Ten ways NOT to set up a website-based service business

1.As the first step, "Hire a web designer."

Instead: First create a storyboard of your website, based on your strategy.

2. Focus on graphics, typefaces and colors.
Instead: Focus on potential clients and customers.

3. Avoid anything that has to do with "strategy."
Instead: Spend more time on strategy than on website design.

4. Rely on your web designer do all the updates.
Only if your designer is also your significant other! You may need to make changes as often as once a day. Even if you have infinite financial resources, your designer may not have infinite time for you.

5. Avoid learning HTML.
Instead: You need a smattering of HTML even if you use a package. If something goes wrong, youll save time if you can take a quick peek at the source code.

6. Take a course in web design after your site has gone public..
Instead: You may not need a course. Begin with a practice website, using a free package like Netscapes Composer, or PageMill, which has been bundled with iMacs. Most ISPs offer free websites for personal use. Dont use the "quick design" option: Write your own code and practice uploading!

7. Rely on submitting your name to search engines to generate traffic.
Instead: Supplement by submitting content to popular sites.

8. Refuse to pay for a pro to help with writing web content.
Instead: If your strength lies in pictoral or oral communication, get help! Words count.

9. Ignore your competitive websites.
Instead: Dont steal whats copyrighted, but learn from everybody else.

10. Create a concept that requires more than three sentences to explain.
Instead: Youre lucky if your audience listens beyond the FIRST sentence. Get focused.

About the Author

Cathy Goodwin, Ph.D., a coach, writer and speaker, focuses on helping people make their move to career freedom. Her website is movinglady.com.

cathy@movinglady.com
http://www.movinglady.com