Is it really possible to get a free website?
The quick answer: sure.
The more carefully crafted answer: it depends (my usual answer for everything lately). So what does it depend on? Here are five questions to answer before signing up to design your very own "free" website:
1. Are you web-savvy enough to know what will work best for your visitors?
2. Is it okay to have advertising (including inappropriate ads) in prominent places on your website?
3. Are you willing to risk having a website that can be hacked into and even implanted with viruses?
4. Do you have time to learn a new set of tools without support?
5. Would it be okay if your "free website" provider discontinued the service (and canceled your website)?
I'll address each question below.
1. Are you web-savvy enough to know what will work best for your visitors?
How well can you define your audience and their online preferences?
Are you familiar with the expectations of your intended audience? For example, do you know the differences in marketing practices for attracting 20-year-olds, or mothers with young children, or professionals in the medical field? If you are less than sure, a free website might not be your best choice and may actually have a damaging effect on the image of your business.
2. Is it okay to have advertising (including inappropriate ads) in prominent places on your website?
Most free websites are free because they get their profits from advertising - on YOUR website. You have no control of the size or content of that advertising - which could be in conflict with your company mission or could even be embarrassing. If you are willing to take that risk, a free website might work well.
3. Are you willing to risk having a website that can be hacked into and even implanted with viruses?
Most of the free hosts have not heavily invested in security, which means that your website could fall under the control of hackers or even be corrupted with a virus that could spread to your visitors. It's one gift they would probably not appreciate.
4. Do you have time to learn a new set of tools without support?
One thing you will need when creating a free website is time -- to learn a set of new tools. More often than not, there is only sketchy documentation (if any) and almost never any direct support. Maybe you'll find your answer in the community forum posts, and maybe not.
5. Would it be okay if your "free website" provider discontinues the service (and erases your website)?
Your free website provider is likely to be less reliable than one with a stronger client-based business model. And if they do decide to stop providing free websites, where will that leave you? Most free website providers require you to leave the files online with them, and when they're gone, they're gone. And yes, some have disappeared overnight.
In Summary
Of course, being a website designer, I am not entirely objective. But I've seen too many "almost good" websites designed by people who really wanted to save money by doing it themselves.
A website that's not professionally crafted may miss its goals: to attract and functional well for its intended audience, to reflect the attitudes and intentions of the company it represents, to provide credibility and trust, and to invite the search engines to index it favorably. Oh, and one more thing: either directly or indirectly, to increase your profits!
P.S. To be fair, there are some good, reputable places to get a free website, including Microsoft (http://smallbusiness.officelive.com/en-us/) and Google (see the sample site I created at https://sites.google.com/site/swwsexample/). Check them out!
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
Sunday, April 18, 2010
Blogs or Websites or Both - Oh MY!
Blog or website -- what do YOU need? Good question, and one that I hear more and more often. The simple answer is: it depends. Before you scream, I promise -- I'll explain.
First, of all, a blog is actually a website -- it's a dynamic website. Dynamic because it's meant to be constantly changing. The word blog is a shortened version of "web log." Blogs consist of "journal entries" that show your most recent entry at the top of the list. And until recently, the difference in appearance between regular websites and blogs was that the front page on a website was primarily content, visuals, and links, while the front page of a blog was at least one "journal entry" with links to earlier entries.
So, a few years ago, the choice was easy: do you want an online journal or do you want a content-rich, well designed website? NOW, however...the distinction is no longer so black and white.
Newer blog designs include so many options that it's possible to create a blog that is indistinguishable from many websites. You no longer have to post the entries on the front page, for one thing. You can use the same type of graphics and colors that you might want on a website (and you can add a blog to your website with almost no way to tell between the two - I'll talk about that below). What's even better about blogs: you can add audio, video, and written text quite easily, without needing expensive or hard-to-learn website design software!
Another big blog plus is their built-in SEO features. That's Search Engine Optimization, for the record - and it's all about showing up when someone is searching for you online. We'll save further details for another entry, but it's an important consideration unless you just want your online presence to act like a brochure that people see only when you send them there. Blogs are very good at being discovered by the search engines, and that's a very good thing indeed.
