Web Design Melbourne » Web-design-and-development » When You Compare Free Website Offers, Think Add-Ons

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When You Compare Free Website Offers, Think Add-Ons

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Businesses often need more than an \"online calling card,\" a basic website, even if that\'s where it all begins. You can see how certain add-ons worked for this hypothetical company and consider ways these features may be helpful for you, perhaps not now, but in the future.

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If you are a small business just getting off the ground or if you have been around for awhile but are new to online marketing, you're in good company. With small businesses making up such a significant percentage of all the businesses in the US, new sites pop up regularly. Let's take a family owned masonry company that just wants an online audience to have quick and easy access to their contact information-getting a simple website like this might be an accomplishment. But businesses often need more than an "online calling card," even if that's where it all begins. You can see how certain add-ons worked for this hypothetical company and consider ways these features may be helpful for you, perhaps not now, but in the future.

The First Steps

A good first step may be to compare free website offerings and hosting options-take a glimpse into the future by checking additional products or add-on services. It might be appealing to just choose the cheapest option now, we know how tight the budget is for start-ups, but keep your eye on future success. You can explore the features that are available with website design and hosting options. These options, which may go unused until you are settled in your online home, might make a difference in the upcoming marketing efforts for your business. Create a free website? Sure, but you may want to do a thorough evaluation first to make sure the one you build can grow with you.

Look to the Future: Add-ons

Following is an example of how a family-owned business may use add-on features. Each add-on is followed by questions you might ask yourself as you select an affordable way to get online.

So, let's say the masonry company we referred to earlier selects a hosting company that offers a free website builder tool and has affordable hosting. They've seen the disk space they have and heard terms such as data storage, uptime, and so far...it means pretty close to nothing to them. But, the templates are easy to use and they get a basic site up sooner than they had hoped. They get their own online space, my-new-website.com and email addresses for their three employees. They think they might be all set. And maybe they are, for now, but what about several months down the road? What else can the website do to bring in more customers or serve as a marketing tool?

With a free or inexpensive website package, the following add-ons may be available, and if you're a small business like our masonry company, you might appreciate having these available to help your business be more efficient, accessible and more.

Tool: Maps

While the masonry company initially chose not to utilize this option-not many people visit their location, customers typically call and meet on the job site-they have a great idea: Show maps of previous work completed. They believe that contractors looking for brick services may check out projects they've completed and see the fine quality work, prompting a call to obtain a bid.

Later, they also add a map to show their service area.

How can you use a map tool? Driving directions to your shop, or maybe something more creative?

Tool: Online Scheduling

After two months online, our company gets pretty busy with the additional exposure. Scheduling, once fairly easy, has now become a bit more involved. Aha! Their hosting company has an online scheduling add-on! Now, all the employees and external customers can use the website to schedule bidding appointments. Everyone can see the available time slots, and the operation is more organized. And the office manager is thrilled.

How might you use an online scheduler?

Tool: Form Generator

By Month 4, the calls are still coming in, full force, to this company. But many of the calls are just requests for bids. This means that the office manager faxes or emails the standard form to the customer or contractor and they return it in kind. They see that this process is pretty inefficient and low-tech. How about adding a form online? Those seeking a bid for services can complete the form online and submit, then a bid can be prepared and returned. Not only is this method faster and more efficient-freeing up office staff and crew workers to do other tasks-it also allows the company to increase the number of bids they get out there, which may result in more jobs.

The form generator, added easily through their hosting service company, greatly benefits their bottom line.

Would an online form facilitate communications for your company in any way?

Tool: Video

Around Month 6, the masonry company office staff realizes that they are getting a lot of calls about job details or general brick work. They determine that adding a video or two to their site may answer a lot of these questions. Once the videos are created and uploaded, they realize that call volume with questions has decreased and the staff has had more time to focus on other work.

Is there any process or feature of your company that is best shown by video?

Tool: Blogging

Over the years, the company realizes that they are getting a lot of referrals and repeat business-and they are proud of this. What's this blogging they keep hearing about? When they investigate further, they think that this may be a great tool to touch base on a more personal level with a wider audience. They can add value to their website and to their company by offering tidbits about brick work, providing ideas for masonry projects, and answering questions for do-it-yourselfers. And everyone in the company can help.

They set up the blog and gradually build a community for themselves. It's a little harder to gauge precisely how this impacts the bottom line, but they agree that it has value and its fun to do.

Is there a blog platform that will work for you?

Seeing the Whole Picture Will any of these tools help you? Maybe you just want to get your website up for now, but it may be worth your while to compare free website builder tools and add-ons available with your hosting package. Then once you get your site up and running, you'll have the tools available to take it further when you're ready.

Article Source: Web Design Melbourne

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