Ainsworth Accountants

These issues are discussed below.

How critical is your website to the success of your business ?

For some businesses, their website is an extension of an established trade or profession: it serves as a point of information to decribe the company and attract additional sales.  For other businesses, the website is the business.  This issue dictates the website design process.

What type of website, a simple marketing 'brochure' or a full e-commerce on line shop ?

Websites are either descriptive, that is to say they desribe your products and services, or they are fully on-line trading.  There is frequently a significant price difference between these two designs.

With a Mamut website the hosting price is included in the monthly support fee, and you can design it yourself.

The build time for an e-commerce website can be significantly longer than a description only website, because of the time taken to add the products.

How will your e-commerce website link to your accounting system ?

If you have an e-commerce website, you will also need to consider how the sales and banking information are inputted into your accounting system.

With a Mamut website the e-commerce pages and the accounting system are fully integrated.  This means that your sales pass straight through into your accounting records.  When you add a new product to your range in your stock system, it takes just a few clicks to add it to your website.  These features save a massive amount of time.

Do you want your own internet domain: www.mydomain.com ?

Choosing a domain name is very important.  Many of the domain names you would like are now taken by someone else.

However, owning the name and keeping control of it, is very important.  Many internet domain suppliers will charge you to make amendments; this typically may occur if you want to change where the website is hosted.  OX SYSTEMS recommends Active24 for domain name ownership, as this enables you to stay in control with no extra costs.  Please contact us for further details

Do you want proper email addresses: me@mydomain.com ?

For a professional appearance, it is good to set up your email adresses for your name domain name.  These are usually POP3 email accounts, although there are others.  Active24 allows a limited number of free POP3 email accounts, which is very useful.  You can set these up in your own email browser, eg. Outlook or Outlook Express.

If you are using Microsoft XP, you may consider setting up a new user for the new business email account, to keep your other personal email accounts separate.

Do you have a budget to pay a professional web designer ?

Professional web designers have a starting rate of just under £1,000 for a multi-page, but not e-commerce, website.  This may be good value for money for a contemporary and unique presentation of your business, particularly if your business depends on it.  OX SYSTEMS recommends marble media.

How will you let people know about your website ?

A will presented website is pointless without visitors.  There is some wisdom in investing in visitors rather than graphics.

If your website is an extension of your existing business, your customers and potential customers could be directed to the website by your own staff or stationery.  Ensure that your website domain name (www.mydomain.com) appears on all stationery, including invoices and letterhead.

If your website is e-commerce and is your main or only business outlet then attracting visitors, or 'hits' to the website ("generating traffic") is absolutely critical.  Do not under-estimate the importance of this, or how hard and competitve this is.  You need an expert.

OX SYSTEMS works with ULTIMATHULE to maximise your search engine ranking.

Are you considering Google Adwords ?

Have you written your website content ?

Developing web content, a combination of descriptions and images, can take a long time.  It is essential that this work is reviewed by someone who does not know the business.  You know what your business does, but a visitor won't, so make every effort to make it very clear from the start of the Home Page.

Your web readers must be hooked into understanding and be interested in what you do from the outset.  Even if your business does not interest them they will probably know someone who would be interested, so make a good first impression.

Your website needs to decribe your business, its products and services, to someone who has never heard of you, in the first 30 seconds of reading your Home Page.

How will the website be updated ?

If you need to change you website regularly, this can be costly if you have to pay for this service every time.

Seriously consider a 'content management' website maintenance system like Mamut.

How do you achieve the best value for money and combination of services ?

It is important to recognise that the internet is full of specialist services, you will rarely find one provider who can meet all your requirements.  We will help you meet the right specialist for you.  Please email us for help - these small hints and pointers are free.