Where to Begin

If you are looking to take advantage of everything a website can offer, building one can be quite a task. Understanding your goal for the site can help build your plan and decide on many items in developing the site.

Its best to first understand all of the components that make up a website, its development, and marketing strategy around it before starting one up.

Web Site Components:

Domain Name

     You will need to select a url for your site i.e. www.yoursitename.com 

Hosting

      This is where your site files will be stored, there will be several things to consider.   The amount of space you will need, the amount traffic you will have, and the type of applications your site will utilize. 

Email

     Access to your websites email will be provided and can be configured for access directly from the web (webmail.yourwebsite.com) or through programs such as Outlook.

Administration

      For sites that are setup for access to direct editing, a back end administrator site will be setup so that text, photos, and basic items can be directly edited by anyone with a login and password to your site. 

Databases 

     For sites that sell products, have users, or collect data, databases will be setup to store all information.  

Social Media

     Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and Linked In are key social media networks that should be taken advantage of.  

Message Boards

     Keep your user community in touch with message boards.   Having a message board on your site not only keeps users coming back but lets you communicate with your visitors and provide new users a reason to become a member.

Backup

     Servers do fail and data is sometimes lost, unless you keep your site files backed up.  If your site is highly transactional or data is changed on a daily basis a mirror site should be setup to ensure that your site is securely backed up.

Development

Logo Design
     Logos can be integrated from existing design or developed from scratch.

Navigation Layout

     Here is where we will decide on how users will navigate through your site with deciding on specific sections and heading for your content. 

Color Scheme 
     Using colors that work well together is a key factor in creating a strong visual presence.

Software Integration
     Specific applications that are installed on your web server provide pre-built functions. 

E-Commerce 

     Shopping cards and credit card processing are a few items that make up an e-commerce site.

Marketing Strategy

Keywords
    These are works that will be implemented into your site that specifically define your site and are targets for potential searchers to enter into search engines. 

Google Adwords
     Googles advertising service that allows you to pay per click.

Search Engine Optimization 
     Tactics that help increase your sites results in search engine results.

Social Media 
     Facebook, Youtube, Google+, Linked in, and Twitter