Websites
Are you finding the whole idea of getting your business online
confusing and just a little bit daunting?
Here are the basics that need to be considered.
To get your business on the internet you will need a website (domain),
a website name (domain name) and a domain host who provides web space for
your domain.
Visitors will be able to use your website name to find you on the internet.
You will probably also want to promote (internet marketing)your business online to allow customers to find you using search engines such as Google Yahoo or MSN.
This could give you a competitive edge over your rivals.
Use our online website requirements planner to plan out your requirements and receive a quote for your new website development.
Key considerations
- Before starting, it is important to decide how critical being found on the internet is will be for your business. This will be crucial in the type of website design and approach that will work best.
- Do you want to match or exceed a level of service that your competitors offer online.
- Do you want to sell online, will you want customers to book online, are you going to want to collect information from your website visitors.
- Will you want to set up online newsletters, do you want to make your website user friendly to visitors with particular disabilities and so on.
As you can already see, there are a lot of considerations that relate to
websites other than the just the website design. Only when you are aware
of all the factors and how they affect your company's requirements can you
make an informed decision.
Your websites job is to make you money; either by allowing your
product to be sold online or by delivering your message to a larger audience.
One other consideration, a website should never
be regarded as finished, but an evolving tool that is there to help your
business, in-fact the ones that are ignored, not surprisingly are the one
that fail!
In this sector
of the market, change is inevitable, keeping ahead of the competition will
give you a competitive edge.
You need to be aware of what's changed and what's
new and if further benefit is to be gained.
You could go to a different supplier for each of the services mentioned above, but we guarantee that it will be detrimental to how effective your website finally performs.
Spear deliver all the internet services that you will require, and that means that you get the most cost effective, informed and hassle free route to having a website package that really does work for you!
Our Spear Solutions Business Consultants can talk you through the whole
process, and then organise everything for you.
To view or download Spear's 13 page
'website facts' report in PDF
format
Use our online website requirements planner to receive an accurate quote for your new website development.
What type of website should I choose?
If you are a young or small business, you will probably have more restraints on your budget.
We offer a number of alternatives to choose from, but before making a choice you should understand the restrictions and advantageous that they offer.
If you are looking for long term success, understanding the differences will play a big part in influencing your final decision.
Principal Website options
- Website templates - utilise ready-made web designs and provide a fast cost effective route
to achieving a website. Add your own text and pictures
to a preformatted design and you can quickly and easily have a website online promoting your
business. Template based websites do have limitations and best suit companies that have monetary restrictions and looking for the the cheapest
method of establishing a website and gaining a online presence.
Word of caution - template websites designs are unlikely to meet standards for both development and accessibility as recommended by the world wide web consortium ( the controlling body for the internet). Template websites are less likely to perform well on Search engines. If you are after a website that is future proofed and flexible enough to meet future requirements, these are not for you!
- Dynamic Websites - use a database to store the information required for each webpage. Most online stores fall into this category - if you are planning on selling online, this is the choice for you!
Dynamic website are also suitable when companies and organisations, wish to add or edit web pages and content to their website on a regular basis. This is easily performed by way of a built in content management system (see below) using a familar word processor style method for making changes. - (X)HTML websites - provide the most flexibility in both design and page layout and still account for the majority of websites that are currently being developed. XHTML websites can be highly Search Engine Optimised and can be very flexible in design and functionality (this website is an example of a XHTML website development).
Word of caution- There are still a large number of website companies developing websites to outdated standards using methods that do not meet current recommended standards. Visually there may be very little to compare a good website development from a bad one but from a website performance and longevity, it is comparable to bying a new car with an old engine.
You should ensure that your new website development meets world wide web consortiums (W3C) recommendations for XHTML validation 1.0 Transitional, as a minimum requirement.
Check a websites current validation level by using the World Wide Web Consortiums validation tool Please contact us if you require further information on this or any other topic
Bespoke solutions
Our development teams have extensive capabilities in all areas of website development and IT technology. We can provide expertise in all areas of development including the integration of back office management, database structures and Intranet facilities, if you have a specific requirement, no matter how big or small, we can assist.
We have a sizeable number of developers, designers, search engine optimisers and IT specialists available to ensure that your project meets the very highest level of standards.
Content management
- Content management functionality will allow you to update your website whenever you wish.
- Most websites can have content management integrated into them.
- Content management allows changes to your website to appear instantly and removes the necessity of waiting for your web developer to carry out your requirement.
Whichever choice of website development you require, we recommend that content management is included.
links available from this page
Newsletter articles - practical and informative advice on the web design and marketing.
Website facts - view or download Spear's 13 page report in PDF format
world wide web consortium - The controlling body for the internet, who's recommendations shape the internet.
World Wide Web Consortiums validation tool - Check a websites conformance to W3C Recommendations.
website requirements planner - Use our online website requirements planner to plan out your new website development.
contact us - if you require further information on this or any other topic
