1. What is a website, really?

A website, obviously, is a home for your online presence. It’s a collection of pages, and there are a myriad of ways to get a such a website up online. It’s a little overwhelming at first, but this guide will help you understand the big picture, and guide you through planning your website, and choosing your technologies.

The purpose of a website varies by the type of business you have and what you want the website to do. For the most part, a website will act as the hub for your online marketing, a brochure, a store, a modern phonebook, and a tool to convert visitors into customers. The choice is yours!

The biggest point is that your site must work with your overall marketing plan. Everything you do outside of your website should be reflected in your site, that is, the marketing tone and your aesthetic.

A website beyond all the shiny bits, is really a marketing tool.

What should your website actually DO?

Think about what you want your website to do for you, set some goals. Do you want your website to drive walk-ins? Do you want people to call you and book an appointment? Maybe you want people to buy your products, right from the online store?

Either way, having a clear goal helps you build a website which will funnel people towards your desired goals. This can be the biggest difference between having a site that returns on your investment, or one that doesn’t.

In many ways, deciding on your goals is the most important consideration, and it should permeate all aspects of the new site.

Action Items

Gather up your Marketing Plan
Outline some of your websites key goals (up to 3)