
An Online Brochure: Your Low Cost Website Design Solution
Are you thinking about launching a business? If you are then you absolutely need to have a stellar online presence. For a lot of people this can seem daunting and it may seem like you just can’t possibly create everything that you need, but really, it pays to start with the basics. Maybe your business doesn’t need a huge website with a hundred pages and a whole bunch of high-end graphics and animation. Maybe what you really need is an online brochure, a low cost website design that fits perfect with your needs and budget.
What is an Online Brochure?
Let’s delve into the idea of an online brochure and just what it is. When you go to a store, an expo or just about anywhere you probably see pamphlets and brochures lying around, right? They give you a little Cliff’s Notes version of what that company, product, etc. is all about. What’s great is those brochures do a really good job of getting people to take a closer look. You may have a ton of people who don’t even pick up the brochure. You may have a ton more who pick it up and read it but never follow up. But you’ll also have a bunch that decides to delve a little deeper because of what they read.
When we talk about transitioning that physical brochure into an online brochure there are several important features. The most important is that even if the information in that brochure is simple and basic, it’s still getting your name and your idea out there. People are getting the basic information that they need to understand what you can offer them and that is huge. When we talk about an online brochure, we’re talking about creating something simple and basic that will allow you to share your information with people who want to know more. So, how do you make sure that you’re using this information in the best way possible to get the most out of creating one?
Benefits of an Online Brochure
When it comes down to the benefits you’re going to find there are actually several important features. First, you’re going to brand your company. Creating a single, cohesive structure for your fonts, your colors, your backgrounds, your images and everything else is going to really lay the foundation for establishing yourself as a brand. It’s going to let people know that you are consistent (in whatever way you choose) and that they can count on getting the same thing from you all the time. People like consistency and they definitely like cohesion as well. This low cost website design solution does this without overcrowding your viewers with information.
Next up, you’re going to be marketing your company. Having a website, even if you don’t spend a lot of time and money on things like SEO and advertising, is going to make it possible for more people to locate you. Those people will find you on those search engines anyway and they’ll tell their friends about you. People who already know your business are also going to talk about you and pass your web address around so other people can check you out. That means you’re going to get a whole lot more people to check out your store or whatever it is that you have to offer. With an online brochure, however, you’re giving them an intro to get them interested and start them out.
You are not benefiting your products and services when they’re sitting around unseen. That’s why you need to have a website that can showcase them to any and every one. Let them know what you have and how they can use those products or services to improve their lives or the lives of someone they know. You can definitely make things better for them. With even a low cost website design solution it’s going to help you sell more products, sell more services and find new customers to go alongside the repeat customers (you need a little bit of both, after all). With this shorter site, you’ll at the least be able to highlight some of the best products you have so your customers can see them in this shorter site.
Finally, it’s a lead generating tool. You’re getting more and more people to purchase something when you have a website because it’s easier for them to do so. If you have a physical store you’re limited to the people that are physically close to you and happen to walk into the store. If you have a small store through another online marketplace you’re limited to people who might find you there. On the other hand, if you have your own website you’re branching out to a whole host of other people and possibilities and you definitely can’t go wrong with that. With an online brochure you’re going to have a better chance at growing your leads list.
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Why You Need an Online Brochure
You definitely need this because it’s going to get people paying attention to you and recognizing what it is you have to offer them. An online brochure is really a basic website that gives out the details that a potential customer or any interested person needs to know in order to make a more informed decision about you. After all, if you’re looking to buy something or you’re looking for information you probably look online, right? And if the company that you’re thinking about doesn’t have an online presence … you’re probably going to go with someone else.
If you have a business of any kind this type of basic website is super simple to get started and it’s definitely simple to make the most of. You’ll be able to set up the basics of what you need to convey to your potential customers. It’s likely going to be things like your hours, your contact information, your FAQ and maybe even a few testimonials or reviews from clients and previous customers. All of these things are going to take up very little space on a website, but they’re going to set the basic foundation that you need to establish yourself.
