There are several ways that your website could end up being a waste of time and money. Every business owner should know what to watch for before putting their web presence online.

DO get your own domain.
Because customers can’t see your face or hear your voice, your website image is crucial to your business becoming more successful and abundant. Your own domain (www.yourname.com) is professional and makes it easier for your customers to remember you when they’re not online.

DON'T leave your website design up to an amateur designer.
An unprofessional website will permanently reflect on your company’s image and will turn away customers before you’ve even had a chance to show them what you’re about. A cute, homemade look on business websites can actually be detrimental, and may not attract prospective customers the way you'd like it to. A hot pink or blindingly yellow background color, banners to other sites mixed with your text, and moving teddy bear graphics centered down one long page may be esthetically appealing to you on personal websites, but aren't appropriate in creating harmony for your business online.

Employing professionals will ensure that essential business perspectives and techniques are utilized so your customers see your business at it's best. You might think you’re saving money by having an amateur create your website, but you’re actually losing unmeasurable revenue each time someone passes over your site because it’s not professional enough. You wouldn’t leave your company accounting to an amateur, so why would you leave your website to one?

DO keep your content current.
There's nothing worse than visiting a website in 2003 that was last updated in 1999. If your clients believe you don’t care enough to keep your advertising information current, will they trust that you care enough to stay current and attentive in your field of expertise? The internet is an alive, breathing, changing place. Regular updates are too often overlooked but are essential for effective marketing on the web. Frequently maintained and updated, your website could make the difference in having new clients come to you, or keeping your existing clients coming back. A high number of hits on your website doesn’t mean a thing if your visitors aren’t staying.

DON'T use a temporary web site.
NEVER use "under construction" or similar phrases on your website, and definitely don’t leave a temporary webpage on your website. It’s a guaranteed way to lose customers. Don’t invite them to check back later for a finished site. They won’t.   Wait until your site is complete, then launch it like the pros! If you absolutely must use a temporary page, include a definite launch date, and offer to notify your visitors when the permanent site is launched.

DO include your website address in all your advertising.
If no one sees your website, then it really exists for nothing. There are many ways to get people to visit your website. Some great ideas:

• include your website in print ads and commercials;
• put your website on your vehicle;
• put your website in your signature line at the bottom of all your emails;
• put your website on your business card;
• use your imagination and always look for opportunities to let people know about your website!