For many small businesses, getting even a basic website up can be a daunting task! To simplify the process, we've created a basic site map for a starter website for a service business, which requires a minimum of work on your part
or many small businesses, getting even a basic website up can be a daunting task! To simplify the process, we've created a basic site map for a starter website for a service business, which requires a minimum of work on your part.
We suggest that you put these pages on your "starter" website:
• About Us: At least a few lines about your company, and the bios of the business owner and any key employees.
• Our Services: A listing of services you provide, with a line or two explaining each, and possibly some information about pricing (if appropriate to your field).
• Client Listing and Testimonials: A few client testimonials-this helps build potential clients' trust, and makes sales easier for you. (This could be done in phase 2 and is more relevant for service businesses.) The testimonials can alternatively be placed throughout the site-see http://www.kathyglassconsulting.com/ for a sample of this treatment.
• Contact: This page should list basic contact information, including your email link. A map showing your location, directions and your hours of operation can also be included if relevant.
• Home: A page where visitors can enter the site. It should be both attractive and informative. A few lines about what you do are a good foundation for a "beginning" home page.
This plan is very basic-there may be additional pages that would be appropriate for your business, which we can discuss on an individual basis.
To get your basic website posted according to this sample plan, only two pages-the "About Us" and "Our Services" pages-have to be written. The text for the other pages either comes from your clients, or is easy to create. If writing is not your strong point, you can even hire a copywriter to do the writing for you, which makes it even easier for you.
Your time commitment to start a website is minimal. It will be well worth it when you post your website and it sends more business your way!
Be sure to design and code your website in a such a way that it's expandable later. This means allowing plenty of space in the navigation for additional pages, and coding the site so that it's easy to add in more pages later. For that, I recommend coding the site in HTML instead of Flash. That way, you'll be able to grow this starter site into a full-fledged website, adding pages as its' convenient and as they're needed to promote new products, services or directions in your business.
The 4 Jobs of Your Logo Font
Many entrepreneurs think that the font for their business name is like a trophy wife—just there to look pretty, all perfect hair and manicure. So, they try to find a font that looks cool, often without looking at any of the features of the font itself. But, the font in your logo is a busy little element. It works 4 jobs!
Designing Temporary Materials to Get You Through A Branding Emergency
What if your urgent problem is that you have no marketing materials for your business? Having something to market your business with is better than nothing. In some cases, it might even help you get to the next step in your brand.
The Three-Part Harmony in Your Logo
Just as a harmonized song is made up of a set of three notes, every small business's logo should be made up of three pieces of art: the icon, the font, and the color palette. These three pieces all work together, singing the same basic song, to tell your business's story. In your logo, each of them gives you an opportunity to build in meaning and symbolism.
