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How to choose what type of website you need.
There are many basic types of websites; which one is correct for me?
Because you are asking this question, we will answer with the most basic types
of websites. Before you try to understand what follows, take a moment and think
about what you want your website to do. Here are some questions you may want to
answer for yourself before you contact any website designers.
By answering these questions for yourself first, website designers will be much
better prepared to understand your needs and desires. The designer will be
able to present the best choices at the best cost to you.
The most expensive part of every website is indecision. Not knowing
what you want can lead to expensive changes during the selection and design
process.
What is the main purpose for your website?
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Will your website's primary function be to simply replace your ad in the yellow pages?
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Do you want to sell items or services over the internet?
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Do you want to stay in touch with current, former, and future customers?
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Do you want to track inventory and/or company assets?
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Do you want a website for your club, school, or homeowner association?
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Do you want to build a database of email addresses for marketing?
What kind of content will your website provide?
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Do you want to provide mostly text (like this website)?
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Do you want to provide mostly photographs?
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Do you want to provide videos?
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Do you want to provide map to your locations, telephone numbers, contact
information, sales & service terms, business hours and days, emergency contact
information, employment opportunities, music downloads?
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How much content will you have in the beginning and in five years?
How often will your website be updated / changed?
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Will your website need updates hourly, daily, weekly, monthly, yearly, or
rarely?
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Do you want to do the updates yourself?
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Do you want an employee with no website training to handle the updates for you?
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Do you want club members to be able to add content themselves?
How will people find your website?
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Do you already have a well-known name, a regular publication, a radio or tv
show?
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Do you already have a brick-and-mortar business with regular traffic?
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Do you need to get many new people visiting your website every week?
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Do you have an advertising budget in mind? Or will word-of-mouth be sufficient?
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Are you trying to introduce a new product or service?
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Do you want visitors only from your geographical area, or do you want them from
all over the country? The world?
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Do you want a website that only authorized people can see and use?
How computer tech-savvy are you at this time?
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Are you comfortable with simple text editors and spell checkers?
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Do you prefer to never touch the computer?
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Do you want us to teach you how to do it all yourself?
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