Perhaps you know you want a website but have no idea what the first step is. Or maybe you've worked up a detailed plan about how you want your website design to look. Whichever point you're at, I'm happy to discuss your ideas with you.

To assist you in getting the process going, here is a brief, very generalized outline of the process of getting your website online, as well as some of the things you should think about in advance.

Things to think about in advance
There are many variables to take into account when planning your website design. By spending a few moments thinking about some of the basics, we can get a better idea of what you're after. Please don't feel obligated to come up with absolute answers; this is simply intended to give us a starting point in our discussions. I recommend you print this page out so you can study it at your leisure.

Who is your target audience? What are your expectations for having a website? Are you aiming your site to the general public? Professionals? The elderly? Artists? How do you envision the organization of information; How many pages? Even the smallest websites usually require a few pages, a Home page, About Us page and Contact us page. Perhaps your website needs a few pages to display your products -- or a Frequently Asked Questions page.

Text/Content
This one is very important. Do you have text written for your website, or at least a basic idea of what you will say on the various pages? Quite often, this is a stumbling block for small businesses, since many people are not comfortable with their writing skills. In some cases, it may be wise to hire someone with expertise in writing website content.

Visual Design
Most websites require at least some graphic elements. Is there a specific color scheme you would need to use, or a particular logo? Do you want complex graphics or would you prefer a simple, sparse look for your site? What kind of "feel" do you want your website designer to create for your site?

Are there other websites that you like? It's perfectly acceptable to use other websites as inspiration for your own. Obviously, we can't just use someone else's design, but using another design to stimulate ideas is fine. Keep a list of websites that you like and try to note what it is it that you like about them. Is it the color? The way the information is organized? The simplicity of the graphics? The flashy, high-tech look?

Photos
Do you need photographs of your products, personnel, facility, etc.? Are these photos already created, or will you need photographic work done also?

Forms
Do you need any pages on your website that collect information from your visitors and then automatically forward the information to you in email?

Shopping cart
Do you want to sell products online via an automated "shopping cart"? Or will a simple "fill in the blanks" form work just as well? About how many individual products do you want to sell on your website? Take into account different styles, colors, sizes of a particular item.

The Process of Getting you Online

We first need to register a domain name. You may already have one, but we can also help you selecting, registering it, and setting up email using your domain name.

When choosing a domain name, think about how easy it will be for others to type. For instance, avoid names that are long and complicated or difficult for the average person to spell. Make it easy for them to get to your site.

Arrange for a company to host your site. This is an outside service that I can help arrange for you. A reliable website host costs about $10 a month for most sites.

Organization and site architecture; basically, figuring out which pages go where and what information will be on them. Website design and layout of visual concept.

Finalize your website design. I want you to love your site and will welcome your additions, subtractions, editions.

Addition of text and pictures into final website pages, finalization of layout, and testing of all aspects of website.

When all the finishing touches are completed, and you have approved the website, we will go live with the site.

I can also help you register with search engines. This is an optional, although highly recommended, final step in putting your website online. This assures that your website is seen by potential customers when using online search tools.