Ten Best Tips for Designing Your Web Site

After two years, Amy Gross of Little Hearts CPR wanted to overhaul her Web site. She wanted to upgrade the site to be more professional, easier to use, and more likely to turn up on search engines. Two months and $1,500 later, she got what she wanted. But the process with First Page Inc. could have gone smoother if she had understood more about Web design, she says. Still, she notes, "I've gotten tons of fabulous feedback on the new site, so it's all been totally worth it."

To stay on track and keep costs down, here are 10 things she and other experts say you should know before designing -- or redesigning -- your Web site:

Think of the Big Picture

Before you even start interviewing Web designers, Internet consultants, or other online experts, put together a plan of what you want to achieve. Will the Web site have e-commerce? Will it use search engine optimization? Do you really need to use splashy tools like Flash to sell yourself when many users find them annoying. Who's going to host your Web site? Who will maintain it after it's up? What are your favorite Web sites and why?

The best small business Web site is "one that tells potential customers and clients how your product or service directly benefits them, and what sets you apart from the competition," says Nick Francis, founder and chief solutions officer at Web development firm Project83.com. "Think of each page as a 30-second elevator pitch, because that's about all the time you have."

Study Their Resumes

Depending on what you want your Web site to do, you need to hire the right person. According to Web Business Ownership's founder Chris Curtis, there are several types of Web experts. Web designers are more interested in the look and experience of the site, while programmers are concerned with function. Web marketers think about how to get as many people as possible to the site based on features....