small business web site design

There are three kind of business web sites that most businesses consider...

Informational, Showcase and E-Commerce.

Most business web sites are one of these with variations to fit the specific business.

A INFORMATION SHARING SITE IS THE MOST POPULAR TYPE OF WEBSITE.

An Informational Sharing web site is usually a basic web site with a few different pages that link to the main, or home, page. Common pages for this kind of site are: Home Page, Product/Services Page, and About Us/Contact Page.

Information sharing sites are basically just to give your business an online presence and share product information with potential customers.

Think of a Basic Web site as being similar to a Display Ad in your local phone book or Yellow Pages... it makes your business easier to find. It gives your business a presence on the web, lists your services or products and gives contact information.

This type of site can be very effective in helping new clients/customers find you and to present your products/services to shoppers.

Every small business should at a minimum have this type of site and they are quite inexpensive for the benefits they provide.

A SHOWCASE WEBSITE IS AN UPGRADE FROM THE BASIC INFORMATION WEBSITE.

The Showcase Web site serves the same purpose as an information sharing site, but is slightly flashier, and can incorporate a custom header or logo, graphics, video, and other advanced options.

A showcase web site will usually have a variety of products on display with possibly a picture gallery and more visual aids than the informational site.

This type of site will usually have expanded information on a variety of business products/services. It is designed to educate the shopper about those products/services and give the shopper enough information to make a positive decision to make a purchase.

It may also allow for customer interaction such as requesting information or schedule an appointment.

A Showcase Web site can be a very effective way to promote your business and products or services.

AN E-COMMERCE WEBSITE IS THE MOST ADVANCED OF THESE THREE TYPES OF WEBSITES.

An E-Commerce Web site is design to sell products or services. This type of site will usually be a Showcase Web site that is expanded to sell products and/or services direct from the site to the consumer.

This type of site will usually have a Shopping Cart or some system of accepting payments online. One of the most popular systems for small businesses is PayPal.

A new site can be designed to sell products online or an existing Informational or Showcase Web site can be modified with the capacity to sell products online.

A PayPal Shopping Cart can be added to most sites along with a product gallery and landing page for each product or service you wish to sell direct from your site.

If you only have one product you wish to sell, you do not even require a shopping cart. All you need is a landing page giving your product information with a PayPal Payment Button.

If you need help setting up your online business presence or just updating your current web site, just call or email us.