| Whether you choose to design a website from | | | | of positive feedback. |
| scratch or use a free Web template to design a | | | | 2. Design a website yourself if you already have the |
| website for your online business, there are many | | | | Web design and coding skills (or take the time to |
| things to ask yourself before you get started: | | | | learn HMTL/XHTML/CSS/PHP etc.). I only recommend |
| 1. Do you plan on selling products on your website? | | | | this option if you are very technical and very quick. |
| Will you need a shopping cart to collect payments? | | | | Your time is best spent on building your business not |
| 2. Do you plan on displaying articles or having a blog? | | | | learning the details of web design -- unless, of course, |
| 3. Do you plan on having advertising on your | | | | you want to get into the business of web design. |
| website? | | | | 3. Use a pre-designed Web template from free Web |
| 4. Does the website design need to be interactive | | | | template providers, or purchase a Website template. |
| for site visitors? | | | | You can use Web templates as-is, or customize them |
| 5. Do you want to run your website through a | | | | to fit your needs. A great source for templates is |
| content management system (CMS)? | | | | 4. If you don't have any experience with creating |
| 6. Does the website need to include an audio or | | | | websites and you do not want to hire a designer |
| video player? | | | | then there is still an option for you. I like to refer to |
| 7. Would your target market appreciate a flashy | | | | this option as a Website-In-A-Box or a |
| design, or something simple? | | | | Store-In-A-Box. Basically the service gives you |
| Once you've answered those questions, it's time to | | | | everything you need to get your website online |
| design a website for your online business. There are | | | | quickly and easily. Yes, you have to pay a little more |
| a few general options to consider when deciding how | | | | for these services and some of them even take a |
| to design a website: | | | | percentage of every sale but your website design will |
| 1. Hire a professional Web designer and/or Web | | | | not stand between you and your ultimate goal -- |
| programmer to create a custom Web design and | | | | making money online. Some examples of these |
| backend system or e-commerce solution, including | | | | services are Yahoo Small Business ( and |
| any necessary tools. You can find great programmers | | | | No matter how you decide to design a website for |
| and designers at websites such as and When you | | | | your online business, make sure that the website |
| post a project on either of these services be sure | | | | design serves the needs of both your online business |
| not to choose a bidder just because they are the | | | | and its customers or target visitors. |
| cheapest. Choose someone with a very long history | | | | |