Creating a website that achieves results for small businesses - and doesn't cost the earth

If you have never done it before, developing a new website can be confusing. It can be difficult to know where to start and the pitfalls to avoid. Whether you develop your own or pay a company to help you, click here to read our latest blog to find the answer to the following seven key questions you should ask yourself (and your web developer) to make sure your website delivers results.

1. How much should I pay for a new website?
2. What is my domain name and how much does it cost?
3. How much will it cost to host my website?
4. Is your website mobile friendly?
5. Why does content and design matter?
6. How will I get my website out there and improve my search engine optimisation (SEO)?
7. How will I make changes to my website? Who will maintain it?

Do as I say, not as I do – the pit of doom for regular blogging

What is my New Year’s resolution? To follow my own advice. When I sit with a client  and develop their social media and marketing plans I always say: “Whatever you do, when you start a Twitter account, Facebook page or blog, make sure you update it regularly.  Include thoughts that are personal to you, maybe talk about an interesting article you’ve read recently or some new research that’s relevant to you and your blog readers. It’s all about making your page interesting and informative.”

 

What has happened to me in the past? I failed miserably. Client work took precedence, staff changed and all my time was taken up with the day-to-day operations of running my business. Consequently, I ran out of time and I stopped writing blog articles. Shame on me! I’m not the first or last person to have fallen into this trap. But not anymore!

 

So, what will I do in future to ensure this doesn’t happen again? My New Year’s resolution is to set aside just a couple of hours every month to update my blog. It won’t be long. It won’t always have to be full of statistics, quotes and research. The idea of a blog is to impart thoughts, based on interests and experience. With this in mind, I’m sure we all have something useful to say – and even I can probably stick to that. So, watch this space!

Susanne Hasselmann
Director, Scirum Ltd

www.scirum.biz
@scirum