So, knowing all this, why would you ever want to have a website? Websites still have more available features, but blogs are quickly catching up. I suspect that at some point, we'll end up with the best of both worlds.
As I promised earlier, what about websites PLUS blogs? One successful artist client of mine has a website that serves as her art showcase and her online store. There's absolutely no sense in replacing her website investment with a blog. So she has created a blog that links to her website and her website links to her blog. Her blog is a well-thought-out part of her website plan. She updates it with new entries, because she already has her static content on her existing website. And she benefits by the search engine optimization included in the blog.
Here's my overall take on it for now: If you have an existing website, and especially if you have special features such as an online store, keep your website. But if you are starting over or starting from scratch, consider a blog. As of this writing, online selling is becoming more common on blogs, and even some of the website tools have become available. One of my favorites features for new entrepreneurs is Constant Contact (the email management and newsletter system), and even though you might need some help adding their contact form to your blog, it can be done! There are so many new "widgets" (blog features) being created every day that they may even outdistance websites soon.
So, maybe you could use a blog. But remember, it depends. Each situation is just a bit different, so if there's any doubt, ask an expert.
A Postscript: There has been recent talk about blogs becoming obsolete for the under-thirty demographic, but most online businesses can't replace their entire Internet presence with twitter and FaceBook. My best guess is that blogs will be even more popular as they continue to evolve as lower cost, easy-to-update, dynamic...well, websites.
First, of all, a blog is actually a website -- it's a dynamic website. Dynamic because it's meant to be constantly changing. The word blog is a shortened version of "web log." Blogs consist of "journal entries" that show your most recent entry at the top of the list. And until recently, the difference in appearance between regular websites and blogs was that the front page on a website was primarily content, visuals, and links, while the front page of a blog was at least one "journal entry" with links to earlier entries.
So, a few years ago, the choice was easy: do you want an online journal or do you want a content-rich, well designed website? NOW, however...the distinction is no longer so black and white.
Newer blog designs include so many options that it's possible to create a blog that is indistinguishable from many websites. You no longer have to post the entries on the front page, for one thing. You can use the same type of graphics and colors that you might want on a website (and you can add a blog to your website with almost no way to tell between the two - I'll talk about that below). What's even better about blogs: you can add audio, video, and written text quite easily, without needing expensive or hard-to-learn website design software!
Another big blog plus is their built-in SEO features. That's Search Engine Optimization, for the record - and it's all about showing up when someone is searching for you online. We'll save further details for another entry, but it's an important consideration unless you just want your online presence to act like a brochure that people see only when you send them there. Blogs are very good at being discovered by the search engines, and that's a very good thing indeed.
So, knowing all this, why would you ever want to have a website? Websites still have more available features, but blogs are quickly catching up. I suspect that at some point, we'll end up with the best of both worlds.
As I promised earlier, what about websites PLUS blogs? One successful artist client of mine has a website that serves as her art showcase and her online store. There's absolutely no sense in replacing her website investment with a blog. So she has created a blog that links to her website and her website links to her blog. Her blog is a well-thought-out part of her website plan. She updates it with new entries, because she already has her static content on her existing website. And she benefits by the search engine optimization included in the blog.
Here's my overall take on it for now: If you have an existing website, and especially if you have special features such as an online store, keep your website. But if you are starting over or starting from scratch, consider a blog. As of this writing, online selling is becoming more common on blogs, and even some of the website tools have become available. One of my favorites features for new entrepreneurs is Constant Contact (the email management and newsletter system), and even though you might need some help adding their contact form to your blog, it can be done! There are so many new "widgets" (blog features) being created every day that they may even outdistance websites soon.
So, maybe you could use a blog. But remember, it depends. Each situation is just a bit different, so if there's any doubt, ask an expert.
A Postscript: There has been recent talk about blogs becoming obsolete for the under-thirty demographic, but most online businesses can't replace their entire Internet presence with twitter and FaceBook. My best guess is that blogs will be even more popular as they continue to evolve as lower cost, easy-to-update, dynamic...well, websites.
