Create a summary guide for a small retailer company about the stages that are necessary in the creation of a web site and the management issues involved.
A website can be used for many kind of business activities. Marketing, advertising, even procurement, all can be done by a simple yet a meet-the-function website.The best Web sites are those that serve the purpose of their owners. For some companies, the site offers an adjunct source of sales revenue along with their brick-and-mortar operations. But a website is primarily used for promoting products or services and keeping the company’s name in front of public.No matter what the use will be, it is generally a good idea to look at other Web sites to get an idea what you feel would work best for your business.
There are might be some issues for small retailer company when they are about to make their own website:
1. Define the function of the website. It should be clear enough about the function of a website, or else it will be just a waste. Company should make decision about what will they do with their website. Is it a website for promoting their product (such as e-brochure or e-catalog), for selling products, or just for profiling their identity. We can also answer the issue about “do we really need a website?”
2. Define detail requirements. We have to try to clear enough about detail content such as design, features, even the potential users. By doing this we will get the exact image about how the website will run in the future.
3. Define the budget. Budget will be related to the website function. A website for promotion with full-flash and video content, and eye-catching design, might be more expensive rather than just a simple dynamic website for selling the products. Especially when we are about to use pay a web developer to make the whole things work. We need to tell him/her/them about how much the budget will be, so the developer will understand enough about the boundaries.
4. Understand the technology. It doesn’t mean that you have to understand about web programming language, but at least we have to understand enough about internet and web site, how to make it work on the net, how to use it, and how to face its general problems.
5. Keep it on update. Website, once it is uploaded and being well-known, it will need to be updated frequently. Becuase when it seem to be not updated, the information inside will be lack of its integrity and people would give no care anymore. Visitors need frequently fresh information, as frequent as possible. But don’t forget that the quality of the information will also determine how visitor like the website or not.
6. Keep it secure. Some website that require visitors data should be able to guarantee its data security. Or else, the website will lost its customer trust. For some website function, such as e-transaction, security is a crucial thing should be maintained and developed very well.
7. Make sure it doesn’t waste visitor’s time. When we are about to access a website and find that it is taking too long to be loaded, we will get bored and at the end will not access it anymore. Speed, in this case, hold the most important factor. Lack in speed can ruin any other part.
The last but not least, website will be just a waste if you don’t have any visitors. And lack of visitors might be caused by some factors such as:
- Not updated / wrong information
- Missed its function
- Bad in design
- Lack of security
- Very slow in loading
The allbusiness.com mention about some tips that can be used while working on website plan and design:
Less can be more, so don’t overcrowd a Web page. If you are selling items, make sure your product photos are large enough to see clearly. Try to illustrate the key features. Title each page so that they are easily located by the user and by search engines. Make each page easy to navigate. Try to be concise with text. You can always have readers click to get more information. Make the home page the center of activity. Make sure it is always easy to return to. Clearly define the purpose of the site and create an image on your home page. Provide customer service, phone numbers, and contact information that clearly illustrates an accessible business behind the site. Make sure the color of your text is easy to read against the background you’ve selected. Experiment with different colors to see which creates the best presentation. Double-check all links often to make sure they work. Don’t get caught up in “bells and whistles.” Just because the software, Web designer, or Web-hosting service allows you to include a myriad of features doesn’t mean you need them. Make sure the site loads quickly. Don’t let graphics slow it down. Be diligent about copyright usage and make sure you have the rights to all information you are posting
The thing that a company should remember while doing their business activities using their website is besides making sure that your website is working properly and looks great in both design and functions, also make sure that your website represents your business.
Posted by andreasdepe 
Posted by andreasdepe 
Posted by andreasdepe 
