1. a home page to welcome your visitors
2. a page containing background information about you & your business
3. a contacts or enquiry page (with email form)
4. a high level product/services pricing page
5. a portfolio page with some examples of your work and customer testimonials

Top tips for search engine friendly web sites
Whether you decide to build your website yourself or appoint an agency or freelancer it is important to make sure your site is search engine friendly so that people can find you online. The following will help;

1. Think about how customers might search for y
   How Can I Make It In The Stained Glass Business?
   Recently, one of the best stained glass supply and teaching centers in Salt Lake City, closed their doors. They were very aggressive and well run. They had been in business for over fifteen years (I don't know how long their actual years of operation were). Why did they fail? What was new? Two years previously, the long time run business was sold by the original owner who wanted to retire to a man who had made enough money for the purchase running a janitorial business.But, he was soon to discover that the stained glass business is different
   As a small business or business start up, setting up a website may seem a daunting prospect when you have got so much else on your plate to deal with, but you can avoid the complications with this practical no nonsense guide. It talks you through the basics of domain names, web hosting, web design and shows you how to get started.

   “Help! Where do I start?”
   There are 3 simple steps with setting up a website;

   1. register a domain name, such as www.mybusiness.co.uk;
   2. find a hosting provider to rent you the web space to house your website;
   3. produce a design for your website.

   1. How do I register a domain name?
   

   The first thing you’ll need to do is check that the name you want is available. You can do this online and there are lots of companies that also let you register your domain name online. Registration is typically only around ?10 a year. Many designers or hosting providers will sort this out for you.

   2. How can I get web space?
   Web space is space on a computer owned by a hosting company. Your hosting provider will connect your web space with your domain name so that anyone who types your domain name into their browser will arrive at your website. Prices vary so shop around.

   3. How do I sort out the design?
   There are four key options. Here they are with a list of pros and cons for you to consider;

   Option 1: DIY using a software package such as Microsoft Frontpage
   

   Pros
   

   • Save on agency or freelancer costs
   Cons
   • You may have to purchase software
   • Potentially time consuming
   • Do you have the skillset or, if not, the patience to learn?
   • You are on your own if you run into problems

   Option 2: DIY using an off the shelf site builder package

   Pros

   • Relatively cheap option
   • Template driven so it is easy to pick it up

   Cons

   • Design will not be original and may carry a reference to the package on each page of your site
   • Package may not be able to deliver all your requirements

   Option 3: Appoint a web design agency

   Pros

   • Team of specialists likely to deliver professional results
   • Good option for complicated requirements
   Cons
   • Likely to be most expensive solution

   Option 4: Appoint a freelance web designer

   Pros

   • Professionally designed site but likely to be cheaper than an agency and able to work within your budget.

   Cons

   • For more complicated sites check freelancer’s skill set can cope with your needs. Unlike an agency this is a ‘one man band’

   What to include on your website
   Each business will differ, but a typical simple business start up site might consist of;

   1. a home page to welcome your visitors
   2. a page containing background information about you & your business
   3. a contacts or enquiry page (with email form)
   4. a high level product/services pricing page
   5. a portfolio page with some examples of your work and customer testimonials

   Top tips for search engine friendly web sites
   Whether you decide to build your website yourself or appoint an agency or freelancer it is important to make sure your site is search engine friendly so that people can find you online. The following will help;

   1. Think about how customers might search for y
      Factoring Canada - How To Finance Your Canadian Business
      Financing a business in Canada has its unique set of challenges. If you are like most business owners you have probably relied on the banking industry to obtain financing. However, obtaining business loans is difficult. Your business must have years of profitable operation experience in order to qualify. But what if your business is new (but growing)? Or, what if you don’t qualify for a business loan but still have a great business?You have two options, and they are not available from your bank. They are available from a factoring company. D
      ll need to do is check that the name you want is available. You can do this online and there are lots of companies that also let you register your domain name online. Registration is typically only around ?10 a year. Many designers or hosting providers will sort this out for you.

      2. How can I get web space?
      Web space is space on a computer owned by a hosting company. Your hosting provider will connect your web space with your domain name so that anyone who types your domain name into their browser will arrive at your website. Prices vary so shop around.

      3. How do I sort out the design?
      There are four key options. Here they are with a list of pros and cons for you to consider;

      Option 1: DIY using a software package such as Microsoft Frontpage
      

      Pros
      

      • Save on agency or freelancer costs
      Cons
      • You may have to purchase software
      • Potentially time consuming
      • Do you have the skillset or, if not, the patience to learn?
      • You are on your own if you run into problems

      Option 2: DIY using an off the shelf site builder package

      Pros

      • Relatively cheap option
      • Template driven so it is easy to pick it up

      Cons

      • Design will not be original and may carry a reference to the package on each page of your site
      • Package may not be able to deliver all your requirements

      Option 3: Appoint a web design agency

      Pros

      • Team of specialists likely to deliver professional results
      • Good option for complicated requirements
      Cons
      • Likely to be most expensive solution

      Option 4: Appoint a freelance web designer

      Pros

      • Professionally designed site but likely to be cheaper than an agency and able to work within your budget.