Monday, August 31, 2009
How to Create a Blog
As promised in my previous posting, here's a simple and straightforward explanation of how to create a blog.
There are two ways to create a blog: hire someone or do it yourself. Most of my client base would tend to hire someone (me, I hope!). But I wouldn't be able to sleep at night if I didn't tell them how truly easy it is to do.
If you are comfortable with email, you can probably create your own blog. There are lots of great resources out there, but the following steps incorporate some articles that I found invaluable and easy to follow.
First, take a few minutes to read the excellent article on About.com: 6 Questions Bloggers Should Ask Themselves When Choose a Blogging Software.
Second, think about your branding strategy. This simply means you want your blog to reflect its purpose. If you're selling baby blankets, you probably don't want to use black and gray with flame accents. If you're sharing your interest in rock collecting, you may want to create a blog that is related to the look and feel of the rocks, including some photos. If the blog is business-related, include your logo and the colors you use in your website or other collateral.
Third, based on the decisions you made in the first step, read another About.com article:
Sign Up to Create a Blog at Blogger.com
or
Sign up to Create a Blog at Wordpress.com
Fourth, take half an hour to play!
It really doesn't have to be difficult, and you can add and subtract features whenever you wish.
Have fun, and don't be afraid to call with questions!
There are two ways to create a blog: hire someone or do it yourself. Most of my client base would tend to hire someone (me, I hope!). But I wouldn't be able to sleep at night if I didn't tell them how truly easy it is to do.
If you are comfortable with email, you can probably create your own blog. There are lots of great resources out there, but the following steps incorporate some articles that I found invaluable and easy to follow.
First, take a few minutes to read the excellent article on About.com: 6 Questions Bloggers Should Ask Themselves When Choose a Blogging Software.
Second, think about your branding strategy. This simply means you want your blog to reflect its purpose. If you're selling baby blankets, you probably don't want to use black and gray with flame accents. If you're sharing your interest in rock collecting, you may want to create a blog that is related to the look and feel of the rocks, including some photos. If the blog is business-related, include your logo and the colors you use in your website or other collateral.
Third, based on the decisions you made in the first step, read another About.com article:
Sign Up to Create a Blog at Blogger.com
or
Sign up to Create a Blog at Wordpress.com
Fourth, take half an hour to play!
It really doesn't have to be difficult, and you can add and subtract features whenever you wish.
Have fun, and don't be afraid to call with questions!
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
What's a Blog and Why Would I Want One?
What's a blog and why would you want one? You are reading one, right now.
A blog is your writing space on the Internet. You can invite people to look at it, and some people might wander into it just by chance, or by seeing your topic and thinking it might be interesting. That's really the first and most important thing to know before getting involved in a blog: they are NOT a good place to keep a secret. (Good news if you're interested in being discovered!)
What are they good for? They're great for information that you want to provide easily and quickly to a specific group of people or you can make it available to everyone. Here are just a few of the ways they are being used:
For providing information and displaying that information for others to see
As open journals that others can read
For establishing your expertise in a particular area
Just about anything else you can think of to do with a public forum
AND
They are becoming a source of income (more info in a later posting)
Can other people write in my blog? If you want them to. You can use the settings to let people write or keep them from writing.
Does it matter whether I have a pc or a Mac? Nope - doesn't matter.
Where can I get more information?
In your favorite search engine (Google, Yahoo, etc.) enter the word blog and you'll see there are a gazillion links with related information. Or keep reading the posts on this blog. I'll carry you along, step by step.
How do I create one? It's pretty easy to start a simple blog. The two most popular ways to create a blog are with Blogger and Wordpress. Stay tuned for my next posting: How to Create a Blog.
If you can't wait, give me a call. I'd be glad to help!
A blog is your writing space on the Internet. You can invite people to look at it, and some people might wander into it just by chance, or by seeing your topic and thinking it might be interesting. That's really the first and most important thing to know before getting involved in a blog: they are NOT a good place to keep a secret. (Good news if you're interested in being discovered!)
