Content is extremely important! Your message is the core of what you are providing to prospective shoppers and your general web audience. Your ability to articulate and relate to prospective buyers and your audience is the key to your success online. It is also the key to being discovered on the internet. The more relevant words and text rich descriptions, the easier you will be able to find when someone performs a web search related to your site.

Most people already have web site content without ever realizing it. If you have ever written a document for your business, you already have some content. It could be in the form of a classified ad, a flier, a write up in your community paper, online advertising, an e-mail, and even a business card.

The following list outlines materials to consider when conceptualizing your website:

• Text content for each of the pages
• High quality images/ photos
• Secondary website text (if you want to make use of a side column on your site)
• Company logo or word-mark
• Examples of other sites that you admire (graphics, layout, and style)
• Preferred colours
• A wish list for your website
• Deadline for getting the site online

Figuring out The Web Pages You Need

Once you’ve assembled your page content, break it into sections (or piles of paper). These sections become your pages. As an example, your business card becomes a large component of the contact page details. Place it in the ‘contact’ section.

The ’sections’ you end up with are strictly related to your content. An artist or rock band will have a need for a bio and media page, but a hobby gardener most likely will not. Once you’ve assembled your sections, you pretty well have your pages determined.

The following page suggestions are common for many small business’:

• Home
• Products
• Services
• About
• Contact

After taking stock of your existing content you have the basic outline and material for your website. Organizing your work gives you a good idea of what you have, as well as the material you need. The simple steps of assembling and categorizing your material into sections (pages) will give you the best start in creating a site that you can get. You may be surprised by how much content you already have! The better prepared you are, the better your site will be!

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