How to Shop for a Website as a Small Business

As a small business owner with quite a bit of technology and Internet savvy, I often come across other small business owners needing a web presence, but not sure of how to get one. Most small businesses are on a budget, and cannot afford to hire large web design firms to provide them with a site. I am going to tell you how to get a site that you will be happy with that will meet your budget.

DO: KNOW WHAT YOU WANT YOUR WEB SITE TO SAY. Is your web site strictly for informational purposes? Will you be selling products on this site? Do you want a blog? This is something that you should know before contacting a web designer. This will give the designer a general sense of the types of sites you may be satisfied with, as well as what types of things you will need on the site (i.e., shopping cart, audio links, video links, forms, etc.)

DON'T: TELL YOUR WEB DESIGNER TO "JUST COME UP WITH SOMETHING. You will never be satisfied with the outcome. If you give a web designer creative freedom, they probably will come up with something great, but it may not be to your liking. Take an active role in planning the direction of your site to ensure that you receive a product that meets the needs of your business.

DO: PROVIDE YOUR WEB DESIGNER WITH AS MUCH INFORMATION ABOUT YOUR BUSINESS AS POSSIBLE. This includes any text, graphics, photos, and/or other links you may want on the site. The less the web designer has to search for or provide, the lower your cost. It is also a wise idea to have these things ready ahead of time. If you are organized in your web design efforts, this will make the whole process move forward more smoothly. The more things you leave to the web designer to have to provide, the more money you may have to spend.