What are they good for? They're great for information that you want to provide easily and quickly to a specific group of people or you can make it available to everyone. Here are just a few of the ways they are being used:
For providing information and displaying that information for others to see
As open journals that others can read
For establishing your expertise in a particular area
Just about anything else you can think of to do with a public forum
AND
They are becoming a source of income (more info in a later posting)
Can other people write in my blog? If you want them to. You can use the settings to let people write or keep them from writing.
Does it matter whether I have a pc or a Mac? Nope - doesn't matter.
Where can I get more information?
In your favorite search engine (Google, Yahoo, etc.) enter the word blog and you'll see there are a gazillion links with related information. Or keep reading the posts on this blog. I'll carry you along, step by step.
How do I create one? It's pretty easy to start a simple blog. The two most popular ways to create a blog are with Blogger and Wordpress. Stay tuned for my next posting: How to Create a Blog.
If you can't wait, give me a call. I'd be glad to help!
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
How Can I Make Changes to My Own Website?
How can I make changes to my website?
This is one of the most-often-asked questions that website designers and developers hear. Once you have invested in a website, it's a good idea to keep it up to date.
What are your options? It depends on your technical level, your budget, and your available time.
Little or no technical expertise, small budget, and no time:
If you really don't want to mess with your website, have your website designer do it. Prices vary among website service providers, but it doesn't have to cost much. If you have just a few small changes, it could cost less than $30!
At least a little bit of technical expertise, small to medium budget, and a little bit of time.
During the initial design of your website, ask for a self-editing option. I always recommend Adobe Contribute. As a designer, I can make sure the site is compatible with and set up for that program. Then, I offer the program through a link on my website (http://www.smallworldweb.com/AdobeContribute.html). Depending on how much control you want, I can set it up so that you can change text, photos, or even the entire design of the website. Often, the best way is to ask for text-changing ability, without the worry of making other changes that could hurt the website.
Reasonable technical expertise, small to medium budget, and some time on your hands.
Learn to use a website design program and take over the maintenance and update of the website (or have an employee do it). Programs like Dreamweaver (the program that most website designers use) can be a terrific investment if you plan to make a lot of changes to your website or if you want to create additional websites.
This is a very condensed version of what's available, of course. And new methods and programs are appearing every day.
The option you choose may depend on how much technical expertise you have, how much time you have, and how much money you have. If you're tempted to ignore your website, think again. It's your online representative and sales tool. Keep your investment working for you, and you'll reap the rewards.
This is one of the most-often-asked questions that website designers and developers hear. Once you have invested in a website, it's a good idea to keep it up to date.
What are your options? It depends on your technical level, your budget, and your available time.
Little or no technical expertise, small budget, and no time:
If you really don't want to mess with your website, have your website designer do it. Prices vary among website service providers, but it doesn't have to cost much. If you have just a few small changes, it could cost less than $30!
At least a little bit of technical expertise, small to medium budget, and a little bit of time.
During the initial design of your website, ask for a self-editing option. I always recommend Adobe Contribute. As a designer, I can make sure the site is compatible with and set up for that program. Then, I offer the program through a link on my website (http://www.smallworldweb.com/AdobeContribute.html). Depending on how much control you want, I can set it up so that you can change text, photos, or even the entire design of the website. Often, the best way is to ask for text-changing ability, without the worry of making other changes that could hurt the website.
Reasonable technical expertise, small to medium budget, and some time on your hands.
Learn to use a website design program and take over the maintenance and update of the website (or have an employee do it). Programs like Dreamweaver (the program that most website designers use) can be a terrific investment if you plan to make a lot of changes to your website or if you want to create additional websites.
This is a very condensed version of what's available, of course. And new methods and programs are appearing every day.
The option you choose may depend on how much technical expertise you have, how much time you have, and how much money you have. If you're tempted to ignore your website, think again. It's your online representative and sales tool. Keep your investment working for you, and you'll reap the rewards.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
