:.10 Steps to the Internet

So, how do I get on the internet with my own custom web site? 

This is a very common question with many different answers. Below is a quick outline of how to develop your site. 

1. Your Goal

What do you want out of the internet? On-line Sales? Customer Service? Electronic Brochure? Product Support Information? In order to be successful, you must define your goal up-front and work towards it. 

2. Your Target Market

Who are you trying to reach? Who are you selling to? Who are your prospective clients? Along this line, who is your competition? 

3. Domain Name (www.yourcompany.com)

What do you want for your internet address? You can register your domain name for about $9 - $15 

4. Web Hosting/Internet Access

Your web site needs to be stored on a server so that everyone can see it on the internet. Web hosting can cost as little as $14.95 per month. 

5. Site Planning Outline

How many pages do you want? Which buttons should be accessible on the front page? Is there a form? The navigation of your site has to be quick, clean and simple. 

6. Design & Writing

You must go through and write out the content. Do you have a logo, pictures, artwork? Think through every page you designated above in site planning. Write the copy and the associated artwork required. 

7. Put Your Web Site "Live" on the Internet

At this point, all the internet pages and graphics are copied to the web hosting provider. Now, everyone can type in your domain name (www.yourcompany.com) and see your web site on the internet. 

8. Register with Search Engines

How will everyone find you? Your new internet site must be registered with the top search engines — Google, Yahoo, AltaVista, Excite, HotBot, Snap, GoTo and others. 

9. Internet Marketing

This is where you get your people. You have to put little crumbs all over the internet for people to find you. These crumbs include banner ads, E-mail marketing, guaranteed click-through with GoTo.com, links with other sites, etc. 

10. Update Your Web Site

Every time there is a change, new product, new service, new price, new event schedule, new press release...put it on your web site. Get people wanting to come back over and over again to see what's new.