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References

"'Ask the Small Business Professor' is a must read for small business owners looking for free expert business advice. Using a Q&A format, Bruce Freeman covers important small business topics weekly by bringing in recognized experts on subjects including accounting, legal issues, trademarks marketing and sales. Don't miss it!"

Joseph L. Rosenberg

CPA

"I find the column inspiring and helpful to me in running my own small business."

Dan Janal

President and Founder

PRleads.com

"The Small Business Professor is a site that should be bookmarked by every entrepreneur. In today's business environment, it is difficult to gather information and obtain answers to the myriad of questions that face business owners. Bruce Freeman's 'Ask the Small Business Professor' column is an excellent resource that provides guidance, up-to-the-minute information, mentoring, and more."

Irene Maslowski

APR Principal

Maslowski & Associates Public Relations

"I've been working with patients for almost 10 years as a Chiropractic Physician. I'm always looking for new ways to increase awareness of the valuable clinical services provided at my centers. Bruce Freeman has given me insightful ideas to assist in my marketing efforts. I rely on his 'Ask the Small Business Professor' column to keep me abreast of new trends and developments in the field. I couldn't ask for a more knowledgeable and capable advisor as my companies move forward into providing nationwide healthcare for patients."

Dr. Daniel Houshmand, D.C.

AlternaCare Wellness Centers, LLC

"Bruce Freeman, The Small Business Professor, is a most valued and enthusiastic guest contributor to the business segment of our radio show dealing with the challenges facing today's entrepreneurs. His practical and insightful advice has served to enhance our ability, as broadcasters, to help business owners move ahead in their various fields of endeavor. ....Thank you, Bruce."

Sue Tovey / Sande Foster

Co-Hosts

WTBQ 1110 AM (ABC Affiliate Station)

A Small Web Design Budget

Dear Professor Bruce:

I own a small business. I know how important it is to have an attractive web site so that customers visit and hopefully purchase. However, I cannot afford the "bells and whistles" that larger companies can. I want to maximize my small web design budget so that I can look as professional (and large) as possible. Any suggestions?

Answer:

Before you even talk to a Web developer or designer, get to know your clients and customers. Ask them what they consider most important regarding your goods and services on the Web.

Dr. William Sanders, Professor of Multimedia Web Design & Development at the University of Hartford, provides some excellent tips to small business owners who need to develop a “champagne” website on a “beer” budget.

Whatever your clients deem most important should be the first thing that they see on your Web site.

Second, make what your customers want 1) easy to find, 2) easy to order, and 3) easy to pay for. As a corollary, make it easy to un-order (put back on the shelf) and easy to exit. People who feel at all trapped in a Web site will not return.

Third, give something away free that a user can download immediately. People love free stuff, especially if they can get it right away. If you're a small Real Estate company, give away an online Mortgage Calculator.

Fourth, take a look at a big business site to see what makes it look big. A good example are the Halliburton and IBM sites. They're clean, simple and clear. Halliburton has photos of offshore oil rigs, and your two-partner law firm does not. However, you can use great stock photos to make your company look big.

Fifth, avoid "dancing baloney." Dancing baloney refers to unnecessary graphic animation and movement that catches the eye. It also infuriates the client and motivates hitting the back button.

Sixth, a search engine is helpful. If you have a small number of services and products, don't use one. If you have a large number of products or services, it will help your customer find what she wants.

Another consideration is a short video explaining your product.

Finally, if you want to save money on a Web developer or designer, a good place to start is your local college or university. More and more institutions of higher education are offering courses of study in Web design and development. Very often, students need projects for their course work.

For further information, contact Dr. Sanders at http://www.mwd.hartford.edu or http://www.sandlight.com.

Before you even talk to a Web developer or designer, get to know your clients and customers.