Small Business Web Design Checklist

By: Eric Tonk at NaviCrate Web Solutions

Submitted on Wed, Sep 9th, 2009 2:52 am

The purpose of a web presence for small business owners is to develop brand identity, provide powerful call to actions for your product or service and to obviously sell your product or service online.

Before the website is created, it needs a direction and a solid strategic foundation. Business strategy is a vital component for the overall website. What is your end goal for your website? Is it to strictly provide information about your products or services? Is it going to be used as a powerful tool to leverage user engagement, call to actions and sales?

We have developed a thoughtful checklist that will assist you in developing an effective business strategy that allows your web presence to focus on building awareness about your product or service and establishing dialogue with your potential customers.

First step is to develop the website strategy, please review the following questions:

Target Audience – Who is your target audience? Who are you trying to serve? End customers? Or Suppliers?

Website Purpose – What is the purpose of the website? To sell your product? To provide information about your product?

Engagement – How will you engage with your customer? Will you want to use social media tools? Will you provide special offers on the website?

Second step is to develop website content, please review the following questions:

Your Competition – How is your competitor utilizing a web presence? How can you differentiate your website from the competition? (e.g Provide exclusive content)

Shopping Cart – If products are being sold, what type of shopping cart will exist? How will payment processing take place? (e.g PayPal, Google Checkout)

Company Information – All website content should emphasize your unique selling point and provide powerful call to actions.
The final step is to develop a website marketing plan, please review the following questions:

Web Site Marketing

Marketing Tools – What forms of marketing will you use to promote the web site? Do you plan to place the Web address on all stationery, business cards and brochures? Will you place ads, send direct mail or market the site online or a combination?

Promotions – Are you planning to register the site with search engines? Will you contact the media to review your Web site? Do you plan to buy any Web banner advertising on other sites?

Feedback – What do you want to know about visitors to your web site? Do you want to know where they came from to reach your site? Do you want to know what pages on the site were viewed? Do you need to know the total number of hits and page views?

Creating a powerful web presence is extremely important for any small business. Plan the success of your website before starting development. A clear plan will save you money and time. Please contact us and find out how we can help your small business succeed!

About the Author

Eric Tonk
NaviCrate Web Solutions

Navicrate Web Solutions has provided companies, small businesses and professionals with no-nonsense web design that emphasizes the latest Web 2.0 technologies and social media tools. Our web development solutions include e-commerce, content management systems and social media tools. We help organizations build an effective web presence that will ultimately boost your bottom line. Navicrate Web Solutions wants to be an integral partner in your success. Let us help your organization reach its full potential.

Elite Firms

Top Web Designers

Directory Sponsors

White Media

VivaNet 2.0

7strategy

Write for Us

Are you a creative genius? Do you want to share your gift with others and enjoy recognition as an industry leading author? Write for us and get your voice heard.

Learn More