Setting up this type of simple and basic website is going to confirm that you really are out there and you really are a professional, not to mention letting them know what you do. But how are you going to create one of these websites? How are you going to make sure you have a website that shows your potential customers everything they need if you don’t have a clue about how to create one? Sure, there are services out there that make it seem like creating your own website is super simple, but the truth is you’re going to need a whole lot of time not only to set it up but also to keep updating it. That’s why you may want to take a closer look at a low cost website design company.
Choosing Low Cost Website Design
Many people get a little scared of hiring a professional to design their website because they think it’s going to be too expensive or that it’s going to take too long or that their website is going to be too complicated. The truth is… you can get exactly what you’re looking for when it comes to hiring a professional. That’s because, if they really are professional, they’re going to look at what you need, talk about what you want and then put it all together for you in a way that really works for your interests, your business and even your budget.
When it comes to creating your online brochure, the key is to talk with your web designer about what you really need, how it’s going to help you and how you want to put it into practice. Once you do that, you’re going to be able to help with the customization and creation process of your website. And you can do it without spending a fortune as well. Especially if you have a limited budget, you want to put your money into keeping your business going, pushing your products and converting viewers into buyers. You can’t afford to spend a great deal of money on a website.
You’re in luck in this case, because a low cost website design, like what you’re going to need for an online brochure, could run you as little as $2,000 and up to about $5,000. Of course, this is going to vary depending on the specifics of what you want, how you want the website to run and look and any additional features you might want to add on. But it’s definitely a small investment to get a potentially huge return. That’s where you’re going to start building up your online business.
The key is to find the right website designer. Make sure that you’re getting someone you can count on and someone who is going to do all the things that we just mentioned. Find someone who will take your budget, your needs and your wishes into consideration. So, how are you going to make sure that you have the website specialist who is going to give you the best of the best? It’s going to take a little bit of effort on your part. Once you find the one who will create your perfect low cost website design solution, you’re going to be more than happy about that time spent.
Choosing Your Web Designer
The first thing you definitely need to do is find someone who has reviews and testimonials. You don’t want to be the first client that designer has ever had. You want someone who is well established and can show you some great websites that they’ve designed. Even if the websites they show you are more elaborate than what you’re looking for, the more they’re able to do the more they’ll be able to grow with you as you want to expand from that online brochure into something grander.
Next, make sure you talk with them and get an idea of how they will be to work with. You want to make sure that you feel comfortable talking to them about the things you like and dislike. If you’re not going to be comfortable giving them feedback then you’re just not going to work well together. They could create the best or the worst website and you’re just not going to be able to tell them what your thoughts are. That’s definitely not going to help them or you in creating something that really conveys your brand.
Find out what kind of projects they’ve worked on before as well. It’s not enough just to say that they’ve created a stunning website or that they’ve helped to do so. You want to know what their specific role was (did they create the coding? Did they design the logo? Were they responsible for the layout?). You also want to know what the goal of that website was. Did the owner of the site want a website that was warm and welcoming or something that was built strictly for conversions? Did they have specific goals and ideas in mind that were shared with the designer? You want to know all of these things so you can decide how well they met those goals.
Finally, find out who else is going to be working on the project, if anyone. Are they going to be doing everything? You want to know how they handle different aspects of the project. If there are going to be other people working on it you want to know who they are and what their qualifications are as well. You also want to know how you give feedback to those different aspects of the design so you can make sure the whole website is what you expected and what you want most.
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There’s no reason that, in this century, your business shouldn’t have an online presence. No matter what type of business you’re creating or even where you’re selling, having your own website is a great way to show people that you’re really who you say you are and that your products and services are exactly what they’re looking for. A low cost website design will make sure that your company’s profile is exactly what you want, not what someone else is creating for you.
Take a closer look at the Marketing Built For Success.
For assistance with website strategy or social media marketing, contact Tisha Littlejohn at 312 798 9332 or info@tljcreativemarketing.com.