Seven Ways to Put your Business Online And The One Guaranteed Way to Do It at No Cost

Templates and Sitebuilders

Templates and template driven site builders are the newest trend in web design. There are numerous sites that business owners can go to and download a template or go through an easy step by step process which will put them online in a matter of minutes. Pros:

• Usually low priced and sometimes comes with hosting
• Fast design turn around time. You can have your site up the same day
• Visually appealing design that is structured properly by a professional designer
• Easy to put in your information and publish
• You have control over the site and can freely make changes

Cons:

• Nonexclusive - This means that you will not have a unique site. You will have a site that looks just like many of your competitors. Being in business, you know how important it is to be unique. *Some template designers will offer exclusive rights for a nominal fee.
• You must provide sales copy
• They do not optimize the site for your company
• There are no means of getting targeted customers to come to your site after the design is published.

Results:
The results tend to be slightly better with template driven sites because the web site layout is visually appealing and the structure is functional. The challenge is still to get people to come and buy from your site. This challenge is still placed on the ability of the business owner.

Directories Many business owners rely on online directories to place their contact information and a brief description of what they offer. This is fairly inexpensive, but you are relying on the merit that that site has many visitors interested in your offering, and you have little competition on that site.

Freelancer or Employee

Many businesses have an employee dedicated to tend to their webmaster needs. They work on salary and can perform many different functions within your organization. You can also have freelancers bid on your project and work within your budget. This is a very popular approach since the fall of dot.com. Many highly qualified designers are looking for work and will do a stand-up job within your budget. Pros:

• Knowledgeable professional working on your site within your budget
• Free up your time to do your business

Cons:

• Risk of how knowledgeable and dependable the freelancer is that is working with you on your site
• You will only get what was bid on within their skill set.

Results:
If you get a quality designer that is freelancing, you will have a very quality web site. If you specify your needs and have the proper budget, you should see some return on your investment.

Web Design Firm

Hiring a design firm that specializes in business development is a smart decision. They have the expertise and focus on developing a web site for your business that is geared to accomplish your goals. Pros:

• Professional design team knowledgeable of how to develop a business site that sells.
• Free up your time to do your business

Cons:

• Risk getting a poor-quality design firm that will do a low-quality job
• Some design firms will not be ethical after the payment
• Some design firms will leave your project to you to market after the design is complete

Results: You will have a professionally designed site with the functional structure and components to generate business. If the design firm is a quality one, it will be a higher closing rate once visitors come to your site. Many design firms have people versed in marketing that can give you tips on how to bring traffic to your site. This will be priced higher than the other methods but will bring higher results.

eMarketing Firm

The final way to get your business online is by employing services from an eMarketing firm. These firms provide you an online solution customized to your business model, which will include web development, online software application and Internet marketing. This typically is the most expensive out of the seven methods, but it is the most complete solution for most business that needs an effective online presence. Pros:

• Professional design team knowledgeable of how to develop a business site with sales copy, search engine optimization and a marketing strategy to generate targeted visitors to your site
• Free up your time to do your business
• Staff of experts that keep up with all the changes in the online marketplace
• You will have a marketing plan for your online strategy

Cons:

• Typically more expensive than the other methods

Results:
Once again, you will have a professionally designed site with the functional structure and components to generate business. You will also have a marketing plan with strategies to generate business through your site. Return on Investment (ROI) is typically gained in a shorter period of time.

Conclusion

Many have been told the myth “Build a business web site and they will come” which proved to fail many businesses eager to expand. To see how to put your business online with no cost you must first understand what cost means in contrast to price. Price defines the amount of purchase where cost represents the end result. To better explain this I will give you an example. If you paid $100 for a web site that generates you no business in a year, then how much did the site cost you?
If you paid $1000 for the same site but that site brought you $100 a month for a year, how much did that site cost?
The first site cost you $100 after a year whereas the second site paid you $1200 at the end of the year and cost you nothing. Actually, the second site paid you $200 for having it. It makes sense; the only guaranteed way to get a site for nothing (so to speak) is to have it built right as well as marketed to your targeted market the first time. So choose your method wisely.

About the Author

samuel mwangi
Marketing Solutions For Start up Business
noelmwangi55@gmail.com
samuel mwangi is a marketing specialist that has worked with planning and implementing marketing strategies for several businesses ranging from independently owner organizations to government and corporate entities. He is known for saving thousands in marketing dollars and increasing growth with the utilization of a diverse Internet marketing strategy which integrates functional web design with focused SEO.