      Cons

      • For more complicated sites check freelancer’s skill set can cope with your needs. Unlike an agency this is a ‘one man band’

      What to include on your website
      Each business will differ, but a typical simple business start up site might consist of;

      1. a home page to welcome your visitors
      2. a page containing background information about you & your business
      3. a contacts or enquiry page (with email form)
      4. a high level product/services pricing page
      5. a portfolio page with some examples of your work and customer testimonials

      Top tips for search engine friendly web sites
      Whether you decide to build your website yourself or appoint an agency or freelancer it is important to make sure your site is search engine friendly so that people can find you online. The following will help;

      1. Think about how customers might search for y
         How to Earn the Right
         "How to Earn the Right..."Marketing your professional services is a lot like dating: you have to earn the right to be intimate.In both endeavors, you can't skip or rush through levels of intimacy for the relationship to work. Whether it's a new flame or a new client, you have to build trust that leads to deeper levels of commitment.Think about it: people that you want for clients start out as strangers. They don't know about you and your firm. So you can't expect them to jump into a long-term relationship with you before
         r you to consider;

         Option 1: DIY using a software package such as Microsoft Frontpage
         

         Pros
         

         • Save on agency or freelancer costs
         Cons
         • You may have to purchase software
         • Potentially time consuming
         • Do you have the skillset or, if not, the patience to learn?
         • You are on your own if you run into problems

         Option 2: DIY using an off the shelf site builder package

         Pros

         • Relatively cheap option
         • Template driven so it is easy to pick it up

         Cons

         • Design will not be original and may carry a reference to the package on each page of your site
         • Package may not be able to deliver all your requirements

         Option 3: Appoint a web design agency

         Pros

         • Team of specialists likely to deliver professional results
         • Good option for complicated requirements
         Cons
         • Likely to be most expensive solution

         Option 4: Appoint a freelance web designer

         Pros

         • Professionally designed site but likely to be cheaper than an agency and able to work within your budget.

         Cons

         • For more complicated sites check freelancer’s skill set can cope with your needs. Unlike an agency this is a ‘one man band’

         What to include on your website
         Each business will differ, but a typical simple business start up site might consist of;

         1. a home page to welcome your visitors
         2. a page containing background information about you & your business
         3. a contacts or enquiry page (with email form)
         4. a high level product/services pricing page
         5. a portfolio page with some examples of your work and customer testimonials

         Top tips for search engine friendly web sites
         Whether you decide to build your website yourself or appoint an agency or freelancer it is important to make sure your site is search engine friendly so that people can find you online. The following will help;

         1. Think about how customers might search for y
            Career Promotion Advice: How to SHINE and Gain the Promotion You Want
            You landed that first job and you have been at it for about a year or two. And you're looking for career promotion advice to move up the ladder, successfully. Obviously, there are no hard and fast rules to this. However, there are guidelines that can help increase your chances of promotion.In my years at work, I have had the opportunity to practice some of these advice and observed some of it being practiced too. I have also had the opportunity to give this career promotion advice to my staff. Many have gone on to greener pastures and they h
            all your requirements

            Option 3: Appoint a web design agency

            Pros

            • Team of specialists likely to deliver professional results
            • Good option for complicated requirements
            Cons
            • Likely to be most expensive solution

            Option 4: Appoint a freelance web designer

            Pros

            • Professionally designed site but likely to be cheaper than an agency and able to work within your budget.

            Cons

            • For more complicated sites check freelancer’s skill set can cope with your needs. Unlike an agency this is a ‘one man band’

            What to include on your website
            Each business will differ, but a typical simple business start up site might consist of;

            1. a home page to welcome your visitors
            2. a page containing background information about you & your business
            3. a contacts or enquiry page (with email form)
            4. a high level product/services pricing page
            5. a portfolio page with some examples of your work and customer testimonials

            Top tips for search engine friendly web sites
            Whether you decide to build your website yourself or appoint an agency or freelancer it is important to make sure your site is search engine friendly so that people can find you online. The following will help;

            1. Think about how customers might search for y
               Customer Wait Time
               Americans are among the most impatient shoppers on the planet. With busy lives and sound bite based media, many shoppers expect businesses to strive for the most efficient use of their time. What some retailers do not understand is that efficient timing will also save money. After all, time is money.The average American becomes anxious after only five minutes of hold time on a sales or customer service call. This may not be surprising as no one enjoys spending long amounts of time listening to hold music, waiting to be helped. Lines and cues
               a typical simple business start up site might consist of;
               1. a home page to welcome your visitors
               2. a page containing background information about you & your business
               3. a contacts or enquiry page (with email form)
               4. a high level product/services pricing page
               5. a portfolio page with some examples of your work and customer testimonials

               Top tips for search engine friendly web sites
               Whether you decide to build your website yourself or appoint an agency or freelancer it is important to make sure your site is search engine friendly so that people can find you online. The following will help;

               1. Think about how customers might search for your site and include these keywords in your page titles and in prominent positions on the home page. A well written home page containing important keywords will help boost your ranking.
               2. Label your images with suitable ‘ALT’ tags (alternative text tags). Many search engines also use these to help rank your relevance to searches.
               3. Include appropriate meta tag descriptions and keywords in your source code.
               4. Use the H1 and H2 tags for headings in your source code and ensure these include words from your ‘hitlist’ of desirable keywords.

               Follow these simple steps and you’ll be up and running on the web in no time! Good luck!
               

               Read more about marketing your business and web design advice for the small business