You are a small business owner. You use the Internet both in your business as well as in personal life. Normally you know there are many, many web sites out there. Its a highly likely proposition that youve even made purchases through someone else's web site. Perhaps it is quite straightforward that you could be doing the same thing with your own business. Certainly, the fact of the matter is extra e-commerce sales could only help your bottom line. But the million dollar question is: Does your business really need a web site

In deciding that, it is advisable to consider what a web site really is to a business. It is worth mentioning in this regard that a well designed site can give your business exposure to a much larger group of potential customers. In addition, that makes it a powerful tool in your marketing arsenal.

In present scenario hyper-competitive business environment, marketing experts will tell you that having a successful marketing strategy is essential to the growth of your business. According to experts, effective use of a web site can draw in new leads and turn leads into conversions. Now these new customers termed as your best market can be further wooed through follow up online newsletters, automatic appreciation e-mails (auto-responders), special offers or any number of tactics. All the while it leads to building a mailing list which is like gold to anyone's marketing efforts. It is worth pointing in this regard that with this almost limitless and relatively inexpensive marketing tool in the form of your web site, your profits have an even greater ability to soar.

But for that to happen a web site does need to be well designed. Furthermore, in addition to targeted, effective content, your site needs to be regularly maintained and updated. As a matter of fact using its full potential requires someone in your company continually coming up with new online marketing strategies. But always remember that these efforts, if thought of as marketing investments, can mean big rewards in the form of increased profits for your business.

In this age of fast paced technology, the Internet is key to making innovative marketing decisions that build a successful business. Your competitor is fully aware of this fact and he/she probably has a web site. Thats why, if they are savvy enough to realize its marketing potential, then they have a competitive edge. But dont be disheartened you can make up ground and pass them up with a well-designed web site of your own.

Once you've decided that your business needs a web site. You are also interested in getting it designed right the first time. But for that to happen, it is of utmost significance that you know what is a 'well designed' web site Theoretically speaking, a well-designed web site, first and foremost, is an extension of your current marketing strategy and fulfills for you, the goals of that strategy. As a matter of fact to a business, it turns leads into conversions. This cannot be stressed enough! Fact remains that as a part of your marketing efforts, it must perform.

It is worth mentioning in this regard that people using the Internet rarely just happen to notice your site as though they drove by and saw your store sign. If experts are to be believed a web site must draw people to it who are interested and looking for what you offer. Using search engines like Google, people type in words or phrases that they are guessing might lead them to what they want to find.

These words or phrases are called as 'keywords'. It is advisable using keywords on your web site that best describe what you offer, allows the search engines to connect the person doing the searching to your site through the search engine results page.

Research has clearly emphasizes the fact that the higher your site 'ranks' (the closer to the very first site listed in the results) the better chance your site has of drawing that visitor. In addition it is very pivotal for the effective use of keywords in and throughout your content, having as many other 'relevant' sites linking back to your site helps your ranking. Now when you have visitors pouring into your web site, how do you get them to stay and ultimately become customers

For that to happen, you must provide reasons for a potential customer to not only stay, but also to want to come back again at some point in time. Always remember that what visitors want is useful information. As they just did a search and were expecting your site to be the answer to their needs.

Its your responsibility to make sure that the information your site provides meets their expectations, and is updated and clear. Furthermore, content needs to be organized in a way that makes sense, so that the visitor can easily find what they are looking for. Once they find it, the question arises what next

It is not an easy task to get the potential customer to realize you have what they want. As a matter of fact they must also be able to get it, as easily and as effortlessly as possible. It is worth noting that content should be a 'funnel' that directs the visitor to make that first 'click', bringing them closer to conversion. According to experts, sometimes they will have questions they need to have answered before they are ready to make a commitment. Its your job to make that process simple for them too. As a matter of fact they should be able to contact you in a way that is convenient for them. Having a 1-800 number is significant. Few people prefer e-mail though. Offer both options on your web site.

It is worth mentioning that a site needs a color scheme and a use of graphics that is not distracting, but rather helps make a logical, visual flow. Moreover, text needs to have a high contrast to the background. For example, black text on a white background is best. It is advisable that you don't risk alienating anyone with your visual presentation. Always remember that your web site is not an art exhibit. It is a marketing tool.

Last but surely not the least, your web site should convey to the visitor a sense of the enthusiasm, pride and commitment that you have towards your business or organization.