Every action has a beginning phase where you launch your activity, a middle period in which you must sustain and develop it and a conclusion. Many people set up a website enthusiastically but then they find that they don't have the skills or knowledge to maintain and develop it. So, what are the challenges in this middle phase of a website's life and how can you meet them?
Updating the site: The beauty of a website is that it is not static like a brochure or printed document. You can change it to reflect new products or new developments in your enterprise. You can launch new campaigns, and at any time you can add more content.
The problem for some companies and individuals is that after they have paid a good amount of money to have their site built, they do not have any personnel who can make changes to the website, such as adding new text or photos etc. One solution to this is to make sure you have a good maintenance plan included in the contract or agreement you make your with your web designer, so that minor changes can be made by your original designer
Another solution, and one that gives you more flexibility, is to train someone in your organization to be able to work with an html editor (like Frontpage, Dreamweaver, or other similar programs). While not everyone has the skills to design a site from scratch, someone who is able to use the normal word processing programs can learn how to modify text and upload files to the server.
Promoting the site: If you just sit on your hands you cannot expect your website to live up to its promise. Many web designers do not have a clue about things like search engine optimization or submission, and the new website owner is left with a nice looking site, but no traffic. Furthermore there are other website related promotional tasks such as reciprocal linking, newsletter editing and mailing list maintenance which do not fall into the duties normally performed by the site's original designer.
Once again check with your web designer or developer and see if they can perform any of these tasks economically or give you some help. If not, then some of these activities may have to be outsourced. Search engine optimization and submission, and even reciprocal linking, the activity of finding link partners, can be contracted from among the hundreds of companies offering such services.
You or a designated member of your staff can learn some of these tasks by reading online tutorials, e-books and newsletters (like this one!). Though this takes time, again it gives you flexibility and an ability to work at your own pace and within your budget.
Finally if you can't afford the outside services needed to maintain and develop the site, and if you are not sure how to train yourself or your staff, a third solution exists in the form of Ken Evoy's Site Build It (http://buildit.sitesell.com/webpromote2.html). In which powerful hosting, design, maintenance and promotional tools are provided along with step-by-step guidance enabling complete beginners to build, develop and manage effective websites.
Even before you start your website you should be thinking one step ahead, so that you can develop the site intelligently and vigorously, and ultimately be successful in your web project.
About The Author
Donald Nelson is a web developer, editor and social worker. He has been working on the Internet since 1995, and is currently the director of A1-Optimization (http://www.a1-optimization.com), a firm providing low cost search engine optimization, submission and web promotion services.
http://www.a1-optimization.com
Due to the large number of people offering web design... Read More
It has been said that the best online sales copy... Read More
The problem with designing your site as a graphic, is... Read More
When a prospect lands on your website will he or... Read More
If there's one thing that most web site developers can... Read More
1. Assemble a web site development plan that is integrated... Read More
With so many new websites going up, it is hard... Read More
If you are one of those who wonder how people... Read More
1. Size does not equate to competencePeople sometimes assume a... Read More
Most of us at times need advice on different aspects... Read More
If your are a new web designer, you may face... Read More
1. Use .gifs rather than .jpgs. GIFs are smaller in... Read More
There are many companies who build websites, all of which... Read More
The best things don't come easy. - QuotedThe finished web... Read More
Do you have a website? If so, you need an... Read More
Usability isn't only for Web design. It's also applicable in... Read More
If you have a web site to which people pay... Read More
The Basics You have a flourishing business ? everything is... Read More
You have only 10 seconds to impress your potential buyer.... Read More
In the of-line marketing world it is all about trying... Read More
Every now and then, I receive a link exchange request... Read More
In this article we will be looking at why you... Read More
Your web site should be-visitor friendly to navigatesearch engine friendly... Read More
How many of the visitors to your web site take... Read More
Many websites make the mistake of being all flash and... Read More
In the early years of the internet the actual design... Read More
By following feng shui guidelines and techniques, you can build... Read More
I can't figure out people who have products or information... Read More
The internet is filled with sites and they are good... Read More
Colors have long been known to have psychological affects on... Read More
Do you know why the majority of people use the... Read More
Remember the day that you got your new computer (or... Read More
A professionally presented business website is a powerful and essential... Read More
The most important person that you need to please when... Read More
When you develop a sales brochure, you have a mental... Read More
In cascading style sheets you can specify how your web... Read More
10 Ways Web Site Text Can Impact Your Reader's Buying... Read More
I get the occasional web design lead from my website.... Read More
Building a website that is exactly what you want and... Read More
Do you remember playing with the jack-in-the-box toy as a... Read More
Most of us know that we need to advertise our... Read More
Unarguably, the most important part of your website is content.... Read More
Yes, in a world that is obsessed with makeover madness,... Read More
Should Generating Revenue From A Website Be The Prime Motivator?... Read More
In the of-line marketing world it is all about trying... Read More
The internet continues to grow and has become the default... Read More
There can be zillions of reasons why your visitors return... Read More
Are you serious about get this website done fast and... Read More
The Internet is a relatively new medium. What works for... Read More
An application is not ready for use unless you have... Read More
Web Design |