Web Sites
There can be few people nowadays who have not at least visited a web site - if you're reading this, you can always add one!
Whether as a shop front with on-line order processing, a product catalogue or as an information source for a government department, the number and variety of web sites is legion and it is often difficult for an SME to afford a professional presence on the Web and retain control of that presence.
A working understanding of the technology is the first consideration and it creates many problems of its own. SME's are frequently unable to afford the services offered by the more polished and well-staffed branding, hosting and programming organisations and at the more budget end of the market it is often the case that free advice or that of an unqualified friend or acquaintance is sought. This is likely to have variable levels of knowledge, expertise and commitment and often exposes one to misconceptions, distortions and ignorance.
However well-meaning, such advice is at best of real value, but at worst can actually cause problems which require expensive remedies. An appreciation of the language involved and an understanding of the opportunities available is fundamental to forming an effective decision for any SME to consider when deciding how to promote themselves using the Internet.
It is also all too easy to fall into the trap of 'if it costs a lot, it must be good'. The costs involved in hosting and programming a web presence vary enormously and the market is sufficiently complicated for many of the expenses to be unnecessarily inflated. For example, the cost of simply registering a domain name (as in www.mycompany.com) can vary between £9 and £150 or more per annum, depending on how you do it and with which registrar.
Nobody wants to waste either money or effort in establishing a web presence - conversely there are few organisations of any size who are not able to appreciate the benefit that investment in a web presence can offer.
These few pages will offer some basic advice and guidance on how to create your own web site and publish it on the internet.
The most facile answer is - whatever you want it to. Each web site is like an electronic office, whether small or large. As you approach an office, you get a feel for what that organisation does. A government department
Further reading
