Saving Money on Your Website

A reputable Website provider will advise you on ways to save on your site. Unfortunately, most providers would rather take your money. It's what you don't know, you don't know that you pay for in the Web world, but it is not my approach. Here are some valuable tips for saving on your Website:

• Don't make your Website a collection of articles.

• Don't add a News section if you're not going to update it often.

• When developing your site, have a clear approval process. Especially if there's several people in your company that will have influence over the final product. At the beginning of the process, many should be involved; at the end of the process, few (or one) should be involved. Multiple decision makers cost time and money.

• Have a plan. Better yet, have a strategy. A meandering Website development process can cost you money and precious time. And it will result in a poor Website. A strategy gives you focus. The ideal Web developer will understand how to translate business and marketing strategy into Web design and content development.

• Avoid unnecessary development. Make sure any Web applets (these are mini applications) on your site contribute to essential information gathering, extended utility, or moving prospects through the sales process.

• Avoid needless use of Flash (For those not in the know, "Flash" is a Web tool that makes all those fancy animations.). Flash looks cool but is difficult and expensive to maintain. Flash can be used tastefully, but is mostly abused.

• Don't pay for monthly Website maintenance if you don't need it that often. An a la cart maintenance plan may save you money, and you can always upgrade if you require regular maintenance. You may also save money by using a content management system. A CMS will allow you to update content yourself and may be well worth the added expense.

• Avoid companies that lock you into a hosting agreement for a specified period. It can be advantageous to shift your hosting if your adding e-commerce or, for example, a content management system that requires a different platform.

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