{"id":1823,"date":"2022-01-21T17:31:53","date_gmt":"2022-01-21T17:31:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/jessiebeecreative.com\/?p=1823"},"modified":"2023-02-15T21:25:15","modified_gmt":"2023-02-15T21:25:15","slug":"not-ready-website","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/jessiebeecreative.com\/not-ready-website\/","title":{"rendered":"Why you aren\u2019t ready to invest in a website"},"content":{"rendered":"
Are you starting a business and looking for someone to build your website? Or you may have been in business a few years but are just now looking into establishing an online presence. If that\u2019s you, then there are a few things you should consider before shelling out the big bucks for a new website. After considering these key points, you\u2019ll know whether you are ready to invest in a professionally designed website.<\/p>\n
Your business plan, whether it\u2019s formal or written on a napkin, will guide all decisions regarding your business. If you don\u2019t have a plan, you won\u2019t be able to articulate your goals to your web designer. If you can\u2019t articulate your goals, your designer will be working on assumptions, and you probably won\u2019t end up with a website that works with your other marketing tools to build your business.<\/p>\n
Take some dedicated time to sit down and write out your vision and goals for your business. List what you want to achieve in six months, one year, five years, etc. How many products will you have? Will you expand (locations, employees, etc.). Decide what values do you want to emphasize. Create a description of your company as if it were a person. All of these things will help you form a business plan that will guide your business in all of your decision-making steps.<\/p>\n
If you\u2019ve begun a business and you want a website within the week, you are setting yourself up for failure. Yes, it is possible for someone to build a website in a hurry, but it most likely won\u2019t be a quality site. If you are in the frame of mind that you need it yesterday, then you aren\u2019t ready for the proper process of getting a quality website out of your designer.<\/p>\n
Stop. Take a breath. Go back to point one and create your business plan. Then go through the processes of branding your company (the best way is with a professional brand designer). Remind yourself that it\u2019s better to do it right the first time than to rush into something that isn\u2019t what you need. I’ll have an entirely different article about how to get ready, but a good place to start is by knowing what you want to say about your business and your products or services. It’s always best to have your copy ready before the design begins. Ashlyn Carter has lot’s of helpful YouTube videos and some templates<\/a> to help you write. Being prepared will help you spend your money wisely, and your web designer will deliver a higher quality website when everyone goes through the proper process.<\/p>\n Good websites aren\u2019t cheap. And even if you find a $200 website, it never ends there. You\u2019ll end up with extra costs for each part of your site that wasn\u2019t included in the $200. Then there\u2019s hosting, email hosting, maintenance, support, etc. It all adds up, so you need to be prepared to invest.<\/p>\n Reframe your thinking about how you spend money for your business. Weigh the pros and cons of your expenditures and make decisions based on your business plan. If you look at the expense as a good investment for building your businesses instead of trying to find the cheapest option out there, you\u2019ll be closer to being ready to take the leap.<\/p>\n Even the prettiest websites won\u2019t generate business if they aren\u2019t being used correctly. Your website is just one part of a successful business plan. It takes consistent attention to content and maintenance to keep things working. If you build a site and then do nothing with it when it\u2019s done, then you may as well have never built one. It\u2019s just a business card when left alone.<\/p>\n Be prepared to keep your website fresh by consistently adding new content. Decide if you are willing to put the time in to do it. If not, then know that the cost of a plan or retainer to have someone else do it is a smart investment for your company.<\/p>\n So, there it is. Those are some of the reasons that you may not be ready to invest in a professional website. It is really important to approach your investment with a realistic understanding of the attention, time, and processes that are necessary to build a quality website.<\/p>\n3. You aren\u2019t willing to spend the money<\/h3>\n
What to do<\/h4>\n
4. You think a website will make your business successful<\/h3>\n
What to do<\/h4>\n
There really is hope!<\/h2>\n