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Based Business Idea
W
E B S I T E D E S I G N E R:
Business
Description:
If
you have a natural flair for design and an ability to navigate around
the Internet then you have potential as a website designer. The
Internet has grown at such a dramatic pace with new websites being added
at an astonishing rate (some stats are in the millions/month). You
can be a part of the explosion and assist clients that are either
seeking to add a new website or update and maintain their current site
at an equitable rate.
As
a website designer you will need to be able to consult with your client
to understand their needs and what they are truly trying to
accomplish. Many people believe that "if you build it they
will come" like in the Kevin Costner movie Field of Dreams.
This is definitely not the case. More appropriately it would play
like...if you build it - it will get lost in cyberspace. Be honest
with your client in allowing them to understand the costs and nurturing
that are required with owning/marketing and maintaining a website.
You
will become a trusted consultant to your clients and if they like your
designs you can develop a project plan for both short term and a
long-term relationship.
Your
Unique Skills
Knowledge of the Internet, web/graphic design applications and a creative eye to
start. Because this is a new industry it is easy to get in and develop a
reputation by creating one or two well-designed websites. Acquire the
tools you will need and become proficient in using them. What I mean is - practice,
practice, practice. The number of hours you spend up front will be
directly proportional to your ability to create a high-quality product for your
clients.
Become
familiar with hosting services. (By the way - this can be part of your product
offering).
You
must assist your client in understanding how to market their new
website. This can be a supplemental service if you have a strong
marketing background.
Tools
of the Trade:
Your main
tool is - your computer don't skimp here. A good computer - one with
memory, hard drive and backup capabilities. You will probably be running several different programs at once, so
your machine will need a fair amount of processing power. You will need a
reliable and upgradeable (planning for growth) source to host your site.
Take it from someone who knows - don't go to a low-cost startup hosting service
(you get what you pay for). If you're planning to
host your site out of your home, you will need to investigate server options.
This can be expensive. Server costs start at $2,000 and when something goes wrong - you don't have
an 800 number to turn to - it's just you - argh. You must have a high speed and
reliable connection to the Internet (ISP) - Internet Service Provider.
This should be separate from your phone line. If something goes wrong, a reputable ISP will have your
problem solved in no time. This will save you in terms of both money and
headaches.
Cost
to get Started:
A good computer will run anywhere from $1,500 to $3,000+. You will need a reliable
backup system for your websites. Set up a well organized system to
maintain each site you are working on. You should be prepared to
back up and maintain all of the information for each client - so take
this into consideration when you decide on the functionality of your
computer.
Advertising.
You should have a website to promote your business. Hosting should
run around $20/month and don't forget a high speed connection at 30 - 50
per month. You can create a simple brochure to
distribute locally or you can create an online brochure that you distribute
through direct email.
You
should attempt to get as much free marketing from the Internet as you can.
In the site biz-eWomen.com we have never paid for marketing to a submission
service. Now Yahoo charges for a site to be reviewed. But alot of
free options are available. Find similar or complementary sites that are
catering to the same market as you are and trade some of your content or just a
link. Remember it is a big world out there and other sites should not be
viewed as your competition. Working together you can provide a richer
experience for your audience. Always think of the customer first.
Tap into other communities to announce your site.
How Much
You Can Expect to Make:
Good question. What are you selling? If it is a high ticket item
where you have exclusive rights, then maybe quite a bit. If you are
starting out and think that you can sell an ebook, hold classes, post sell
memberships etc then you have the opportunity to make a living based on the
quality, price and service you provide.
If you
have uncovered a "gold mine" and hit on a hot topic or used savvy marketing,
that has enticed thousands of viewers a month (or day) then you can begin to
elicit advertisers in the form of banners or other space on your site.
These promotion opportunities can be sold for $100 up to thousands of dollars
depending on the type and position of the exposure you provide.
The
potential of the Internet is great. Marketers are only beginning
to understand the consumer on the Internet. One thing is for
sure. The buying patterns, relationship and many other
characteristics are totally different then what we have seen in a
traditional buyer/seller relationship. The potential of your site
and it's success is up to you.
Resources
e-How Things get done. Designing
Web Pages
HerWeb Biz for the Female
Entrepreneur
Free
Content:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/free-content/
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aabusiness/
- Article Announce Business
http://www.makingprofit.com
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/articles_archives/
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