What makes up a web site?

A web site is made up of three separate parts:
  • Domain name:  Name of your web site (www.mysite.com). You can purchase your domain name from a domain
    company, usually for a 1 year period, or you can purchase it with your web hosting package.  You can also purchase
    multiple domain names and have them all point to your web site - using similar domain names or a catchy domain
    name for advertising.  You may see advertising to purchase a domain name for little to nothing for the first year, but to
    keep your personal information safe, you really want a private domain registration.  A basic domain registration will put
    your name/address/phone number/email address on a WHOIS list for anyone to see, including spammers and
    marketing list sellers.  A private domain registration keeps the important details private.  It usually costs around $10/year
    for a private registration, which we feel is well worth it.
  • Web Host:  A web host is a company that gives you the space that you need on the Internet to "host" your web site.  The
    web host allows you to publish your site, including content, pictures and files onto the Internet and also gives you the
    space needed for multiple visitors to browse your site at one time.  The space provided by each web hosting company
    varies greatly, so that is something to watch for if you are comparing packages.  A web host also gives you the space
    needed for your email accounts.  If you don't have enough space to save all your emails, you could run into problems.  A
    web host also backs up your web site frequently, so if our computer crashes, we can still obtain the most recent copy of
    your site from the web host.
  • Web Designer:  A web designer can create your web site for you and maintain it with any changes or updates you
    request.  Why not leave the hard work to us and just enjoy the results, while you spend your time doing what you do best?
Web Sites 101
What information should I have on my web site?

There are several basic pages that you would normally see on a web site:
  • Home Page:  A home page is the first page people see when they go to your site.  It should contain a summary of what
    your business is all about and should have links to the various pages in your site.
  • Contact Us: There should always be a page that visitors can easily find that clearly states how to get in touch with you,
    including your address, phone number and email address.  If clients come to your office, it is also very helpful to
    include directions and a map link.  
  • About Us:  This page normally gives your site visitors a background of your company; how long you have been in
    business, how long you have been in your current location and the qualifications of your management and staff.
  • Products/Services:  This is where you would go into detail about the particular products or services your company
    offers.  If you offer many products or services, you can even group your products into categories, then have links on this
    page that bring you to more specific product pages.
  • Links:  A links page provides an area for you to refer your visitors to your affiliate web sites as well as web sites of
    friends and colleagues.  You can even have links to some of your favorite web sites, if you would like.

NOTE:  Although a site with Flash or fancy moving parts and objects may seem like fun, many people are turned off by the
distractions or an intro page that you have to click on just to enter the site.  There can also be problems viewing the "bells and
whistles", depending on what type of browser a viewer is using (Internet Explorer vs. Firefox, etc.).  A pop-up that shows on one
browser may be invisible on another.  Most people aren't on your site to play games, they are on your site to get information.  
We believe the key to a good web site is keeping it simple and making it easy for the visitors to find what they are looking for.
How do I attract more visitors to my web site?

There are several steps you can take, most of which will not cost you any money:
  • Listings:  There are several "yellowpages" sites out there that allow you to create a free listing for your company.  Many
    times your company may already be listed, but your new web site address does not show on your listing.  Be sure you
    update any listings to include your web site.
  • Business Links: No matter what type of business you have, there is bound to be a web site that has a list of similar
    businesses, grouped by state and/or town.  For instance, if you are a bridal photographer, enter into any search engine
    "bridal photographers in MA" and you will find many wedding sites that list photographers in your state or town.  Check
    to see if you can include your company on the list with your web site address.
  • Affiliates and Complimentary Sites:  If you sell products that you obtain from a particular vendor, check to see if they
    have a "links" section on their web site where you could be included.  Also, you should always be on the lookout for
    complimentary web sites to do a link exchange.  If you are a wedding photographer and know of a good wedding
    planner nearby, see if you can exchange links on eachother's sites.  
  • Paid Advertising:  If, after you have exhausted all of the options shown above, and you still are not happy with the activity
    on your web site, you should start thinking about paid advertisements.  This could be in the form of print advertising in
    your local newspaper, or a pay-per-click type of ad for an Internet search engine.  There are many options to think about,
    so it is best to call the advertiser to let them go over all the choices so you can make an informed decision.  We have
    links to a few major search engines at the bottom of our Web Sites page.