Becoming a web site owner is easy. Just buy a domain, put up a few pages and its all done. But for those who want to create an online environment to sell, promote, or educate the visiting public, the work is a bit more detailed.

Web Business Ownership is a business decision - not a hobby.

Develop Your Business Idea
First, you’ll need to develop your business idea. In essence, you need to figure out what it is that you’re going to do. On the web, there are many people who do the same thing but usually there are some differences that separate one from another. Make sure you visit lots of sites that are in the industry you’re looking to break into and see what other people are doing.

Organizing Your Content
After you’ve developed your business idea, the next step is to develop your content. You need to develop your content. Be wary of anyone who tells you that they’ll develop your web site without your content first. The content of your site drives the design. You’ll notice sites that don’t have alot of content, have tons of pictures and ‘flashing things’ to distract you instead. This is what we call - Fluff, and while a little fluff is always good, having too much will drive your customers to your competitors.

Engaging The Right People
After you’ve developed your content, you’ll need to work with a designer, programmer or internet marketer. Be careful which kind of person you choose to work with, or select an internet business consultant instead. Consultants typically have a combination of the skills you’ll need to get your project done.

Web Designers - Make content look nice. They arrange it and blend it with colors to make it visually appealing. The Web Designer asks: “How should it look?”

Web Programmers - Make content interactive. They take the work of the Designer and make it “do” something.  The Web Programmer asks: “What should it do?”

Web Marketers - Promote and publicize your site. They use the work of the designer and programmer and promote it. The Web Marketer asks: “How many people do you need to see it?”

Design and Functionality
Your design and functionality will be a large part of your project. You’ll want to learn as much as possible about your industry and your customer channels, so that your design and functionality accomodates what THEY need to see. Remember, your web site is not for YOU!

Marketing and Promotion
One of the most challenging aspects of owning a web site is the marketing and promotion. To be successful, you will want to network both online and offline, build relationships with other web site environments that can support you, and also figure out creative ways to get the word out about your business.

Customer Response Management
In Web Business, email is your lifeline to your customers. For people who don’t check their email often, or who don’t have an email address at all, the potential for disaster is much greater. Most of your customers will not call you or send a fax. The whole point of being online is the actually BE ONLINE. Make sure you have a way to directly communicate with your customers, and consider options to facilitate 24 hour support for their concerns.

There’s so much more to Web Business Ownership, and we’re here to help. Below are a few resources to get you started.
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Resources:

Web Business Ownership Series Audios (Listen)
William R. Patterson
Terry Moorer
Cheryl Ann Wadlington
Veronique Topping-Knight
Jen Phillips

Recommended Books:
“The Layout Workbook” by Kristen Cullen
“The Design of Sites”, by Douglas K. VanDuyne
“Don’t Make Me Think”, by Steve Krug

Get Help:
Email: bmg@webbusinessownership.com
Call: 302-261-5257