hire an expert or plan to handle things yourself, it is important to know how to create a website that enables your business to succeed.

Don't Go Overboard

Despite the importance, far too many small to medium sized businesses do not put a lot of thought into building their web presence.  Sure, having a website shows that you have a corporate initiative, but that doesn't necessarily translate into more visitors and increased sales.  Some business owners go for the home run by creating sites clustered with flashy content.  They saturate their web pages with bright colors, dynamic graphics and enough bells and whistles to light up the Vegas strip.  What many of them don't realize is that these elements often make it difficult for visitors to navigate to the content they actually need.  If this is something you have in mind, you could be in for a rude awakening once visitors leave out just as fast they came in.

Think Simple and Professional

The best way to build your business website is with a professional, yet simple design.  Implementing complex graphics and media-rich features could possibly slow down visitors with older computers and annoy those get tired of waiting all day for your web pages to load.  The key to online business is providing your potential customers with instant access to the content they need rather than trying to wow them with flash.  Only when your business grows and demands more functionality should you consider incorporating such dynamic features.  If you sell products, let people know.  If you provide a particular service, make it known to your audience.  The last thing you want to do is give off an impression that has people thinking your business is something it is not.   Be truthful, straightforward and your visitors are more likely to reward you with business.

A poorly designed website is the easiest way to keep your business from ever getting off the ground.   Although you may not be able to operate like a huge corporation, you can function like a smart business.  Make the information on your site easily accessible, pick up the phones when interested parties call and respond promptly when potential clients have concerns.  Succeeding with your website is all about connecting with the audience and building a level of trust that keeps them coming back.

Tags: website design,  sell products,  e-commerce,  domain name,  business economy