What’s your definition of a website? Is it an online brochure, or maybe just an online billboard?

A website is a business communication tool that can be used to reach

• Prospects
• Customers
• Employees
• Vendors
• Investors

It can be a sales rep, customer service specialist, human resources staffer and purchasing agent all rolled into one, who works for you 24/7. And, just like a human employee, it has needs. It must be kept informed and supported. It needs to be updated when a new product or service is added to your company’s portfolio. It needs to know how to work with your other employees.

When a website is on your to-do list, the first thing to do is determine the purpose for the site. Answering these questions can identify many of the components you’ll need for a successful site.

• Why are you building the website?
• What are you expecting to get out of the website?
• What communications do you have with your prospects, customers, employees, vendors and investors?
• What information do these people want when you’re not around to give it to them?

By focusing on the ways your website can help you streamline your business before you start talking to a developer, you’ll have a feel for the breadth of information to be included and you’ll understand the sequence of presentation that makes the most sense.